Yan was certified as a Mid-Level Instructor by the late Grandmaster Chen Qingzhou in 2011 and as a Master Instructor of Chen Style Taijiquan by the American Chen Taiji Society in 2019. She is a faculty member at California University - Silicon Valley (formerly Nine Star University of Health Sciences), and was a Taiji instructor in the Health Improvement Program at Stanford University for 8 years. Yan was a multi-year gold medalist and judge at regional Chinese martial arts competitions, and has over ten years of experience teaching Taiji and Qigong in weekly group classes, leading workshops and intensives, and coaching for Taiji competitions and stage performances.

Yan takes a student-centered approach to Taijiquan instructions and coaching where each individual is met where they are and encouraged to take the lead in growing and transforming from within. She works with students and clients of all ages and backgrounds.