The Yin and Yang of Finding a Tai Chi Class
There is no best Tai Chi. I have always said that you should look for a teacher and a style of Tai Chi that feels right for you - that view has never changed. Here are a few tips that may help when looking for a Tai Chi class. There are core things that you should look for - the ‘Yin’ grounded things involved in all learning. These interplay with a diverse mix of ‘family form’, style and interpretation - the ‘Yang’ diverse, expanding understanding of the art.
Tai Chi classes may have a focus on the martial arts or health and wellbeing. Whatever your interest may be the yin yang of finding a Tai Chi class is seeking one that has both a dynamic growing understanding of the art that and also a sound grounded knowledge of its tradition.
Things That Are Common – the Yin
The ‘yin’ or common core things to look for in a of Tai Chi class are; public liability insurance, an understanding of safeguarding and basic first aid, membership of a professional body and a history of ongoing study including an understanding of the traditional teachings of either the Chen, Yang, Wu or Sun family forms. Tai Chi classes should include the practice of Qigong. Qigong is much, much older than Tai Chi. It developed from Traditional Chinese Medicine, martial arts and philosophy. It consists principally of repetitive exercises and breathing or meditation. Tai Chi Chuan or ‘great ultimate fist’ is a more structured sequence of movements developed as a martial art by the Chen family in the early 1800’s.
Things That Are Different – the Yang
Tai Chi has never been a static art. It has grown and developed over the years. It is said that Yang Luchan secretly watched the Chen family practice their original form. Yang Luchan spent many hours trying to work out what he was seeing. When the Chen family discovered what he had achieved they were so impressed that they adopted him as a formal student. Yang Luchan later went on to teach others on his own account sowing the seeds for the other family forms to develop. This continuous development of the art of Tai Chi, its expanding ‘Yang’ side, is an important consideration when seeking a class. Teaching Tai Chi is so much more than just copying previous teachers, its exploring new ways of experiencing our physical self.