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What is Tai Chi?
Tai Chi is for everyone.
Tai Chi is an art that is expansive in its applications. Relaxation, concentration, self healing, performance enhancement, intuitive awareness, emotional calming, spiritual development, and self-defense are just some of the most popular benefits of this amazing art. Tai Chi’s popularity surge in the West is not only a direct response to the growing intensity and speed of our daily lives, but a testament to its timeless and boundless benefits.
Practitioners of all ages, physical abilities, and cultural backgrounds have adopted Tai Chi as their primary tool for creating a healthy and balanced lifestyle. Even though its actual number of practitioners cannot be known, Tai Chi has been argued to be the most practiced form of exercise in the world.
The most popular aspect of Tai Chi is the moving meditation form. It generally looks like a graceful calisthenic, or a series of martial arts moves. It is usually done at a slow, relaxed pace which makes it highly accessible to all.
Tai Chi is a Taoist Yoga, and is commonly referred to as an internal martial art. While all martial arts can help in regards to personal development, internal arts are designed to engage the opponent within first.
See Tai Chi Instructors HERE
Tai Chi Benefits
• REDUCE STRESS
• INCREASE FLEXIBILITY
• IMPROVE MUSCLE STRENGTH AND DEFINITION
• INCREASE ENERGY, STAMINA AND AGILITY
• INCREASE FEELINGS OF WELL BEING
• REDUCE ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION
• IMPROVE BALANCE AND COORDINATION
Courtesy of Mayo Clinic
How Does Tai Chi Work?
Over the years, our bodies receive and retain enormous amounts of stress and tension from all facets of our general being and lifestyle. Mental, emotional, and physical stress affect our body movements, posture, thoughts, personality, and overall performance in daily living. For some, tension even becomes a dominant trait of who they are. In Tai Chi, moving postures and meditative techniques are used to sink the practitioner into a relaxed and focused state. Thus leading to a reduction in tension, as well as a dramatic awareness and increase of our life energy (chi). Also, through a qualitative increase in coordination, posture, concentration, and breathing we learn to move and think more efficiently and less destructively. Tai Chi is not a mystical art. It is a study of subtlety, and the energy that lies beneath our movements.
As you grow more relaxed, you become less afraid. As you become
less afraid you grow more relaxed."
- Professor Cheng Man Ch'ing
What Can Tai Chi Do For You?
Tai Chi is an art of self discovery. You, your life, and how you interact within it are the objects of study. By relaxing and moving slowly we learn how to listen to ourselves more effectively, and as a result, we become aware of things that have have never been in the foreground of our being before. In Tai Chi we reprogram our body-mind to seek harmony instead of conflict, neutralize opposition instead of defend against it, and reconnect to our life energy. This leads us to a self knowledge that is rich and deep, and equips us optimally for genuine change and growth. Naturally, the harmonizing within ourselves transcends our practice, and makes it way into all aspects of our lives.
Tai Chi Styles
Tai chi styles have an "internal" or "external" emphasis. An internal (temple) style stresses inner health and the cultivation of chi, or internal life energy. An external (family) style emphasizes exercise and relaxation.
Family styles
Family style began after China was conquered by Mongol invaders. The art went underground and became more of a martial art taught by masters aiming to further Chinese culture.
Family styles were once the sole property of a single family who only taught the style to people in the family household - no outsiders were usually involved.
At some point the Chen family taught their style to an outsider called Yang who eventually left the Chen household to return home where he modified the style he had been taught and created the yang style.
Nowadays when people refer to the family style they tend to mean the original or classic style as practiced by the first families.
There are five major styles of Taijiquan, each named after the Chinese family that teaches it:
Chen style - 陈式
Yang style - 杨式
Sun style - 孙式
Wu Hao style of Wu Yu-hsiang - 武式
Wu style of Wu Ch'uan-yü and Wu Chien-ch'uan - 吴式
Modified Sun Style
Tai Chi for Arthritis was created from Sun and Yang styles to ease the pressure on joints and encourage mobility.
The modified Sun (pronounced Soong) is an easy style of Tai Chi to learn. It was designed by Dr. Paul Lam for those who suffer with physical problems relating to arthritis, osteoporosis, back pain, diabetes and many other problems.
Temple Style
Temple style tai chi originated with Buddhist and Taoist monks in ancient China as a method to promote health. The postures fall under the Yang family style system.
Temple style promotes meditation as a way to generate internal energy and health
Remember that whichever style you choose, you will derive physical benefit and serenity of spirit.
Things You Should Know:
Once you find a class that suits your needs and schedule, you can contact that instructor, or just stop by before class and make payment arrangements with that instructor.
All you need to wear is comfortable looser fitting clothing. Street shoes are not allowed. You may practice, barefoot, with socks on, or you may purchase cotton soled tai chi(kung fu) shoes. They normally cost about $10, but are not necessary for practice.
If you are attending the "Lowertown Tai Chi" event, then normal
comfortable footwear is all you need. Practice is usually held in the grass, or on concrete if the ground is too wet.
Important Information
Paducah Yoga Center will be closed on the days below:
Memorial Day, July 4th, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve & Christmas Day, New Years Eve & Day
In the event of inclement weather, PYC follows Paducah City School Closings.
Tai Chi Instructors
ERIC ROMANAK
Eric Romanak holds a certificate as an Apprentice Instructor 600 hours through Three Rivers Martial Arts Academy. Eric studies Tai Chi under Master level instructor George Bolger, and Master Waysun Liao of The Tai Chi Tao Center in Oak Park, Illinois. Eric also holds rank in Royce Gracie Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Filipino Kali, and Jun Fan Gung Fu under Chief Instructor Jason
Hawkins of Three Rivers Martial Arts Academy in Paducah, KY.
Eric continues to study Tai Chi with the same enthusiasm that
attracted him to the art in the beginning. He is dedicated to the
pursuit of quality Tai Chi, and how it can be utilized
to enhance our everyday lives.
For Private Instruction or more information
Contact romiwan@yahoo.com
or call PYC at 575-0211
Links
Paducah Tai Chi is your online resource for Tai chi, QiGong (Chi Kung), and meditation, classes, instructors, and events in the Paducah area.
Classes and events are posted on the Calendar page.
Tai Chi 4 Your Health
A well proven program designed by Dr. Paul Lam for those who
suffer with physical problems relating to arthritis, osteoporosis,
back pain, diabetes and many other problems.
Three Rivers Martial Arts Academy
For the mind, body, and spirit. Providing a positive-quality learning atmosphere for the novice and experienced martial artist. "Change Your Life"
The Tai Chi Tao Center
The oldest Tai Chi center in North America, founded by Master
Wayson Liao. Dedicated to traditional Tai Chi practice and Tao
wisdom for healing, martial arts, self improvement, spiritual
development, and more.
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SCHEDULEFALL 2010
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