Tai Chi Chuan, Qigong, and Yoga Classes in Portland, Oregon.
How To Build A Practice
Commit
Make at least one night a week Tai Chi night. Find a teacher (see article) and go to class even when you don’t feel like it. Make Tai Chi Night your weekly ritual and let nothing get in the way.
How Much Is Enough?
Two classes a week is enough to start to experience the benefits of practice. Tai Chi is an exercise and they say it’s good to exercise daily…
Postures
Concentrate on doing the postures you remember. The best way to remember is to practice every day, while some postures are fresh in your mind. Practice especially the day after class for best retention. Practice what you can recall. You didn’t learn how to speak English by memorizing the dictionary first and then perfecting your pronunciation. Do what you remember. Even if you only remember one posture, you can stand and hold that posture and it’s still good for you.
Paradigm
The Internal Arts (of which Tai Chi is a part) are vast. Think of learning Tai Chi more like learning how to play music and less like learning the Macarena. Just because you have memorized the form doesn’t mean you have mastered Tai Chi. By far!
Depth
Maybe you don’t want to “get all into” it. That’s okay. However, if you want to feel the benefits of Tai Chi practice you must, um, practice. So, make sure you get to class at least one time a week.
Self Defeating Phenomena
It happens. You miss one class. You miss another class. You’ve missed two classes in a row. You feel guilty. The teacher will notice. You’ll be behind. Next thing you know a month has gone by and you never went back! Suddenly Tai Chi has become something you failed rather than something you championed.
The remedy? Return to class. Your teacher will be happy to see you. Relax and trust me. All you have to do is go back.
Read Books
There are tons of books about Tai Chi. Find some that jive with you and read ‘em!
Make It Your Own
Tai Chi becomes you. In the same way that everyone has their own handwriting, you will develop your own Tai Chi. You just do it. It just happens, as long as you practice. But remember, you didn’t learn how to write in three hours a week for six weeks.
Don’t Worry
Just practice. Just do it. Don’t beat yourself up. This is YOUR thing for YOU. Give yourself a break. Give yourself a kick in the pants. Whatever you need to do, just don’t give up!
Types of Tai Chi Class Enrollment
Pay Per Class
These walk-in style classes usually cost $5-$15 per session and require no pre-registration.
Pro: You can go once a month or ten times a week and decide when to take off or when to attend.
Con: Because you pay as you go, you might be more apt to allow yourself to miss.
Pay in Advance
You pay a fixed rate for a certain period of time or block of classes. Some schools make you pay per month while other sell blocks of classes.
Pro: There is usually a savings when you pay in advance which is good if you have settled into a program and know you will attend.
Con: Paying in advance can be a gamble because if you miss you’ve already paid.
First Class Free?
Some schools offer an introduction class free of charge. Exceptions apply in pay-per-class situations.
May I Watch?
Most schools allow perspective students to watch all or part of a class. Don’t be afraid to ask about observing.
Workshops
Workshops usually last from one hour to one week and can be a great way to learn Tai Chi specifics. Keep in mind the cost, what results are promised, and what you hope to get out of the workshop.
Certification
Beware! Tai Chi has no official certifications.
Learning Tai Chi from a Book
For beginners, learning from a book is like learning how to drive a stick-shift from a book.
How to Choose a Tai Chi Teacher
Here are some things to keep in mind when choosing an instructor…
Tai Chi or Not Tai Chi
You can’t go to one movie and expect to know cinema. In the same way, you can’t attend one class and know Tai Chi.
Budget
Make sure you can afford it. It seems simple but you’d be surprised at how many people overspend thinking they will learn faster. A fancy studio and free uniform doesn’t mean anything if you ain’t learnin’ nothin’.
Location
If you have to travel an hour to take an hour-long class, you might reason yourself out of going. Pick a place that is close to work or home. Make getting to class easy. In the beginning this will help immensely because there are times when your Tai Chi practice will feel like treading water. If you have to travel a far distance Tai Chi easily ends up on next year’s resolution list yet again.
Instruction
No matter if the teacher is fit or fat, good looking or ugly, a certified Tai Chi Master or an old Chinese man with a white beard, it doesn’t mean they are going to teach better or worse than the next instructor. The only way to choose your teacher is to experience their teaching style. Chances are you’re on the right track if you leave class energized, excited, and wanting more. If you leave drained, depressed, and confused keep looking. (Or start asking a lot of questions.)
Reputations
Word-of-mouth is a good way to find a lead but reputations can be misleading. Rumors are just that until you experience things for yourself. Visit the school or meet the teacher and form your own opinion.
Master vs. Student
If you are growing, there’s nothing wrong with learning from a student teacher or the dedicated practitioner at your local gym. As you progress you will start to know what you need/want and where to find the right person to teach you. The more teachers, students, and practitioners you come in contact with the more you’ll learn.
Try It Out
Try several Tai Chi classes before committing. Sign up for a limited length course if possible. In the beginning, just go, be, do, and enjoy. Too many people worry that they’re not getting it. If you go to classes for a month with a teacher that matches your learning style you’ll find yourself getting it.
What style?
Tai Chi has many practitioners and, like music, there are many ways to play. Yang style Tai Chi is the most popular but Chen, Wu, Sun, and Li styles (named from the families which they originate) are worth pursuing. Sample them and find what becomes you. All that said, many people start with Yang style.
“Having begun semi-weekly Tai Chi lessons with David Vanadia approximately 6 months ago, I’ve experienced significant improvement in health and well being. Particularly in my leg strength, improved functioning of joints, and balance. David’s style of teaching is informative, flexible, observant of individual needs without calling attention to a persons limitations, disciplined in keeping us on track and on time, and thoughtful. He always combines physical and mental activities so that ideas and forms are integrated holistically.
I’m confident that David could teach almost anything as well, since he has the key skills needed to move learners of any age progressively forward in achieving their goals.”
—Karl, OHSU Healthcare Special Projects Coordinator & Regulatory Liaison
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