Tai Chi I

Thinking about learning Tai Chi? Our Tai Chi classes are ongoing, and students are welcome to start at any time. If you would like to learn the form from the beginning, join us on Tuesday, January 7th, 2025 when we will introduce the guiding principles and opening moves of the Yang Style Long Form. Over approximately the following 3 months students will be guided through the entire form.

Introduction to Tai Chi (Tai Chi I) • Tuesdays • 9:30–10:30am

Tai Chi has many physical benefits such as helping to improve balance, strength, and flexibility. It is sometimes called “Moving meditation” due to its graceful movements, and ability to calm the mind. and help destress the practitioner. Introduction to Tai Chi teaches important principles and skills to launch your tai chi journey. This class is great for students with no prior tai chi experience or students who have prior tai chi experience. Students taking Tai Chi I are encouraged to concurrently enroll in Tai Chi II so they have an additional opportunity to review and practice moves learned earlier in the week.

What to Expect: Almost anyone can learn tai chi, even if they do not consider themselves well-coordinated or good at athletics. Tai chi is very adaptable to people of varying abilities and limitations, though students should be able to stand and walk independently. As always, it is wise to consult with your medical provider before undertaking any new form of exercise. Two related qualities that do seem important to learning tai chi are persistence and patience. While many benefits of tai chi can be felt quickly, committing the sequences to memory and incorporating the subtleties of the movements into muscle memory takes time and practice. With 25 to 30 hours of practice and instruction (3 months of two weekly classes), students often have a growing sense of competence with the form. A very helpful attitude for the new student learning tai chi is to enjoy the activities and moving in the class, without becoming overly concerned with mastery. If you maintain this attitude, you will persist in your tai chi journey because it brings you joy and mastery will follow. In the philosophy of the Tao Te Ching, which informed the development of Tai Chi, “A good traveler has no fixed plans and is not intent on arriving.”

We are a welcoming group of neighbors and friends from all over Portland enjoying the benefits and camaraderie of learning and practicing together. New participants are always welcome. We practice together as a community and support each person toward reaching their individual goals.

The Instructor: This class is taught by David Katz, a Tai Chi instructor at Friendly House, local recreation centers, and retirement facilities. He is also a registered yoga instructor. If you have any questions about the class or tai chi in general, you can reach out to him through the front desk.