About Us
We’re proud to introduce you to our doctors, to share our work’s purpose, and to offer a glimpse of our deep history dating back 38 generations of medical practitioners in the Ni family and 74 generations of spiritual training from master to student. Together, we offer you our expertise and guidance as part of a truly unique medical practice.
Our Doctors
Dr. Daoshing Ni, D.O.M., L.Ac., Ph.D, Dipl.C.H.
Dr. Dao is a Licensed Acupuncturist in the State of California and is a Diplomate of Chinese Herbology NCCA. Dr. Dao has been active in the TCM profession as well as professional organizations. He was an examiner for the California Acupuncture Committee and also participated in the Chinese Herbology Exam development for NCCA. Well known and respected for his special interest in reproductive and gynecological conditions, Dr. Dao is a member of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, Pacific Coast Fertility Society, and American Association of Oriental Medicine. Dr. Dao is the author of Tao of Fertility and co-author of Sitting Moon: A Guide to Rejuvenation after Pregnancy.
Dr. Mao Shing Ni, L.Ac., D.O.M., Ph.D.
Dr. Mao Shing Ni is a 38th-generation doctor of Chinese medicine and an internationally recognized leader in integrative and longevity-focused healthcare. He holds dual doctorates, is board-certified in anti-aging medicine, and is the author of over 20 books, including several bestsellers published in 22 languages. His work bridges Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) with modern biomedical science, with a focus on prevention, health optimization, and long-term vitality.
Dr. Mao is the co-founder of Tao of Wellness and Yo San University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, both longstanding institutions dedicated to clinical care, education, and the advancement of integrative medicine. His clinical and academic contributions have earned national recognition, including distinction as “Best of the Best” on The Dr. Oz Show, as well as appearances on The Doctors and with Katie Couric, and coverage in The New York Times and Los Angeles Times.
His areas of expertise include integrative approaches to aging, cancer, fertility, metabolic and menopausal health, stress physiology, and performance optimization. Dr. Mao’s work emphasizes evidence-based strategies that integrate nutrition, lifestyle medicine, herbal therapeutics, acupuncture, and mind-body practices to support physiological resilience and healthy aging.
As a speaker, Dr. Mao has presented at international medical and wellness conferences, Fortune 500 organizations, and more than 40 chapters of the Young Presidents’ Organization (YPO), including global leadership events and executive education programs. His presentations are known for translating complex medical and philosophical concepts into clinically relevant, actionable insights.
Dr. Mao continues to be a trusted advisor to executives, healthcare professionals, and individuals seeking a comprehensive, integrative approach to health, longevity, and performance.
Albert Vaca, L.Ac.
Albert Vaca is a California Board–Licensed Acupuncturist with over 20 years of clinical experience and has been a valued practitioner at Tao of Wellness for more than a decade. He earned his Master’s degree in Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine from Yo San University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, where he later served as Dean of Clinical Education, mentoring and training acupuncture interns in a dynamic clinical environment.
Albert specializes in sports medicine and orthopedic acupuncture. He completed advanced postgraduate training in acupuncture orthopedics at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and is a Certified Acupuncture Orthopedic Specialist through the Academy of Orthopedic Acupuncture. He is known for his precise, hands-on approach, integrating acupuncture with Tuina, myofascial techniques, corrective movement, and Infinichi Energy Therapy to support pain relief, functional recovery, and nervous system regulation.
Committed to integrative, patient-centered care, Albert has collaborated with multidisciplinary medical teams in women’s health, internal medicine, and pediatrics at Venice Family Clinic and Being Alive. He is a strong advocate for active healing and incorporates Qi Gong–inspired movement into his treatments, empowering patients to participate meaningfully in their recovery.
Albert is the co-author of BACK to Pain-Free Health: Secrets of Natural Healing for Back Pain. Fluent in Spanish, he maintains a personal practice of meditation and Tai Chi. His work is guided by a deep commitment to helping patients restore balance and reconnect with their innate capacity for healing through skilled, compassionate, and thoughtful care.
Dr. Shannon Lawrence, DAOM
Dr. Shannon Lawrence is a California Board–Licensed Acupuncturist and Diplomate of Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM) with advanced clinical training in internal medicine and healthy aging. She earned her Doctorate and Master’s degrees from Yo San University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, where she also served as Chair of the Points Department and faculty member, receiving the Distinguished Faculty Award. Her clinical training includes residencies in Beijing at the China Beijing International Acupuncture Training Center and Tao Ren Hospital, as well as externships at Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles and Being Alive.
Dr. Lawrence has extensive experience in both private practice and integrative healthcare settings, including her role as a Licensed Acupuncturist and clinical supervisor at Venice Family Clinic/UCLA. Her work focuses on comprehensive Chinese medicine diagnosis and treatment, with particular interest in pain management, women’s health, and mind-body medicine. She integrates acupuncture, herbal therapy, and lifestyle-based approaches to support both acute and chronic conditions, with an emphasis on long-term health and resilience.
In addition to her clinical work, Dr. Lawrence is an educator, mentor, and writer, contributing to research, academic instruction, and public education on Traditional Chinese Medicine. She is known for her thoughtful, patient-centered approach and her commitment to bridging classical Chinese medicine with modern integrative care.
Dr. Yu-Shien Ni, L.Ac.
Dr. Yu-Shien Ni is a California Board–Licensed Acupuncturist who represents the 39th generation of the Ni family’s healing lineage at Tao of Wellness. She earned her Master’s and Doctorate degrees in Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine from Yo San University of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Her clinical training includes a residency at the Blount Community Clinic, where she received the Clinical Excellence Award, as well as advanced study in Taiwan with renowned classical physician Dr. Ivan Y.K. Hsiao.
Before pursuing Chinese medicine, Yu-Shien studied Environmental Biology at the University of California, Berkeley, and worked in environmental sustainability, helping institutions develop long-term, systems-based solutions. She brings these systems-oriented perspectives into her clinical work, viewing the body as an interconnected ecosystem and supporting health through both Traditional Chinese Medicine and Functional Medicine principles.
Her clinical interests include digestive health, women’s health, reproductive medicine, and orthopedic care, with a focus on restoring balance, building resilience, and supporting long-term vitality.
Outside the clinic, Yu-Shien is a rock climbing instructor and former equestrian and competitive swimmer. She enjoys preparing nourishing meals and spending time in nature through surfing, hiking, and camping. She believes that consistent daily habits—how we eat, move, and live—form the foundation of long-term health and vitality.
Our Mission
Traditional Chinese Medicine has its origin in ancient Taoist philosophy which views a person as an energy system in which body and mind are unified, each influencing and balancing the other. Unlike allopathic medicine which attempts to isolate and separate a disease from a person, Chinese medicine emphasizes a holistic approach that treats the whole body. We believe that acupuncture, along with herbal therapy, tuina massage and nutrition are the key tools to wellness. Many people have found Traditional Chinese methods of healing to be excellent tools for maintaining optimum health and preventing illness. Traditional Chinese Medicine is effective for physical, psychological and emotional conditions.
One of the Ni family’s strongest beliefs is: to be a good practitioner, one must also be a good teacher. Hence, Master Ni, Drs. Dao & Mao Ni also founded a school of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Yo San University in Marina del Rey where the doctors teach and continue to transmit this ancient knowledge of healing. Drs. Daoshing and Mao Shing Ni are also well published authors. Between the three of them, including Master Ni, they have published over 70 books in Chinese Health and Fitness, Chinese Classics, Taoist Philosophy, Tai Chi and Qi Gong. These are great resources for patients to promote their own wellness. Even though Tao of Wellness has received accolades such as, “Best of L.A.”, we strive to continue improving and providing the best possible service.
Our History
Master Ni, Hua-Ching has been teaching and practicing in the United States since 1976. Master Ni is fully acknowledged and empowered as a true Master of Tao.
He is heir to the wisdom transmitted through an unbroken succession of 74 generations of masters dating back to the Han dynasty (206 BCE – 220 CE). As a young boy, he was educated within his family in the spiritual foundation of Tao, and trained in mainland China by Taoist masters in healing, T’ai Chi Ch’uan, Kung Fu, Internal Alchemy, Chinese Medicine and Herbology. Later, he studied for more than 31 years in the high mountains of China, fully achieving all aspects of Taoist science and metaphysics.
Throughout his life, Master Ni has supported himself through his work as a physician. Tao of Wellness and its predecessor clinic were established by Master Ni in 1976. He retired in 1985 and his two sons, Drs. Daoshing Ni and Mao Shing Ni took over and have since expanded the medical center by bringing in additional associates. All doctors and associates at Tao of Wellness treat various conditions, such as infertility, gynecological disorders, immunology, gastrointestinal, pain disorders, pain management and healthy aging medicine.
