The Pulse of Balance

July Newsflash

From the Tan Academy of Balance team!

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IN THE JULY NEWSLFLASH:

• Deadline for mentorship applications – Friday July 31, 2026
  • Eight Extraordinary Vessels & Complementary Channels (8EVCC)
  • Certified Chinese Astrology Consultant (CAC) 
  • Balance System Acupuncture Practitioner (BSAP)
• CAC Alumni Class Representative’s Mentorship Reflection
• Balance System Acupuncture (BSA) Level 4.5R: Advanced Refinement – webinar available now! 
• Balance System Acupuncture (BSA) Alumni Learning Lab – Monday July 13, 2026 – Sign up closes Sunday July 5th at 11:59pm!
• BSA Foundations Equivalency tests – Sunday August 16, 2026

We hope to see you soon! 

Martina, Sheralyn, Tan Shīfu, Suzanne Lǎoshī, Sara Ward and the Tan Academy of Balance Team

See you online, in-person, or on the Tan Balance Hub

Mentorship Applications Opened!

Deadline Friday July 31, 2026

Written applications are required for entry into all TAB mentorship programs.

BSAP Cohort 7 begins September 11-13, 2026

Balance System Acupuncture Mentorship Program (BSAP)
BSAP program kicks off with Level 2.5 – review and refinement – and continues to all advanced levels of Balance System Acupuncture (3-9) and Grand Rounds classes of cases, adjunct topics, and guest lecturers, including Tan Shīfu herself! This 80+ hour program dives deep in exploring the advanced Balance Acupuncture strategies to effectively deliver more immediate, lasting results. With hands-on demos, case work, feedback mechanisms, adjunct topics and case studies incorporated into the learning. 

8EVCC Cohort 2 begins October 23-25, 2026

Eight Extraordinary Vessels & Complimentary Channels (8EVCC)
with Dr. Yvonne Farrell, DAOM, LAc
This 144-hour mentorship is designed to offer participants an understanding of how each aspect of the channel system can be used to help patients overcome psycho-emotional pain and suffering. Dive deep into the pathophysiology, mental, emotional, and spiritual aspects of the Eight Extraordinary Vessels & Complementary Channels in this in-person only, unique learning experience. 

CAC Cohort 2 begins October 3-4, 2026

Certified Astrology Consultant (CAC) Mentorship
with Shīfu师父/師父Dr. Sonia F. Tan, DAOM, RAc, RTCMP
Understand constitutional energy and life balance at a whole new level. Make sense of the cycles of the Chinese solar, lunar calendar, constitutional energy, and how to live in harmony with it. Understand the Ba Zi / Four Pillars of Destiny style of analysis while developing deeper insight of the Gan Zhi and the Five Phases. Analyze and formulate ways to incorporate recommendations, strategies and life balance. This 135+ hour certificate program spans over 2.5years 

Applications opened – Monday June 1, 2026
Early bird application deadline – Sunday June 21, 2026
Regular application deadline – Friday July 31, 2026

Have questions or want to be added to our interest list? Email us at hello@tanbalance.com. 

See full Academic Calendar here.

GOOD TO KNOW: You can apply to the BSAP Certificate Mentorship program whether or not you have already written the BSA Foundations (Levels 1 and 2) equivalency test.

If you haven’t yet taken the equivalency test, you may receive “conditional acceptance” with full acceptance granted upon successful completion of the BSA Foundations equivalency test.

Ready to take the BSA Foundations equivalency test?
Next sitting Sunday August 16, 2026 

For more information or to answer questions, please email hello@tanbalance.com.

CAC Alumni Class Representative’s Mentorship Reflection

Laurel Irons, RAc.

When I applied for the CAC Cohort, I believe there was a question: Why do you want to learn this? I believe I just said I felt drawn to it and didn’t really know why exactly…

One thing I can say is that this very small step into the vast world of Chinese metaphysics has helped me, broadly, to release this question of “why”.

It’s been really amazing how much the simple information of the time and place of someone’s birth layers a whole new lens of understanding as to what motivates a person. It’s a powerful thing to be able to say to somebody: often, the things you’ve been doing, they’ve been the right things. It helped us to arrive at this moment today to have this conversation.

There’s something incredibly empowering in that. And it’s really beautiful how it all comes back to Wu Xing. Inevitably in the handful of readings I’ve done for people so far, the question always comes up. How do I choose this or that? How do I know what’s good for me, how do I know what to do? And the answer is so simple, it’s remarkable. The answer is just find that helpful element. That’s the whole answer. Find the thing that is good for you, and do it as much as you can. It’s like being given a roadmap when previously we fumbled around in the dark.

I want to thank Tan Shīfu, and all of her ancestors, and the whole Tan Academy of Balance team, and all of your ancestors, and my own ancestors, the Wu Xing, the San Cai, everything that brought us here to have this conversation today. 

I’ll take these teachings forward into the rest of my life. My life is forever changed after learning this.

Balance System Acupuncture (BSA) Level 4.5R: Advanced Refinement webinar available now!

Join Dr. Sonia F. Tan for an advanced learning experience that revisits core Balance System principles, explores refined treatment strategies, and brings the material to life through practical case studies. Ideal for practitioners seeking greater confidence, clinical clarity, and mastery of the Balance Method. 

This webinar is perfect for practitioners who are looking for the “3 R’s”: Review, Refine, Refresh. Build upon BSA Foundations course work (1+2) and BSA Advanced levels 3+4. Fill gaps and deepen your knowledge!

Published and available on our website! 

The webinar is currently accessible in the USA, Canada, and Germany. 

Access expanding to the UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, and Brazil in the near future. 

Keep learning and growing, and make the most of these new resources – anytime and anywhere! 

For more information please email hello@tanbalance.com.

July Alumni Learning Lab – last chance to register!

Monday July 13, 2026

Join us for the July Learning Lab and learn from a Master of Balance System Acupuncture, Tan Shīfu – Dr. Sonia F. Tan, DAOM, RAc, RTCMP! Balance System Acupuncture and Menopause revisited and refined! By special request, Tan Shīfu will revisit her lecture given at the Yo San University Women’s Health Symposium, and outline her refined use of the Wu Xing and I Ching with Heat conditions, namely Menopause! If you missed it, here’s your chance to soak in the refined learning…

Registration closes today July 5th at 11:59 PM!

Who should join? Only Certified Balance System Acupuncture Practitioner program alumni are invited to join.

PREREQUISITE: Must be a Balance System Acupuncture Practitioner mentorship alumni.

Join ONLINE for 90 minutes from wherever you are!

We’ll begin at 1:00pm Pacific time on July 13, 2026!

The Zoom link will be sent out 15 minutes prior to the start time for those who have registered.

Fee: 25 % OFF for premium members of the Tan Balance Hub (the private Tan Academy learning community). Coupon code can be found in Tan Balance Hub on the Activity Feed.

Non-members: $45.00. Register on the TAB Hub by clicking the Events tile.

* Please note: CEUs are only available for those who attend Learning Labs live online.

See you at 1:00 pm Pacific time on Monday July 13, 2026.

Learning Labs Update: Learning Lab recordings will no longer be posted in the Tan Balance Hub Members Area. The Tan Academy of Balance is currently reallocating resources to support live participation and meaningful engagement within our community. We encourage members to attend the live sessions to get the full value of the experience. 

Note: Last day to register is Monday July 6th.  A minimum number of registered participants is required. If the minimum is not reached, the Learning Lab will be cancelled and all fees will be refunded.

Sign up as a premium member for discounted access!

BSA Foundations (Levels 1 & 2) Equivalency Test

Sunday August 16, 2026

Do you want to be an officially certified Balance System Acupuncture Level 2 practitioner? Are you applying to the BSA Certificate Mentorship Program that begins in September 2026? If so, you are required to pass the BSA Foundations Level 1 and 2 equivalency test. Mark your calendars for Sunday August 16, 2026 from 9:00 AM to 12:30 PM Pacific Time. 

Equivalency Test Dates and Fees

BSA Level 1 Equivalency Test: 

Sunday, August 16, 2026

Begins 9:00 am Pacific time, online, ~1.5hrs

BSA Level 2 Equivalency Test: 

Sunday, August 16, 2026

Begins 11:00 am Pacific time, online, ~1.5hrs

minimum 15 minute break between tests

FEE: $315.00 for both tests, excluding tax

All the essential test details are available at the link below.

TAB BSA FOUNDATIONS EQUIVALENCY EXAM FAQ

If you have any questions or wish to register, please email hello@tanbalance.com.

Continued Learning Resources

         Books

Tan Academy of Balance Books

Dr. Sonia Tan authored this book as a reference textbook for BSA Levels 1+2: Single + Multiple Balance. It is an essential clinical reference.

Available in English, Spanish & International French!

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~ Inspiring Confidence ~ Creating Balance ~ Motivating Evolution ~