WHAT CLASSES ARE BEST FOR NEW STUDENTS?

New students are welcome at any Thursday or Saturday class.  Everyone does qigong together then beginners receive small group instruction in tai chi while advanced students practice on their own.  Tuesday classes focus on advanced skills and are not open to beginners. 

A class for beginners only is offered at a satellite location in Hadley, MA.  This class includes tai chi walk, tai chi 12 form and some moving qigong.  See News page of this website for details. 

WHY IS BEGINNER TAI CHI TAUGHT ONLY AS PART OF A CLASS THAT INCLUDES QIGONG?  I ONLY WANT TO LEARN TAI CHI.    
The beginning stage of learning tai chi involves learning external movements that are beneficial in building external strength, improving balance, and increasing flexibility.   Internal work begins much later.  Qigong begins building internal strength from the beginning.  A class that includes techniques that build both external and internal strength is a balanced approach that is highly desirable.  The tai chi portion of class is about as long as beginner tai chi classes offered in other schools so the opportunity to learn qigong along with tai chi is a valuable bonus.

WHEN SHOULD I ARRIVE FOR CLASS?
Arrive five or ten minutes before your first class is scheduled to start to allow time for an orientation to qigong and tai chi.  

WHAT SHOULD I WEAR TO CLASS?
Wear loose clothing and comfortable, flat shoes for both qigong and tai chi (taijiquan). Students should not participate in bare feet.

HOW OFTEN SHOULD I ATTEND CLASS?
Most beginning students attend one class per week. Learning is more effective if you attend twice a week. Many intermediate and advanced students attend three times a week.

WHAT MIGHT I EXPECT DURING THE QIGONG PORTION OF CLASS?

Multiple forms of qigong are practiced each week. The main form is a sitting qigong meditation that is about forty-five minutes long that Master Cheng taught before her death.  Currently, there is no instruction in this meditation so beginners simply join experienced students.  Even without instruction there is benefit to relaxing while listening to the calming, healing music that accompanies sitting qigong. Students sit in chairs or on cushions on the floor. Everyone brings something to cover their legs during qigong to ensure that the legs and feet remain warm.  Qigong classes include standing and moving qiqong that supplement sitting qigong,   Tai chi instruction begins after qigong.

MIGHT I EXPECT DURING THE TAI CHI PORTION OF CLASS?

  • Tuesday: Advanced students receive detailed training in 118 form, sword, push hands, and teacher training. The Tuesday class is not open to new students.
  • Thursday + Saturday: Tai chi instruction occurs immediately after the qigong portion of class.  New and novice students do the most basic form (12 form) with the whole class then receive individual or small group instruction while advanced students practice more difficult tai chi forms.