Class Descriptions
Foundations of Tai Chi (Beginners & Continuing students)
This class breaks away from the traditional beginners class model. It focuses on the building blocks that form the foundations of Tai Chi — including balance, coordination, flexibility, strength, and awareness. The emphasis is not the ‘Set,’ but rather the principles of movement. This class will run with a continuous intake, meaning students can join this class at any point. Beginner students may attend the Foundations class and/or the traditional 108-move set class, depending on their own requirements.
Seated Tai Chi (Health Promotion) (Beginners & Continuing students)
This class is helpful for everybody, and especially students with health and mobility issues. While seated in class, students learn movements which help to increase circulation, as well as to improve joint mobility, and to stretch the tendons and ligaments. Additional exercises to stretch the back and spine are also introduced to begin increasing overall flexibility, balance and strength. Recent studies indicate that Tai Chi may help with a range of medical problems including: Parkinsons, MS, Fibromyalgia, Arthritis, Asthma, and rehabilitation from hip and knee replacements.
Tai Chi (108-move set)
We offer a beginners, continuing, as well as set review classes of the Tai Chi Form based on the Traditional Yang style 108-move set.
Gentle Tai Chi
This seated and standing Tai Chi class is a slower paced class, suitable for beginner and continuing students who may need some extra encouragement and support to participate regularly. Also suitable for folks who have mobility issues and/or who may be challenged by neurodegenerative diseases such as MS and Parkinson’s. Gentle Tai Chi aims to help with symptom reduction, and improvements in muscle strength, coordination, flexibility, and balance.
Lok Hup Ba Fa (For Continuing Students Only)
This class is recommended for continuing Tai Chi students only. Our Lok Hup Ba Fa (Liu He Ba Fa) form comes to us from Wu, Yi-Hui to Leung, Tze-Pang to Moy, Lin-Shin. It is one of the last “closed door” internal arts systems. Lok Hup has the elements of Tai Chi, Ba Gua and Hsing-I along with its own special characteristics.
Hsing-I (For Continuing Students Only)
Hsing-I Chuan (Form-Mind Boxing) has a hard, angular external appearance, but actually cultivates a “soft” internal strength. While appearing linear from the outside the Hsing-I practitioner is actually working with very compact circular movement. With proper practice the channels and meridians of the body are opened and strengthened and the organ systems are encouraged to work effectively. One becomes stronger, more flexible, more balanced, with more energy both physically and mentally. Hsing-I prizes working within core principles rather that aesthetic values.