Simone Olivier, Daoist Priest Li Fu, Internal Martial Artist
Growing up in a small Louisiana town, I questioned the conventional path of college, career, marriage, and family, sensing a deeper purpose to life. While pursuing a B.S. in Manufacturing Engineering, I discovered Yoga, Hinduism, Tibetan Buddhism, and Meditation, finding solace and a path to self-understanding. I was particularly drawn to Tai Chi, Oriental Dance, the Chinese 5 Elements, and Feng Shui and discovered I had an affinity for meditation and meditative movement, which offered me a way to calm the emotions that seemed to overwhelm me.
Despite these inclinations, I followed societal expectations: I completed my engineering degree, worked in oil and gas, moved to Houston, married, and had a child. However, this outwardly “successful” life left me unfulfilled. Realizing true happiness comes from within, I began making authentic choices, leading me to Daoism and Internal Martial Arts. This training taught me that genuine happiness isn’t tied to external ideals but is a constant process of self-discovery and acceptance of life’s changes.
In 2014, I started teaching Qi Gong and Tai Chi to the elderly, which brought a profound softness to my life. Their dedication and open engagement with the practice deeply inspired me. A year prior, I began teaching kids yoga in Houston schools, learning the importance of play and spontaneity. I then created a program to bring my young students to elderly communities, fostering intergenerational joy and confirming this work as my life’s purpose.
Inspired by these experiences, I created the Tai Chi for Health and Longevity program. This initiative teaches adults the wisdom of Internal Martial Arts and empowers them to share this knowledge, bridging generations and promoting healthier, longer lives.
In addition to teaching Internal Martial Arts, I am a 22nd Generation Longmen (Dragon Gate) Daoist Priest. I hold a 2nd Degree Blackbelt from the Ching Yi Kung Fu Association, am a member of the Dao Li Jiao, am a devoted wife and mother, and continue to follow the wisdom of the Dao.