1160 Dickens Ave., Naperville, IL 60563
1160 Dickens Ave., Naperville, IL 60563
A beginner’s guide
A traditional Chinese mind–body practice that combines slow, graceful movement with deep breathing, focus and meditation. Often called meditation in motion.
Origins
Rooted hundreds of years in China, Tai Chi emphasizes relaxation, balance and the flow of vital energy, or Qi. Developed for self-defense, it evolved into a tool for health and longevity.
Philosophy
The harmony of opposites — soft and hard, movement and stillness. Practice teaches us to move with the natural flow of life instead of resisting it.
Yang style
The most widely practiced style worldwide. Large, open, continuous movements — graceful to watch, friendly to learn, excellent for health.
Tai Chi Chuan lineages
Chen Wangting · 1580–1660
Taught here
Yang Lu-ch’an · 1799–1872
Wu Yu-hsiang · 1812–1880
Sun Lu-t’ang · 1861–1932
The legend
Taoist and Confucian thought form tai chi’s conceptual background, along with Taoist teachings on qi and the three dantian. It is an “internal” (neijia) art, part of the Wudang family.
When two equal forces push, neither moves. So tai chi never meets hardness with hardness — it uses sensitivity, yielding and deflection, redirecting an opponent’s power rather than opposing it.
Core principles
No experience, equipment or fitness level required. You’ll start with basic postures and breathing, building toward longer forms over time.
01
Relaxation — releasing tension in body and mind
02
Slow, continuous movement
03
Proper alignment and posture
04
Deep, coordinated breathing
05
Present-moment focus
06
Rooting and grounding
Take the first step toward better balance, less stress and deeper calm. Beginners always welcome.
