Wild Presence: Beginning Tai Chi - In-person and Online Free Sample Class

Wild Presence: Beginning Tai Chi - In-person and Online Free Sample Class

Learn about our approach to Tai Chi and try a breathing exercise and a few Tai Chi movements that relax the body and open chi (vital energy). By the end of the hour you will have a brief and simple practice of movements you can explore on your own. Tai Chi also fits well with other breathing and movement practices you may already enjoy.

Description
Tai Chi is an exploration of the flow of nature within our bodies. Like a walk in the woods with birds calling and flowers blooming, we attune to the sensations of the body’s inner landscape and the wild presence of chi. The feeling of chi is personal to each of us, but often feels like a tingle, buzzing, or warmth.

Through Tai Chi we learn to align with the vertical centerline of the body, root down through the legs and feet, and allow chi to flow through the body. When we move with all parts of the body connected and moving together, we can sense and respond to the unfolding moment with ease.

This is the third class of a 12-class week class series. Meetup members are welcome to try this class for free.. To continue with the series (classes 4 to 12), the cost for Meetup members is $150 in-person and online and $95 online only.

Logistics
For in-person participation we will meet at Twin Cities Friends Meeting (1725 Grand Avenue, St. Paul). Grand Avenue is currently closed to traffic and parking due to construction. Parking is available on S. Wheeler Street and the parking lane on Summit Avenue. TCFM has a parking lot behind the building at the end of an alley; enter from Wheeler Street. The lot has 3 regular spots and 2 reserved spots for persons with a disability.

From the main entrance (Grand Avenue side) the meetinghouse room is on the right. You can also enter from the back door, in which case the meetinghouse room is on the left.

For online participation I will post a Zoom link in this MeetUp group chat a couple days before the event.

YouTube videos:
Combing Hair and Tai Chi--Beginning Tai Chi Class Preview
Tai Chi Demonstration

My background: For 30 years I have started almost every morning with the slow and relaxing motion of Tai Chi which sets a tone of ease and spaciousness for the day. My first experiences with Tai Chi, meditation, and yoga were on a study abroad program in Asia in 1992. Soon after I began studying Tai Chi with Robert Larsen, founder of the Birthing Life Tai Chi Center in Minneapolis and a student of Cheng Man-ch’ing.

I started teaching Tai Chi in 1997 and currently teach in-person and Zoom classes on Monday evenings at TCFM. During other times of the week, I offer Tai Chi via Zoom and video courses. I am also also a Compassion Key Certified Practitioner (Level 1). I enjoy spending time in nature, including wildlife tracking, wilderness camping, and cross-country skiing, all of which complement Tai Chi. I live on a rural homestead in northwest Wisconsin with my wife and daughter.

Birthing Life Tai Chi Center class waiver
By registering for this event you agree to release and hold harmless Birthing Life Tai Chi Center, the instructors, and the class location from any liability for any injury or harm that might result from your attendance or participation in online or in-person classes, private lessons, practice sessions, recorded classes, video instruction, or any events sponsored by Birthing Life Tai Chi Center.

While Tai Chi movements are designed to put little or no harmful stress on the body, you understand that practicing Tai Chi poses risks, including but not limited to injuries like muscle tears, strains, and musculoskeletal injuries, and possible dizziness and fainting. We ask that you pay particular attention during the first class or the first class video recording where the instructor explains how to help mitigate these types of risks.

You affirm that you have no physical condition that should prevent you from participating in the above activities. You understand that it is your responsibility to monitor your own activity level and participation, and to stop, modify or delay participation based on your own discretion both during in-person and online classes and while practicing on your own.

Participating in an in-person or online video class may result in a recording of your picture or audio and that you grant permission and unlimited rights in perpetuity to Birthing Life Tai Chi Center and instructors to the use of your image and audio in those recordings.