About Us


Strong Body, Calm Mind, Ridiculously Happy

Strala combines the movement wisdom of tai chi with the forms of yoga, tai chi, qigong, and Traditional Chinese Medicine, as a way to help people release stress, heal, and move more easily through all kinds of challenge.

Strala was created by Tara Stiles, drawing on her background in classical ballet and choreography, as well as her long-time practice in yoga. Tara trained with Paul Taylor Dance Company choreographer and dancer Eileen Cropley, and began her yoga study in the 1990s with her ballet teacher, Rory Foster of American Ballet Theater.

The science and movement of Strala is also guided by Mike Taylor. Mike studied mind-body medicine at Harvard, and complementary medicine at Oxford. He has practiced Eastern movement and healing, including tai chi and qi gong, for 30 years.

Sam Berlind is a long-time contributing member of the Strala Training Faculty, with primary responsibility for Traditional Chinese and Japanese Medicine. He led one of the most prestigious Traditional Japanese Medicine schools in NYC for 25 years.

In our Strala Trainings, you learn to shape your destiny on every level that counts, from your psychology, chemistry and neurology, to your chromosomes and even gene expression. The unique set of skills you develop – for connecting with yourself and others, unblocking your energy, healing what needs healing and accomplishing challenge with ease – uncovers your ability to create the life you want, and be an inspiring leader to the people around you.