What’s New at the Studio

Greetings, everyone,

A beautiful, lingering autumn has offered a full palette of color and sunlight. Inside the studio, there’s a welcome bustle of activity and new class offerings. In this issue, you’ll find information on upcoming holiday closings, an update on our fundraiser, new classes, and more. We look forward to seeing you soon.

—Paul

Happy Holidays

The studio will be closed November 27 for the Thanksgiving holiday. We will be closed for a winter break December 24 through New Year’s Day, January 1.

Do the Dow

Twin Cities T’ai Chi has been part of the Dow Building community since 1993. The building is home to artists, an art gallery, movement practices, and a variety of unique small businesses. Each year, the Dow hosts an open house, inviting the public to wander the halls, visit open artist studios, listen to live music, enjoy the food truck, and take in the creative energy of the space.

Our studio will be open. We invite you to stop by and explore.

Saturday, November 22, 4–9 pm

Fundraiser Update

Our fundraiser is in full swing and runs through December 31. Thanks to those who have generously donated. A donation in any amount helps us keep our studio strong and vibrant for years to come.

The Five Family Styles of T’ai Chi, Part 3

In this final installment, the depth and influence of Yang-style T’ai Chi become apparent as it gives birth to the Wu Li Hao style of T’ai Chi as well as the Wu and Sun styles.

Partner Practices at Twin Cities T’ai Chi

At Twin Cities T’ai Chi, we offer a complete system of Yang-style T’ai Chi training. The Solo Form is the foundation of our practice. Through its relaxed and flowing movements, consistent training in the form provides extensive benefits for both health and well-being.

Partner practices such as Pushing Hands and the T’ai Chi Symmetries are an integral part of the Twin Cities T’ai Chi curriculum. These two-person exercises develop awareness, tactile sensitivity, and an applied understanding of the principles and applications within the Solo Form.

Instruction in the Solo Form, weapons, Qigong, and meditation is ongoing and available year-round. Partner-practice classes, however, open to new students at specific intervals. Interested students should contact Sifu Paul, Kim Husband, or Stephen May to be placed on the waiting list for the next session.

Prerequisites: Current membership with regular class attendance, completion of the Solo Form, and at least six months of consistent Solo Form practice after completion of the form sequence.

New Meditation Class Begins December 1

The Inner Smile Meditation

Smiling to yourself is like basking in love: you become your own best friend. Living with an inner smile is to live in harmony with yourself. ~ Mantak Chia

The Inner Smile is a seated meditation practice that cultivates unconditional acceptance — first toward oneself then toward the world around us. It awakens the inner heart, or ling — a deeper aspect of the heart distinct from the physical organ or shifting emotions.

Through gentle focus and inner smiling, we cultivate yuan qi, the Original Neutral Energy that harmonizes yin and yang flow throughout the body. The heart center acts as a bridge between the lower abdominal center and the head/brain center, bringing balance and calm.

Each session will balance the seated meditation with a standing Qigong practice, supporting both stillness and vitality.

This is a beginner-friendly class, so if you haven’t meditated before, there will be helpful guidelines and assistance in helping you build your practice in a natural and gradual manner.

Begins Monday, December 1, 7:30 – 8:30 pm

Symmetries Open Practice

Starting in January, you can get some extra review in Symmetries 1 through 3. On the first Tuesday of each month, the classroom will be open for Symmetry practice at 5:00 pm.

This is an informal practice session, but Kim and Stephen will be available to answer questions. Take advantage of this chance to reinforce new skills, revive old ones, and work with partners outside your usual class group.

Current Class Schedule

Monday
T’ai Chi Solo Form 6:00 pm – 7:15 pm (also Zoom)
Qigong and Meditation 7:30 pm – 8:30 pm

Tuesday
T’ai Chi Symmetries Levels 2 thru 6, 6:00 pm – 7:15 pm
Advanced Symmetries 7:15 pm – 8:30 pm

Wednesday 
Beginning Solo Form Fundamentals 12:30 pm – 1:45 pm
Beginning Solo Form 6:00 pm – 7:15 pm
T’ai Chi Weapons: T’ai Chi Cane 7:30 pm – 8:30 pm

Thursday
Solo Form 6:00 pm – 7:15 pm
Weapons Review 7:15 pm – 7:30
Beginning Push-Hands 7:30 pm – 8:30 pm

Saturday
Beginning Solo Form Sections 2 and 3, 10:00 am – 11:30 am
Common Warm-Up & Qigong 11:00 am – 11:30 am
Beginning Solo Form Section 1, 11:00 am – 12:15 pm
Solo Form 12:30 pm – 1:45 pm (also Zoom)

Contact Us

For timely updates, follow Twin Cities T’ai Chi Ch’uan on Facebook. Email: mail@tctaichi.org Website: tctaichi.org Phone: 651.767.0267.
All articles and other content created by Paul Abdella unless otherwise noted.