Qi Gong/Tai Chi
class

Yi Jin Jing leading to Chen Tai Chi

This class will be focused on learning breath control as the foundation to the internal work that lies at the core of Chen Tai Chi (see below) practice. The focus of Yi Jing JIng (see below) will be the understanding and application of reverse breathing, also referred to as kidney breathing. It is a set of qigong exercises that aims to cultivate the mind-body connection using the breath as a bridge between the two.This connection will transition into the fundamentals of Chen Style Tai Chi and will exalt the health benefits derived from form practice.

Bodhidharma
Yi Jin Jing

Yi Jin Jing is a well known Qi Gong routine that is practiced in the Shaolin Temple in China. Translated as the muscle/tendon changing classic, it is a physically demanding approach to using precise breath work in coordination with body movement aimed at cultivating awareness of the mind-body connection. It focuses on stretching the tendons, toning the muscles fibers and engaging the body's fascia. As such it has a multitude of health benefits if practiced diligently. Traditionally, Yi Jin Jing is an ideological method of practice with the actual set of 12 movements varying based on teacher lineage. The set presented is the one taught by Shi Guolin, 34th generation Shaolin monk and former head coach of the fighting monks at the Shaolin Temple in China.

Chen Tai Chi

Chen Style Tai Chi is arguably the oldest and first form of Tai Chi, originating in Chen Village China, known for combining yin and yang (soft and hard) with profound health benefits like improved balance, strength, and focus. It incorporates deep stances, waist turning, and the eight basic energies/jin (Peng, Lu, Ji, An, Cai, Lie, Zhou, Kao). The class will focus on basic foundational exercises, stance work, silk reeling exercises and leading into the Chen 18 short form as learned form Master Wang Hai Jun, disciple of Grandmaster Chen Zheng Lei from Chen Village.