Class and Workshop Information
Classes in the Form
Beginning T’ai Chi Ch’uan is an introduction to the principles of T’ai Chi as articulated by Professor Cheng Man-ch’ing when he developed the Simplified Yang Family Form. Students learn several repetitive warmup exercises to develop conscious body awareness and to embody the principles. Beginning with the second class, students receive instruction in the choreography of the first half of the form. The Beginning Class is 16 weeks long.
Intermediate T’ai Chi Ch’uan is a course for those who have completed Beginning and is open to others with similar background with instructor’s Advanced T’ai Chi Ch’uan is an ongoing course for those who have completed Intermediate and is open to others with similar background with instructor’s permission. In addition to form flow, students practice standing meditation and receive correction on the entire form, the details of one quarter of the form each week. Correction of external details facilitates the development of internal structure -- both strength and openness -- and incorporation of the principles of T'ai Chi. 
permission. In the Intermediate Class, students practice the form as a flow, acquire a deeper experience of the principles, and receive instruction in the choreography of the last half of the form. The Intermediate Class is 16 weeks long. Intermediate students may also attend the Beginning Class without charge.
Push Hands is open to students concurrently taking Advanced as a way for them to learn the martial application of T’ai Chi. This course includes both structured exercises and free pushing. The emphasis is on learning how to neutralize incoming force by yielding; that is, using "4 ounces to overcome a force of 1000 pounds.” Any student taking Advanced may attend Beginning and Intermediate classes without charge.
Class location, schedule and fees are given on the Class Schedule page.
WEEKEND WORKSHOP with LENZIE WILLIAMS
Since 2008, we have sponsored a weekend workshop in Asheville offered by Lenzie Williams. The next workshop is the weekend of May 19-20, 2012 with five hours of form correction on Saturday, two hours on Sunday, and three hours of Push Hands instruction and free play on Sunday. For more information and for registration, please contact Crayton at crayton@taichiasheville.com. For more information about Lenzie's other workshops, please go to http://taichiberkeley.com/workshops.html.
Clothing for Classes
There is no special clothing required to practice t'ai chi. Because the movements include bending the knees in a semi-squat, clothing that binds and restricts the body is problematic. Wear any kind of clothing appropriate for gentle movement. The best footware allows the foot to feel thoroughly grounded. For indoors practice where we do classes, we recommend t'ai chi shoes that are either cloth-bottom or lace-up leather shoes with soft rubber soles. You can work in stocking feet or bare feet too. If practicing outdoors, harder soled t'ai chi shoes work well. In Asheville, you can find cloth-bottom t'ai chi shoes at the Open Door Boutique, 35 Haywood St. For an online source, click here. For a good online source for lace-up leather shoes, click here.
