Class Description:

Tai Chi is a martial art created over seven hundred years ago in China.  Tai Chi has been classified as part martial art, part exercise program and part meditation.  The foundation of Tai Chi is Qigong, which are ancient movements from the Shaolin Crane, Snake and Dragon Kung Fu styles added for self defense.  The words Tai Chi Chuan translate as Supreme Energy Fist and refer to interplay of the concepts of Yin and Yang, opposite but complementary forces.

The training of Tai Chi includes the integration of body, breath, mind, Chi, and spirit.  The focus on Chi circulation was initially used for the purpose of increasing the internal strength of the physical body for combat.  The same techniques that were capable of developing internal power for combat, also proved to be effective as life prolonging, healing and rejuvenating exercises.  These health benefits are the primary contributions that led to the popularity of Tai Chi today.