Chinese For Tai Chi Players
We will explore the beauty of the Chinese language. You will learn about the characters used to express the postures throughout the beginning form of tai chi.
The goal is to make friends with the Chinese language and inform your tai chi practice.
- In the first program, your teachers will explore basic concepts and words to help familiarize yourself with the Chinese language.
- In the next program, you will dive deeper into specific postures of the tai chi form and explore their Chinese characters, including the rollback series called Grasping Sparrow's Tail.
- In the final program, you will continue to have fun exploring the Chinese characters of the remaining postures of the beginners 1 form of tai chi chuan.
Join your teachers, Edna & Julie, to deepen your appreciation & understanding of the art of tai chi chuan.
Class Sections
Time In The Art
This is a series developed by TCF to allow experienced teachers to share their own personal tai chi learning journey. Oftentimes, this exploration ties back to the Five Excellences of Professor Cheng Man-Ch'ing - poetry, calligraphy, traditional chinese medicine, painting, and, of course, tai chi.
Classes are suitable for all levels of tai chi students and for anyone interested in starting their own journey.
Meet Your Teachers
Edna Brandt
I have been practicing and teaching tai chi for over 40 years. I still love it, and I delight in sharing my enthusiasm with others. My favorite tai chi practice is the sword form, and I am researching the symbolism of the images of animals and nature in the names of the movements.
I am a retired acupuncturist living in North Carolina. I enjoy Chinese brush painting, especially bamboo, pine, and plum blossom. I have fun applying tai chi principles to playing croquet.
Julie Reinganum
I was first introduced to tai chi in 1975 while living in Taiwan and studying Chinese. I got hooked on tai chi when I studied with Patrick Watson, the Tai Chi Foundation (TCF) founder, in 1988. Since then, I have taught and studied in many locations. I continued to deepen my knowledge of Chinese language while I worked in China for over 30 years. During that time, I developed a deep passion for many Chinese traditions. I enjoy exploring how Chinese art, calligraphy and language relate to my tai chi practice.
When not teaching tai chi, I work as a CEO coach and facilitator. You might also find me biking on Mt. Tam, skiing in Tahoe, or checking out the latest dance performances in San Francisco.
About the Tai Chi Foundation
Our mission is to “To improve health, well-being, and awareness through the study, practice, and teaching of tai chi and qigong, by an increasing number of people worldwide.”
The Tai Chi Foundation (TCF) is a not-for-profit educational organization that develops and promotes programs that enable people to learn to practice, and ultimately teach, tai chi chuan and its internal principles.
Visit our website to learn more about our Foundation, find a local school, join an online tai chi class, and more!