Tai Chi

Tai Chi is a gentle, internally-focused practice to relax the body, relieve chronic tension, and feel energy-flow. Benefits include coordination, mindfulness, and being grounded.

Tai Chi Chuan can be translated to mean Yin/Yang Balance Fighting Style. Yin means downward, inward, accommodating. Yang means upward, outward, aggressive. To balance these two opposing and contradictory forces is to find harmony within yourself.

In practice, this balance is created by relaxing parts of the body that are too tense, and strengthening joints that are too loose. Then we come into our Tai Chi posture, which aligns the body in a specific way to efficiently fight gravity, like stacking stones. From there, we flow through gentle movements to encourage energy flow through the body.

Keep reading to learn more.

Weekly Tai Chi Classes

Saturday and Wednesday, 11-11:45am

Tai Chi Foundations

Learn the basics of Tai Chi which primarily focuses on opening the body through joint loosening exercises, learning a little of the Tai Chi form, and scratching the surface of the more subtle aspects of the practice.

Classes meet indoors or in our private side yard depending on the weather.

Wednesday, 6-7pm

Tai Chi Curriculum

The best way to build Tai Chi skill is to start progressing through our Tai Chi curriculum. It builds on the basic principles you've learned in the beginner class by incorporating them into a series of movements called the Yang 64 Posture form.

We also spend more time with hands-on drills called "pushing hands" to increase our ability to feel our internal state as well as that of our partner.

See Our Curriculum

Calm the Mind. Relax the Body. Sink.

These are the initial goals of practicing Tai Chi Chuan, whether it’s being learned as an advanced martial art, or simply for the various mental and physical health benefits.

There are many reasons people practice tai chi at New Orleans Shaolin:

relief from physical pain or uncomfortable mental states
to stay calm under pressure, either in a professional setting, or in daily life
increasing athletic performance or martial art skills
to improve balance and coordination
simply as a gentle exercise for seniors or people with injuries

No matter the reason, they all boil down to wanting to increase the awareness of one’s own body.

A Tai Chi practice systematically achieves this through the following method:

Decrease focus on the thoughts.
Switch mental focus to the body, initially the breath, to feel real-time sensations.
As we come into the moment, and out of our thoughts, our minds begin to become less agitated, freeing us from uncomfortable mental states like anger, depression, and anxiety.
As our minds relax, our body begins to let go of stuck tension which relieves us of aches and pains, which eventually turn into serious injuries.
As our bodies relax, we sink as gravity pulls us into the ground, improving our balance and connection to the earth.

From here, anything we do can be focused, coordinated, and energy-efficient, unlocking the true potential of your life!

Curriculum at New Orleans Shaolin

White to Yellow Sash – Basics

1st Road of Yang 64 Posture Form (can be learned through our video module – see below)

Yellow to Blue Sash – Form

Yang 64 Posture Form (entire form)
Partner Forward and Back Form

Blue to Green Sash – Pushing Hands

Posture Test 1st Road of Yang 64
Partner Pushing Hands Sets
Pa Kua Circle Walking

Green to 3rd Brown Sash – Pa Kua Chang

Classical 8 Section Pa Kua (bagua) Form
Straight Sword Intro – Connecting Body and Sword

Plus much more weapons and empty hand forms when you make it to Brown Sash!

Learn Tai Chi at Home

Our studio is currently offering indoor/outdoor classes depending on weather, but we’ve also set up a great way for you to learn tai chi through online videos and livestream classes. See the options below.

The best approach, if you’re really serious about practicing Tai Chi is to do both. Get the video series to follow along at home, and come to class to hear specific instructions and get a little bit of feedback.

NEW: Tai Chi Online Video Course - Yang 64 Posture Form

Part of our Shaolin Arts Online video series. Learn the first section or "road" of the Yang-style Tai Chi 64-posture form in the privacy and comfort of your own home!

A form, once memorized and built into the neurology of the body, can be a gateway into the present moment. Use it to ground and relax yourself while flowing through gentle movements.

This 8 video series starts with a warm up video. Then it takes you through the form one posture at a time. Finally, it ends with a quick review video to follow along if after you've learned each movement.

Private Lessons In-Person or via Zoom

If you’re just starting out with Tai Chi, i highly recommend starting with a private lesson. We have a starter package that is one private lesson and two group classes for only $68. The private lessons will set you up with everything you need to know initially so you can better understand the group classes. Purchase this Starter Package here.

You can also get on-on-one personal instruction via Zoom. No health risks, no masks. Develop a personal home practice and begin learning the 24-posture form while getting feedback real-time.