Born and raised in Harbin, China, Hong Ji earned her bachelor’s and master’s degree in physical education science from Harbin Sport University and Beijing Sport University. After beginning her teaching career in 1989, she moved to the United States in 1996 and built a life shaped by movement, healing, and cross-cultural discovery.

Over more than three decades, Hong has worked as a teacher, instructor, trainer, coach, lecturer, and healer. She served on the faculty of the International Institute of Chinese Medicine and spent more than 16 years as an Exercise Physiologist at OSF Healthcare, contributing to medical exercise, arthritis, Parkinson’s, bariatric care, weight-management, and eating-disorder programs.

A former national gymnastics medalist, Hong is also a lifelong student of Taiji and an advocate of Chinese tea culture. She co-created Chinese Tea Imports and co-authored and translated the Cha Dao – The Way of Tea article series. In 2023, she founded Hong Ji Consulting – Mind & Body Total Healing, bringing Eastern philosophy and modern Western knowledge together to support balanced living and personal transformation.