Darren Tucker

Darren has been studying and practicing Traditional Chinese Medicine for 10 years and studied under Maria Mercati at the Bodyharmonics School.

He is a highly motivated and adaptable person with experience in Management and Training.

Having a methodical mind with attention to detail and the ability to analyse information, he has managed and trained people & teams within the technical sector for years before studying Traditional Chinese Medicine.  This includes Traditional Acupuncture, Electro-Acupuncture, Chinese Nutritional Therapy, Abdominal & Navel Acupuncture, Auricular Acupuncture, Thai Massage, Tui Na Foundation & Masters. 

Having shadowed Maria for a number of years and helping to assist Maria & Graham in teaching, he is now lecturing and demonstrating Acupuncture & Tui Na courses.

Since Maria sadly passed away in February 2025, Merle and I will be continuing Maria’s work of training and passing on her knowledge of Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Merle Hansen

Merle Hansen was born and educated in Germany. Moved to the UK in 1988 to attend university and graduate with BaHons in Education.

She then spent many years running her own company and raising 4 children.
Merle began her training with Maria Mercati in 2017 and successfully completed the TuiNa foundation and Masters. She then went on to study Acupuncture, which included Electro Acupuncture, Herbal Formula tuition and extensive training in Dr Tan’s Balance Method.

Continuing her professional development she recently studied Thai massage under Peter Packard.

In 2019 Merle was fortunate enough to accompany Maria Mercati to China to study at the University Hospital in Hangzhou and had the privilege to observe the practice of this ancient art in its country of origin. Here she was first introduced to the concept of Abdominal and Navel Acupuncture and also attended lectures on Scalp Acupuncture.

Merle has been working at Bodyharmonics alongside Maria and Graham Mercati for a number of years and is now lecturing on the Acupuncture and TuiNa courses with her collegue Darren Tucker. A recent engagement took them to Belgium to teach the first international course of Abdominal Acupuncture in Antwerp, based on the pivotal and pioneering book by Maria Mercati.

Merle will be continuing Maria’s 30 year legacy and unique style of Acupuncture and TuiNa Massage.