T'ai Chi Ch'uan of Asheville/Classes and Workshops

T'ai Chi Ch'uan of Asheville

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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 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.

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.
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.

Workshops

WEEKEND WORKSHOP with LENZIE WILLIAMS

Since 2008, we have sponsored a weekend workshop in Asheville offered by Lenzie Williams. The 2010 workshop scheduled for June 5-6 ran into insurmountable logistical obstacles and has been canceled. Look for more information here on next year's weekend. For information and to be placed on the email list for next year, please contact Crayton by email or by phone at (828) 230-0529. For more information about Lenzie Williams and his school, go to Tai Chi Berkeley .

ATLANTA WORKSHOP

Crayton is offering an afternoon workshop for students in the Atlanta area under the sponsorship of Dr. John Kim and his medical center, Georgia Integrative Medicine. This workshop is appropriate for all students of the Simplified Yang Form of Professor Cheng Man-Ch'ing who have completed their studies up through Cross Hands. The workshop will take place on Saturday, March 13, 2010 and will last two hours. For more detailed information including location and cost, contact Dr. Kim at Georgia Integrative Medicine.

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 cloth-bottom t'ai chi shoes. You can work in stocking feet too. If you need more support or are using orthotics, it's best to use exercise shoes with flat, non-gripping and non-marking soles. If practicing outdoors, rubber-bottomed 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.