Tai Chi Chuan Curriculum

Beginner to advanced, learning at Body Balance is a lifelong opportunity.

Beginning Tai Chi Chuan students will develop the mind-body connection through "Awakening Chi," a basic energy manipulation sequence combining breath with motion. Each class students will perform the relaxing yet invigorating Qi Gong warmups and Tai Chi exercises in unison. Easy to follow along and an excellent relaxation method, this is the first step in learning Tai Chi, and it's a class that anyone can come to.

Intermediate Tai Chi students will, upon approval from your teacher, move into the Yang Form of Tai Chi, which takes about 6 months to learn and a lifetime to master. You will perform the warmups with your class and then learn new moves at your instuctor's discretion until you've completed the entire form. At this point you have accomplished a great feat, and added to your tools for lifelong health something which you can practice at any age!

Advanced Tai Chi students will have the opportunity to learn Tai Chi Straight Sword, Tai Chi two man set and a variety of other Tai Chi forms. Hsing Yi and Ba Gua are also available to the advanced student.

Push Hands

As students progress through the Tai Chi form they begin learning Push Hands. At an early level, push hands consists of "sensitivity training." This entails learning to guide one's own energy while becoming aware of another's. One central concept is learning to yield to an attack, redirecting the opponents energy. Push Hands becomes the perfect place to explicate the Tai Chi form, essentially learning how to apply each technique. At a higher level, students participate in two hand freestyle Push Hands, or "combat Tai Chi." This becomes an integral part of learning how to guide and cultivate chi.