Andy Mertens

Andy Mertens is the director of the Oshkosh T'ai Chi Center. He became interested in T'ai Chi in order to address personal health issues in his late 20’s. While working as a professional string bassist, he began to experience numb hands and arms after playing. Around the same time, he began having digestive issues. Through a series of connections with occupational therapists, martial arts masters, chiropractors, massage therapists and Quantum Energetic healers, he was able to transform from a sick, toxic, poorly digesting, negative and depressed “old man” to a happy and vital, positive person, easily digesting life. He credits the change not just to his amazing teachers and therapists, but to the powerful principles behind the methods they use. T'ai Chi, with its emphasis on relaxation, body alignments, a clear mind and acting through non-action, helped exponentially so that six months after beginning the practice he was back to playing eight hours a day.  

Andy has a Bachelors of Music from Lawrence University and a Bachelors of Science from the New Physiology Institute.  He is a member of the Association for the Advancement of Energy Medicine and a certified Quantum Energetics Structural Therapist (QEST). He is a practioner of John F. Barnes method of Myofascial Release and has studied with Barnes at Therapy on the Rocks, based in Sedona, Arizona. Andy continues to play music professionally and offers private consultations.

Michael Milewski

Mike Milewski of Milwaukee is a frequent guest instructor at Oshkosh T'ai Chi Center. In 1976, the The T'ai Chi Ch'uan Center of Milwaukee was incorporated as a non-profit, educational corporation. Milewski, the current director of the school, was one of the original founders and one of only four teachers who received certifications to teach T'ai Chi at that time. He has continued his studies with masters from China, Taiwan and the U.S. and is trained in several styles of T’ai Chi, as well as other internal martial arts and Shao Lin Kung fu. He brings the richness of his training to his students through T’ai Chi form instruction and push-hands practice. Mike also teaches special classes, including T’ai Chi sword and staff.