Tai Chi and Internal Arts at the Long Island Center for Yoga
The Long Island Center for Yoga, as part of its body-mind-spirit variety of classes, also offers to members the ancient Chinese martial arts of Tai Chi, Baguazhang and Shaolin Hung Mei Pai Kung Fu.
Tai Chi and Qigong - Tai Chi, meaning “Supreme Ultimate” (also known as Tai Ji and Tai Chi Ch’uan), is a Chinese internal martial art that in recent decades has become known for improving both mental and physical health. Tai Chi can be thought of as a great balance between strength and grace, beauty and power, balance being the key. In 2002 Time magazine termed Tai Chi “the Perfect exercise”.
There are several major styles or families of Tai Chi
taught throughout the
world such as Yang, Chen and Wu. The
introductory form taught at the Yoga Center is a short form Wu Style.
Wu Style tai chi is characterized by short, high stances and trains the
practitioner to use large internal body movements as opposed to large frame
external movements. As a small frame style, Wu Style is very
accessible to a wide variety of individuals of varying physical abilities.
Tai Chi is taught around learning a “form” or a choreographed set of
movements, all of which have practical martial applications.
No matter which style is learned, the emphasis in Tai Chi class is upon the basic principles of tai chi (as well as qigong) such as stance work, balance, leg strength, coordination, structural alignment. Overriding all of these physical principles is the foundation principle of relaxing the body and calming the mind. When put together all of these principles allow a free flow of energy or “qi” throughout the body in a strong, yet flexible framework. Classes begin with a series of warm up exercises and qigong (“energy work”) before learning and practicing the form. Other exercises include push hands, martial applications and, for more advanced students, weapons.
The benefits of Tai Chi are extensive and too many to list here. Some may be surprised to learn that despite its outwardly slow movement, tai chi is considered a cardiovascular activity burning approximately 280 calories per hour. Recent studies have proven tai chi as beneficial for those with Type 2 diabetes, depression, anxiety, hypertension, arthritis, shingles, Parkinsons, and many other conditions.
Baguazhang - In addition to Tai Chi, in more advanced
classes students may
also be introduced to the internal martial art of Baguazhang or simply “Bagua”. Bagua is an art that trains the body to
continuously coil and uncoil as a unit while moving around a circle or, an
opponent. As the term implies, it is a art developed around the Taoist
philosophy of the eight energies of the bagua. Being a “cousin” of tai
chi, bagua trains many of the same principles but emphasizes much more
coiling of the body and leg movement. Although highly challenging,
practice of bagua results in a great internal physical and energetic
strength.
Shaolin Hung Mei Pai Kung Fu - This page would not be complete without a discussion of the art of Shaolin Hung Mei Pai Kung Fu. All instructors in this curriculum have their foundation in this traditional martial art. As an external art with roots in both Northern and Southern Shaolin styles, Hung Mei Pai Kung Fu emphasizes powerful stances, various kicks, strikes, sweeps, chin na and self defense applications. A full history of Shaolin Hung Mei Pai Kung Fu can be read at www.shaolinhungmei.org. The instructors at The Yoga Center honor our heritage in this system and incorporate it into the curriculum where appropriate to the student.
No matter which of these arts a student may chose to learn, all of them require the practitioner to calm the mind and relax the body. And though these arts may be martial, this is not something that should not put people off as these arts teach the skills of being centered and calm when faced with conflict - something that everyone of us is faced with every day whether it is actual physical conflict or conflict at home, work, family - conflict does not have to be physical. Tai chi and these other arts provide the student tools to deal with conflict in a less stressful manner all while doing great benefit to our physical and mental well being.
Please check the schedule page for current date and times of classes and the events page for upcoming workshops.
Important considerations before beginning Tai Chi or related classes or workshops:
The practice of Tai Chi can at times be rigorous and demanding. If you have any medical or physical condition that may effect your ability to participate in these classes, you should bring that condition or conditions to the attention of the Yoga Center and/or the instructor prior to taking any class. If you are considering taking Tai Chi you should also be aware that part of the curriculum may include two person exercises such as push hands and, tai chi being a martial art, martial applications may sometimes be practiced and/or demonstrated. Any questions in this regard may be directed to any of the instructors.
Instructors:
Shifu Teresa A. White has studied Chinese martial arts on Long Island since 1993 having earned her black sash and awarded the rank of “Shifu” in Shaolin Kung Fu from Shifus Lawrence Sweeney and Frank Materal of Shaolin Hung Mei Pai. Since 1998 Teresa’s practice has included the internal arts of Tai Chi Chuan and Baguazhang, having studied with several world renown teachers including Chen style tai chi Master Chen Zheng Lei, Laoshi Frank Allen and Tina Zhang of the Wutang PCA in New York, and Master Jiang Jianye in Albany. Teresa’s background also includes studies in qigong, taoist and zen meditation, pilates, yoga and bellydancing. Teresa is also a full time practicing attorney with her own practice in Hauppauge, New York.
Shifu Lawrence J. Sweeney has been teaching Shaolin Kung Fu and Tai Chi on Long Island for more than thirty years. He earned the title of Shifu, meaning “knowledgeable father” from Ta Shifu Tonny Kho of Shaolin Hung Mei Pai in the late ‘70's, having been one of the first American students taught by Ta Shifu. Shifu Larry as he is known, then came to the internal martial and meditative arts in the early 1990's studying with such masters as Michael Winn of Healing Tao USA, Laoshi Frank Allen of Wutang PCA. His studies included Taoist Meditation, Qigong, Wu Style Tai Chi and Baguazhang, having been certified to teach baguazhang by Laoshi Frank Allen in 2004.
Shifu John Briscoe has trained in Shaolin Hung Mei
Pai kung fu since 1993
and was awarded his black sash and the rank of Shifu
by Shifus Larry Sweeney and Frank Matera. Shifu John has successfully
added to his practice “Chi Running” - a method of long distance running
which incorporates the energetic and structural principles of Tai Chi.
John is an assistant instructor at the Yoga Center in the internal arts
curriculum.
Websites of Interest:
Wu Tang Physical Culture Association:
www.metal-tigeer.com/Wu Tang PCA
Shaolin Hung Mei Pai Kung Fu:
www.shaolinhungmei.org
Tai Chi Magazine:
www.tai-chi.com
Chen Zheng Lei:
www.cstjq.com/eng
Healing Tao USA:
www.healingtaousa.com
Women’s Earth Energy Qigong with Tina Zhang:
www.earthqigong.com
World Tai Chi Day:
www.worldtaichiday.org