YMAA Level 1: Meditation, Qigong and Yang Style Form

Class Offered:

Monday 4:00 to 5:00 PM

Thursday 6:00 to 7:o0 PM

Saturdays 9:30 to 10:45 AM

YMAA Level 1 Training focuses on Tai Chi for Health and Relaxation and Qigong.  The curriculum is taught within the martial frame and provides the foundations for the Level 2 Training.  This class can be taken by itself as a holistic training method, or it can be enhanced by taking either of the more health and relaxation focused classes or the martial training.  Or, why not do them all?

YMAA Level 1 Training Includes:

  1.  Extensive spine and lower body stretching

  2.  Introduction to Taoist Meditation

  3.  Qigong Training

  4.  Yang Style Long Form Sequence

Taiji Sequence (太極拳套). There are many different styles of Taiji. In YMAA you must learn the traditional Yang Style of Taijiquan, which has 113 (or 108) forms. It is believed that the Taijiquan which YMAA practices originated with Yang, Ban-Hou

Class format also includes core ‘cross-training’ involving traditional Tai Chi training methods such as silk reeling, core body movement and light partner work.

People of all experience levels and fitness are welcome to participate in these classes.  The format is open and conducive to individual participants setting their own level of engagement.  If you want, you can get a good sweat going in the Level 1 class, but if you are looking for a gentle way to get back into shape or maintain movement, these classes will work for you as well.

YMAA Western Mass Will Focus on Two Core Stretching Regimes:

1.  Spinal Stretching:  Warm-ups begin with several standardized spine stretching routines, designed to increase spinal flexibility and open up the joints.  Dr. Yang emphasizes the importance of spinal flexibility to overall vitality, and this core warm-up is embedded in all of the training regimes.  At YMAA, we are forever lengthening the spine, extending joints from one another, and expanding joints from within.  This is a core part of both the martial and health-oriented training.

2.  Pelvic Girdle (Qua) Stretching:  According to the Tai Chi classics, power originates in your feet, is directed by the waist and manifested by the extremities (in application, any part of your body can be an extremity). The stretching routines emphasize techniques that open up the pelvic girdle, while gently developing leg strength.

Qigong

Taiji Qigong (太極氣功). Taiji Qigong is designed to help the beginner to feel and understand Qi, and also to learn how to use the concentrated mind to lead the Qi so that it can circulate smoothly. Practicing Taiji Qigong exercises can significantly improve one’s health. In addition, Taiji Qigong is the key which helps the Taiji practitioner learn how to use the Yi (i.e., wisdom mind) to lead the Qi to energize the physical body for maximum efficiency.

There are many different Taiji Qigong sets offered through the YMAA system.  The current courses focus on the Primary Qigong set, a 12 movement set, where the practitioner repeats the same moves, typically 6 to 9 times.  The repetitive movements allow the practitioner to move more deeply into their body, training the spine movements while focusing on the breath and the Qi development.