Tai Chi Chuan

Moving Meditation Sequence which originated in the Orient (Mainland China).

The art of Tai Chi, which for years was confined to the Orient, has gained extreme recognition due to the remarkable capacity to stimulate health and rejuvenation. Tai Chi Chuan is a slow moving meditation emphasizing relaxation and coordinating breath with motion. Tai Chi provides a complete cardiovascular workout while creating balance between the mind, body, and heart. There are numerous styles of Tai Chi, but each style employs the same principal, and that is to make each movement as efficient as possible so as to maintain balance while building strength and coordination. Two of the styles taught on Sky Mountain's Retreats include Guang Ping Yang Style and Yang Style.

Health Benefits

Tai Chi is recommended for men and women of all ages regardless of previous athletic experience. Many adults have found Tai Chi to be the ideal lifelong exercise program. Others use it to combat fatigue, hypertension, physical problems, and substance abuse. Tai Chi is a proven method to control stress and improve health by relieving tension. Studies have also shown that the process of learning the Tai Chi form promotes an increase in overall mental capacity. Tai Chi facilitates the flow of energy through the channels or meridians in the body, thus increasing health.

Learning how to move energy and allow it to circulate freely, like a stream, throughout the body can essentially empower people to heal themselves. Tai Chi has been effectively therapeutic in students plagued with

• Multiple Sclerosis
• Parkinson's Disease
• Chronic fatigue
• Cancer
• Depression
• Hypertension
• Stress Disorders
• ADHD

ln addition Tai Chi has been seen to combat a variety of physical injuries and limitations. Sky Mountain's instructors will show you how to effectively move Chi throughout your body in order to lead a more relaxing and balanced lifestyle and simple techniques that you can use during a 15 minute break during your day to increase your circulation and get you back on track again.

Guang Ping Yang Style Tai Chi Chuan

Health Benefits Include: Increased Balance, Better Circulation, Shorter, Faster Form to Learn and perform, and Improved Overall Health

Guang Ping Yang Tai Chi is similar to other forms of Tai Chi in that it is esentially a moving meditation sequence. Guang Ping Yang is a combination of the long, or Yang, form of Tai Chi and the Guang Ping style of Tai Chi. Not to be confused with the Chen style of Tai Chi, the Guang Ping Yang form has numerous direction changes and faster movements than the Yang style.

The lineage of Guang Ping Yang Tai Chi is an interesting one and more information can be found here.

Yang Style Tai Chi Chuan

Improved Cardiovascular Workout, Improve Balance, Improved Circulation, and Stress Reduction Techniques.

The Yang Style of Tai Chi Chuan, or long form, consists of a six section twenty minute sequence of slow moving meditation. This slow motion exercise provides a complete aerobic workout while creating total equilibrium between mind and body. Don't worry about learning the entire form on one retreat, though because it takes about six months to learn the whole form! Instead, students can expect to learn proper posture for improved blood flow and posture.

Beginning Tai Chi Chuan students, which is what you will be if you've never had any experience doing any form of Tai Chi will develop the mind-body connection through " Awakening Chi," a basic energy manipulation sequence combining breath with motion. Each class students will learn new moves of the Yang (long) Style Tai Chi Chuan form.

Advanced Tai Chi students will have the opportunity to learn Tai Chi Straight Sword, Tai Chi two man set and a variety of other Tai Chi forms. Tai Chi Chuan is recommended for students of all age and physical levels. Tai Chi is considered extremely therapeutic and can greatly enhance health and vitality. Many practitioners consider Tai Chi to be the ideal lifelong exercise.

Tien Shan Pai Style Kung Fu and Self Defense

Build Strength, Improve Flexibility, Improve Discipline, Increase Focus, and Learn Self Defense Techniques through applications of movements.

Tien Shan Pai originated in the Tien Shan Mountains of Northern China, by Taoist monks approximately 1,000 years ago. The techniques were developed through the careful analysis of animal fighting. Thus, the Tien Shan Pai system embodies forms such as Praying Mantis and Monkey vs. Crane. Tien Shan Pai is well-known due to its practicality in terms of fighting and the graceful nature of each movement.

The Tien Shan Pai system teaches students to attack only on the attack. Attacks are comprised of swift circular movements rather than the linear fighting seen in other martial art forms. Practitioners of Tien Shan Pai will achieve the ultimate level of self defense, self-control, focus and intent.

Through healthy bodies, evolved spirits and disciplined minds, Kung-Fu students quickly learn the inherent value of the martial arts. For more information on where and how Tien Shan Pai originated, visit the Tien Shan Pai Organization homepage.

Yoga

Build Stregth in your core muscles and increase flexibility

Yoga, which has gained popularity in the US over the years, has demonstrated that its slow moving exercises can have tremendous health benefits. Styles of Yoga taught on Sky Mountain Retreats can include the following:

Bikram Yoga - A sequence of 26 postures and 2 breathing exercises designed to detoxify, strengthen, and tone every part of the body. Bikram Yoga is traditionally taught in a room heated to a room that is heated to over 100 degrees. The humidity combined with the heat is designed to help the body release toxins, and allows the body to stretch to its maximum capacity. Bikram Yoga improves circulation, increases stamina, and improves overall health and wellbeing. Simple, yet challenging, this style of Yoga is suitable for all levels of practice.

Vinyasa Yoga - The word Vinyasa is derived from Sanskrit and means "flow." Vinyasa is a flow of postures. Students are led through traditional sun salutations and creativity is encouraged. The teacher will usually choose to focus on one core theme such as hip opening, inversion postures, balancing poses, back bends, forward bends, or twists. Deep Ujiya breathing is used to heat the body and allows for a more vigorous practice. Vinyasa is ideal for both beginners and advanced practitioners.

Restorative Yoga - A more relaxed approach; this is a perfect way to end a stressful day. This style is gentle and as the name says, restorative. The focus is on relaxation and breath. Postures are less vigorous and are held for a greater duration of time, allowing the body to open gradually. Students are encouraged to move into a more meditative practice. Deep belly breathing leaves one feeling relaxed and rejuvenated.

Enneagram and the Somatic Experience

Discover Your Personality Type and Learn to Interact with others

Instruction in how to understand the strengths and challenges of each personality type, as well as the defense mechanisms and how to work with the development of your type. There will be instruction in developing an inner observer, the tracking of sensations, feelings and thoughts through exercises and lectures that will increase awareness and compassion for the self and others. The Enneagram is used by major corporations both local and abroad to educate employees on how to better communicate by understanding how people of each personality will react to their surroundings.

Hsing Yi

Easiest Form to learn, the Hardest to Master

Hsing Yi, according to Grandmaster Look, is the "Easiest form to learn, but the hardest to master". You will be able to see why, as the movements seem elementary to the naked eye and are, in fact, relatively easy to learn. But as you progress, you will feel the power in your movements as you balance your internal chi and your external movement.

Ba Gua

The Third Internal Martial Art

Ba Gua, or the "eight trigrams" completes the third internal martial art along with Hsing Yi and Tai Chi (Taiji). Ba Gua consits of circle walking, wherein the participants focus on posture and energy movement. A change in direction in Ba Gua signifies the yielding and redirecting of an oponent's energy. These changes are called "fists" and is the essence of Ba Gua. As the fists progress, so does the difficulty and application. Like a slow moving chess match, movements in Ba Gua are designed to overpower an opponent, but thinking one move ahead.

Early Bird Registration

You must Sign and complete your registration form and pay for your Sky Mountain Experience by the Early Bird Deadline to receive the early bird discounts.