Immortal Sisters scholarship: a Tai Chi scholarship for women
Imagine a scholarship that supports women in Tai Chi. One that gives you time with real teachers, room to hone your craft, and a community of fellow students walking the same path. Not just a form to fill out, but genuine support to go deeper into your practice.
That kind of scholarship actually exists. The Immortal Sisters of the Tao scholarship just wrapped its first round, with 13 women awarded funding to pursue their training in Tai Chi, Qi Gong, and Taoist meditation.
Where the Immortal Sisters scholarship comes from
I love that this exists. For years, across different teachers, different styles, and different cities, I’ve noticed the same pattern: most of my teachers have been men, most of my fellow students have been women. So a place that actively supports women teaching and training in these arts speaks to my heart.
I first heard about the Immortal Sisters of the Tao (IST) in 2017. It was initially a conference in the USA, when a handful of women came together to create a gathering devoted to women in Tai Chi, Qi Gong, and Taoist practice. They named it after Thomas Cleary’s book Immortal Sisters: Secret Teachings of Taoist Women*, which tells of historical female Taoist adepts.
I remember considering flying over myself, even though I’m in Germany. I never made it. But I hope that one day, I get to sit in a room with these women in person.
What this Tai Chi scholarship actually offers
The Immortal Sisters scholarship works in three ways:
- Tier 1: $300 to $500 for women with less than three years of practice
- Tier 2: up to $1000 for women with more than three years of experience
- Selected Programs: a limited number of scholarships go directly to selected programs
Applications are open from July 15th to September 15th, 2026. The Foundation is especially looking to support women from historically underrepresented communities, including Black, Latinx, and Indigenous women. If you want the full details, eligibility criteria, and the application form itself, the Foundation’s scholarship page has everything laid out.
The Council of Sisters behind it
So who is behind the Foundation? The scholarship is guided by this group of women:
- Sharon Smith — founder and director of the Foundation, one of Mantak Chia’s first Western students in 1981
- Violet Li (my interview) — 12th generation Chen Style Tai Chi inheritor, award-winning journalist writing on Tai Chi and Qigong for over 20 years
- Marie Favorito — director of Universal Tao Boston, collaborated with Harvard Medical School’s Tai Chi research
- Jamee Culbertson (my interview) — Tai Chi teacher for nearly 40 years, also an Alexander Technique instructor for nearly 30 years
- Kathryn Davis — Qigong teacher for over 30 years, host of Heart Of Mind Radio
- Anita Teresa — movement and spiritual teacher, founder of the Embodied Femme Salon
- Chicava — certified Tao and Qigong teacher, blends burlesque with Taoist feminine teachings
- Rachel Santos — Healing Tao Qigong instructor, blending aquatic movement therapy with Qi Gong since 2014
What I love here is that this isn’t some big organisation run by men from the top down. It’s a group of friends who practiced and taught together for decades, and who let that friendship grow into something bigger: a real structure to make sure the next generation of Tai Chi women has it a little easier than they did.
What you can do
If you’re a woman studying Tai Chi, Qi Gong, or Taoist meditation, consider applying for the Immortal Sisters scholarship yourself. And if you don’t want to apply yourself, consider donating, so more women get the chance to train with the teachers who shaped this circle in the first place.
Happy Qi!
Angelika