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Angela Verkade In her birthtown Leiden (the Netherlands)

Biography of Angela J.H. Verkade (傅安吉)

Angela J.H. Verkade (傅安吉; Taoist name: Fu Danrong 傅丹融) is a Taoist Lifestyle Coach and Practitioner specializing in Taoist Medicine, Qigong, and Internal Martial Arts. Her Taoist name, Danrong (丹融), may be rendered as “she who harmonizes the Elixir,” reflecting a focus on integration, balance, and gradual refinement.

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Drawing on formal training in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and extensive experience in modern entrepreneurship, her work emphasizes balance, resilience, and awareness as foundations for sustainable Taoist practice and long-term personal cultivation.

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She is the Co-Founder & Owner of Taoist-Lifestyle.com and works closely with her life partner, Prof. Dr. Dan K.J. Vercammen, with whom she teaches, organizes, and develops educational programs. Taoist-Lifestyle.com evolved in 2025 from China Arts College and the Taoist Alchemical Studies Center (TASC). Within the organization, she is also responsible for financial administration and (social media) marketing, supporting institutional continuity and outreach.

​Training, Practice, and Areas of Specialization

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Angela Verkade’s work is grounded in long-term engagement with Taoist health cultivation, movement arts, and lifestyle practice. She is specialized in:

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  • Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)

  • Qigong

  • Taijiquan

  • Internal Martial Arts

  • Footreflex therapy (Western and Chinese traditions)

  • Tuina and Tuina Anmo

  • Strength and Mobility programs

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Her approach emphasizes embodied practice, gradual cultivation, and the integration of Taoist principles into daily life, rather than short-term techniques or purely therapeutic interventions.

Personal Path and Early Background

 

Angela Verkade began practicing gymnastics at the age of five, later expanding her movement training to include dance. During her teenage years, she explored karate and taekwondo, while developing a strong interest in ancient cultures and their philosophical foundations.

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Rather than immediately pursuing this interest, she followed a conventional professional path and built a successful entrepreneurial career in the ICT sector, serving as co-founder, CFO, and CMO of an ICT company. While this period provided valuable professional experience, it gradually led her away from physical and inner balance. After years of ignoring bodily warning signals, she became seriously ill in 2013.

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This experience marked a turning point. In search of recovery, she discovered Qigong, which led her to formal studies in Traditional Chinese Medicine beginning in 2014. She specialized in Yang Style Taijiquan (Zheng Manqing / Cheng Man-ch’ing tradition) and Medical Qigong. Within several months, she was able to discontinue medication and experienced a steady improvement in health. From that moment onward, her engagement with Chinese culture, philosophy, martial arts, Qigong, and TCM deepened significantly.

Advanced Taoist Training

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In 2020, Angela Verkade met Prof. Dr. Dan K.J. Vercammen, who became her teacher and later her life partner. Under his guidance, she transitioned to Dong and Yue style Taijiquan and began systematic training in:

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Since 2021, she has assisted Dan Vercammen with classes, research support, and event organization. These activities formally evolved into Taoist-Lifestyle.com in 2025.

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Since 2024, both have been actively involved in establishing the Academy of the Free Mind, part of the Embassy of the Free Mind in Amsterdam, where they are responsible for Taoist Wisdom, Taoist and Chinese Philosophy, Taoist Alchemy, and related practices.

Holistic Practice (2017–2022)

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From 2017 to 2022, Angela Verkade operated her own holistic practice, Nei Jing Tu – Living from Inner Strength, named after the classical Taoist diagram of the inner landscape of the body (Neijingtu).

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Within this practice, she worked as a:

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  • TCM practitioner

  • Tuina and Footreflex therapist

  • Lifestyle Coach

  • Taijiquan (Tai Chi Chuan) and Qigong teacher

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Since 2022, she no longer maintains a formal clinical or therapeutic practice. Her current focus lies on teaching, Taoist studies and research, and event organization, although she may occasionally offer guidance to individuals seeking a more balanced and conscious way of living.

Education and Formal Training

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Angela Verkade’s education reflects a structured, long-term engagement with Taoist studies, Chinese medicine, and internal arts:

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  • Master of Taoist Arts — Taoist Alchemical Studies Center (TASC), under Prof. dr. Dan K.J. Vercammen, France (2020–present)
    Internal Martial Arts, Chinese Culture and Philosophy, Taoist Chinese Medicine, Classical Chinese, Internal Alchemy (Neidan)

  • Traditional Chinese Medicine & Lifestyle Coaching, specialization in Taijiquan (Zheng Manqing / Cheng Man-ch’ing tradition) and Qigong — BOCAM, Tilburg, Netherlands (2014–2017)

  • Medical Qigong Specialization — BOCAM, Tilburg, Netherlands (2016)

  • PSBK Psychosocial Knowledge, specialization in Narcissism and Münchhausen by Proxy Syndrome — Vita Opleidingen, Zeewolde, Netherlands (2017)

  • Taijiquan Studies (Yang Luchan / Yang Fukui tradition) — BOCAM, Tilburg, Netherlands (2017–2018)

  • Footreflex, Tuina, Craniosacral, and Bodywork Specializations — Total Health Academy and other institutions, Netherlands (2017–2020)

  • Guasha / (Fire) Cupping / Moxa — Rep Your Body, Heerhugowaard, Netherlands (2018)

  • Eye Diagnostics (Western and TCM) — Vita Opleidingen, Zeewolde, Netherlands (2018)

  • Auriculotherapy (Ear Acupuncture) — Qing Bai Academy, Amersfoort, Netherlands (2018)

  • TuiNa Therapeutical Massage — Total Health Academy, Wijhe, Netherlands (2018–2020)

  • Nine Star Ki — Rep Your Body, Heerhugowaard, Netherlands (2019–2020)

Early Achievements and Movement Arts

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  • Regional Gymnastics Champion, The Netherlands (1981–1991)

  • Drum & Bugle Corps Colorguard, European Champion A Class (1996–1997)

Awards and Recognitions

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  • Finalist, Businesswoman of the Year, Flevoland, Netherlands (2011)

  • Audience Award Winner, ICT Entrepreneur of the Netherlands (2013 & 2015)

Role within Taoist-Lifestyle.com

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Within Taoist-Lifestyle.com, Angela J.H. Verkade (Fu Danrong 傅丹融) is responsible for:

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  • co-developing educational programs and long-term learning pathways

  • teaching and organizing Taoist programs, workshops, and retreats

  • supporting students in integrating Taoist principles into daily life

  • financial administration and organizational continuity

  • communication and (social media) outreach

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Her role supports the responsible, grounded, and sustainable transmission of Taoist knowledge, aligned with classical sources and adapted to contemporary conditions.

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