Beginning and Intermediate Tai Chi SOMATIC TAI CHI CHUAN
Albemarle County Parks and Recreation • 401 McIntire Road Charlottesville, VA 22902 Organized by Albemarle County Parks & RecreationAbout this event
Description
This activity is closed to further registration.
Tai Chi has been described as an exercise for health, conducive to both mental and physical well-being; an exercise promoting balance, coordination, and synchronization; an art of self-defense; meditation in motion; and the expression of a philosophy and way of life. Recent research has shown that Tai Chi can prevent falls in older adults in the community and improve osteoarthritis, Parkinson disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and cognitive functioning. Looking at general health there is evidence for the practice of Tai Chi to improve balance, flexibility, and aerobic capacity.
Somatic Tai Chi is a new way of learning and understanding the classical movement art of Tai Chi. This special class emphasizes Tai Chi as a movement discipline for physical and mental relaxation; gaining flexibility, body awareness, and balance. Exercises stressing self-awareness allow students to learn the art of Tai Chi with the unique understanding and speed.
This class provides an introduction to the basic excersies and techniques of Tai Chi, as well as the special short form developed by H. H. Lui. (H. H. Lui's Tai Chi, philosohy, and his translations of the Tai Chi classes are found in his two books, Tai Chi Chu'an, Technique of Power and Tai Chi for Health and Harmony.)
This class is appropiate for people with no experience as well for those people with backgrounds in Tai Chi, body movement, dance, or martial arts. Individuals for all ages are welcome.
This class is taught by Bradford C. Bennett, Ph.D and Susan Spengler, MS.
Dr. Bennett has been devoted to the practice of Tai Chi for more than 35 years. He was introduced to Tai Chi by H.H. Lui in San Francisco and studied with him for over 10 years. Dr. Bennett was for many years Chair of Cloud Hands West Tai Chi Club in San Francisco. In addition to his Greenwood classes, he has taught at NASA Ames Research Center, in San Francisco, and at workshops around the United States. He has a private practice in somatic education is a Founding Member of the Association of Hanna Somatic Educators. He has published articles on both Tai Chi and somatic education. His most recent article, The Somatic Work of Thomas Hanna, Tai Chi, and Kinesiology, in Kinesiology Review can be found on his website http:www.westeastsomatics.com
Age Group
All Ages
Location
Greenwood Community Center