Martial Posture Studio

Tai Chi Chuan (Adults)

Martial Posture Won BEST OF PHILLY 2005 from Philadelphia Magazine for our outstanding programs

Tai chi chuan (Traditional Chinese: 太極拳; Simplified Chinese: 太极拳; Hanyu Pinyin: tàijíquán; Wade-Giles: t'ai4 chi2 ch'üan2) is an internal Chinese martial art often practiced with the aim of promoting health and longevity. Tai chi chuan's training forms are well known as the slow motion routines that groups of people practice together every morning in parks around the world, particularly in China. Some medical studies support its effectiveness as an alternative exercise and a form of martial arts therapy. Tai chi chuan is considered a soft style martial art - an art applied with internal power - to distinguish its theory and application from that of the hard martial art styles. There are many different styles of tai chi chuan, but most modern schools can trace their development to the system originally taught by the Chen family to the Yang family starting in 1820.
Tai Chi is an ancient Chinese philosophy based on the principle of polarity. Beginning with the concepts of Heaven and Earth the ancients categorized all phenomena into their positive and negative positions. This they called Yin and Yang, for example Earth is Yin and Heaven is Yang, furthermore the Moon is Yin and Sun is Yang. It is said that one who practices Tai Chi diligently will gain the strength of a lumberjack, the pliability of a baby, and the peace of a sage. We offer an ongoing introductory level class. In this class the basic fundamentals are taught. It is designed to help you understand the stances and underlying structural principles along with the foot maneuvers and arm actions. As well, we will explore the Concepts of breathing and Chi. The introductory level course is a 12 week program. After a 12 week span you may be eligible to graduate to the intermediate level class where you will learn more advanced Tai chi dance forms. In this intermediate class it will take about 10 months before you understand the concepts and principles well enough to continue on your own. Usually one year is enough time to grasp an understanding of Tai Chi and be able to practice and continue on your own. If you wish to go further however there are many different forms of Tai Chi including weapon sets and two person exercises. You could easily spend a lifetime and not exhaust what there is to learn.

Curriculum

Traditional Tai techniques & exercises
Fundamentals of breathing, relaxation, & the mind-body connection
Flexibility & strength exercises formed to individual levels of fitness

Participants of our program can:

Increase Strength and Flexibility
Reduce Stress & and blood pressure
Enhance the Mind/Body connection
Gain Coordination
Feel healthier
Learn Tai Chi despite of size, weight, strength or age
Easily learn from our organized, laid out curriculum