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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.