T'ai Chi Chuan, First Part, 37-Position Form for Health

This class will be offered from 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM AND repeated from 2:30 PM - 3:30 PM. Please choose to attend one session to allow students to spread out.

T'ai Chi Ch'uan (TCC) is circular movement. Circulation of breath, ch'i or energy, occurs naturally in doing TCC form. Even when one is not doing everything perfectly, doing TCC not fully correctly still conveys great benefits for one's balance, flexibility, and de-stressing.

Correct circularity of movement, posture and balance, and de-stressing are subtle and cannot be imparted via Zoom or books. These subtle corrections are generally optimally directly conveyed by an experienced practitioner as part of class teaching. Those comfortable with gentle physical correction may opt in for that, if they wish.

Although not vigorous, if at any time class practice becomes a bit too much, class members are strongly encouraged to stop and take a break.

TCC is taught as the traditional 37-position form of Cheng-Man Ch’ing, the practice of which has numerous recognized health benefits. The whole 37-positions form can be broken up and taught in several shorter sections. TCC form exercise can further be enhanced and extended as gentle push hands dual cultivation. This more advanced practice is in no way a martial arts class but cultivates sensitivity and reinforces previous teachings of the 37-positions form.

TCC has also always traditionally been a study of Tao. Although some discussion might well be mentioned, that is not, however, its primary focus. Our primary aim is correct practice of the form from which health and other benefits naturally flow.

Instructor: Norman Guberman

Norman is a retired independent scholar, recently resettled to Tucson. He is a longtime practitioner and teacher of traditional T'ai Chi Chuan, for nearly 60 years. He is a lifelong student of Far Eastern and Indo-Tibetan studies.