Monthly 'Time in the Art' Classes
These monthly 'free to member' 1-hour classes are available to non-members at a cost of $20 per class.
TCF members can access the library of recordings of all past classes via the "Member-only pages" view of this website.
Classes are taught by experienced teachers and are suitable for all levels of Tai Chi students.
They cover a wide range of topics taken from the teacher's own personal Tai Chi learning journey.
Each class will take place on the third Monday of the month from 1:00 PM ET - 2:00 PM ET.
Registration details will be emailed the day before the class.
$20 for non-members; FREE for TCF members
2023 Schedule
Classes are from 1:00 PM ET - 2:00 PM ET
April 17th, 2023
How Lomi Movements Inform Our Solo Form
Taught by Charlotte Zinsser Booth
How the Lomi movements can inform our solo form, helping ourselves and our students 'do less' with greater relaxation.
Each of the 3 Lomi movements provide accessible sensory experience we can bring to bear on the quality and unity of our Tai Chi
Come explore on the floor, or use a firm bed or sofa to find new connections.
May 15th, 2023
Qualities of Excellent Tai Chi, Part II
Taught by Senior Teacher Edna Brandt
A light-hearted exploration of four qualities of excellent Tai Chi:
Peaceful and Comfortable; Rounded and Lively.
We will apply these attributes to inspire our practice and to enliven our lives.
June 19th, 2023
Steps to Self Cultivation: Finding And Removing The Blocks To Relaxation In Movement
Taught by Senior Teacher Lee Felton
Fine-tuning our sense of principle, momentum and balance.
We'll begin by focusing on relaxing the knees, and see how that can affect our alignment in movement.
Registration Coming Soon
July 17th, 2023
TBD
Taught by Miriam Cooper
Registration Coming Soon
August 21st, 2023
A Playful Approach To Teaching The Lotus Spin
Taught by Angie Holland
Students can be a little intimidated by what looks like a 360* turn. I like to get them out of their heads and into their bodies by showing them that they already know a large part of the move.
We play with walking and spinning with ease, feeling our movement, connect to our dantian and then build on it.
Come ready to play. Having room to move in your space will help too.
Registration Coming Soon
September 18th, 2023
The Ups and Downs of Tai Chi
Taught by Anne Smyers
The relationship of the connection to the earth and connection to the heavens and their effect on us.
Registration Coming Soon
October 16th, 2023
Being 100% In Arms
Taught by Mike Barkham, Teacher at Herts STCC since 2012
Right back at B1 we all learned about being 100% (i.e. separating Yin vs Yang / Full vs Empty / Substantial vs Insubstantial).
But, as Teachers, we usually only talk about this principle in relation to the legs. In this session I’m going to help you explore - in an experiential way - its application to the arms.
I hope this new focus of attention will increase your experiential awareness of the constant flow (or exchange) of Yin & Yang throughout the form, and enhance both your enjoyment of practice and the benefits you get from it.
It certainly has for me.
Registration Coming Soon
November 20th, 2023
The Elements by Other Means
Taught by Emmy Award winning actor, and Tai Chi teacher, John Szostek
This session is a tribute to Patrick Watson’s other love, the theatre. Since antiquity, theatre artists developed ways (Mimesis) to embody the elements; Earth, Water, Air, and Fire.
The Greek Chorus portrayed these elements moving as one body. The methods for embodiment have been passed down through the ages, and work equally with the Chinese Five Elements.
We will playfully experience some of these movement and vocal methods, focusing on the element Water. Wear loose fitting clothes and provide some space to move freely.
Registration Coming Soon
December 18th, 2023
Free Writing and Tai Chi
Taught by Annette Peizer
After a brief overview of the Amherst Writers and Artists Technique, tai chi-related prompts will be provided, and we will freewrite quickly together in small breakout groups without worrying about grammar, punctuation, or spelling.
You have the option to read what you wrote in the breakout group to each other, and the listeners respond by only stating what they liked best about the writing or what stood out the most to them.
Back in the large group, we will share some of the ideas and images expressed in the freewrites both verbally and through chat, then do a little tai chi together while working what was shared from our freewrites.
If time allows, we can do another brief freewrite in the same small group with more prompts and sharing.
Registration Coming Soon
Click Here To Watch Recordings Of Our Previous Programs
Not a Member?
As a TCF Member, you can attend these events for free, watch previously recorded events and much more!
Recent Programs You Can Watch As a Member
March 20th, 2023 Wabi-Sabi: Discovering Beauty in the Imperfect with Linda Bisberg
We will look at cross-cultural aesthetics and how they shape our perspective & experience of the world. Using this knowledge as an opening for discovery, we will explore how a new perspective can shift our experience of our own tai chi practice.
February 20th, 2023: Qualities of Excellent Tai Chi, Part I with Edna Brandt
A light-hearted exploration of four qualities of excellent Tai Chi: Centered and Balanced; Light and Agile. We will apply these attributes to inspire our practice and to enliven our lives.
2022
November 21st, 2022: Happy Hips with Kevin Lannon
We will have a close look at how we open our hips when making steps for any 70/30 Tai Chi position. We will create a safe space to question ourselves and notice if we fall into positions to achieve perceived goals. With this knowledge, we will also look at home exercises for our daily routines.
October 17th, 2022: Learning to Align with Gravity with Declan Rothwell
Age, trauma and negative life experience affects our body and the way we carry ourselves. Our alignment to the heavens is one of the keys to health. Let's explore ways to become aware of our current alignment, and through tai chi principles, align ourselves more naturally, letting go of tension, and restoring our natural order.
September 19th, 2022: Finding and Keeping Our Balance in Life with Tai Chi with Margaret Olmsted
As we experience life, we always encounter moments that affect our balance physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. Join this Tai Chi class where we will reflect on how we are doing in the present moment and explore powerful ways to find greater balance in our lives.
August 15th: Tai Chi & The Aging Body with Tina Curran & Edna Brandt
Tai Chi can help us age with grace and agility, help us allow the changes aging brings to open our lives to new ways of being present and at ease, and help us recover and begin again when we aren't. For those of us who have practiced the art of Tai Chi for many years, and for those new to this work, there is much wisdom here as our bodies change. This profound practice can be a great source of rehabilitation and renewal, starting from where you are right now.
June 20th: Taking In The World With Tai Chi with Patrice Wooldridge
One of the wonderful principles of tai chi is practicing relaxation and being calm - physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually. This calmness typically brings a sense of security and safety. And, with that, one can more easily experience all the beauty of the world. This hour will focus on exercises that help one feel relaxed and calm and will point to how we can all be more open, awake and alive during our everyday lives.
May 16th: Chinese for Tai Chi Students with Edna Brandt & Julie Reinganum
To deepen your experience of tai chi, come explore the Chinese names for the movements in the first third of the form, from Single Whip to Cross Hands. We will study the visual nature of the characters and discuss how their meaning can extend into our practice of tai chi. Join us as we answer questions like: What does Single Whip mean? Where’s the twist in Brush Knee Twist Step? What is a Pipa?
April 18th: Free Writing and Tai Chi with Annette Peizer
Come with pen and paper or a preferred digital device to experience a 1-hour creative writing practice that integrates some of the Eight Ways of Tai Chi. This supportive free writing method, taught by Annette, includes brief Tai Chi-related writing sessions followed by nurturing feedback in intimate breakout groups. Your ideas discovered from your writing will then be more deeply cultivated as we practice Tai Chi together in between the brief freewrites.
March 21st: Enjoying your Tai Chi with Patrice Wooldridge
This hour will include deep relaxation while laying down, sitting or standing. We will play with the Tai Chi principles to help you bring your practice to everyday life.
This hour will include deep relaxation while laying down, sitting or standing. We will play with the Tai Chi principles to help you bring your practice to everyday life.