New series and adjusted format for early morning practice!
Start your Friday by stepping into a sanctuary of peace and connection with this moving meditation. Using slow, standing movement based in qigong and Chen style taiji quan, you'll deepen your connection to yourself, your environment and the present moment. Think of it like a mental reset button at the end of the week with physical benefits like improved balance, stability and joint flexibility and articulation. Through intentional repetition, we explore and prioritize how the gentle, accessible movement patterns feel in our bodies rather than how they look from the outside.
Maybe you’re curious about the benefits of meditation but have a hard time sitting still, or you’re interested in learning practical stress management tools, or you’ve tried yoga and want something different. All are welcome to this supportive environment where we move and breathe as a community to ease ourselves into the day.
There are six weekly classes in the series to encourage participants to develop a sustainable personal practice. Set a spring growth goal to attend all six sessions for the greatest benefit! Drop-ins also welcome.
Open to all levels, no experience necessary. Individuals of all backgrounds, identities and lifestyle preferences are welcome to participate. Wear comfortable clothing that doesn't restrict your range of movement, and bring a water bottle. Option to use your bare feet, socks, or clean, non-marking studio shoes.
This class series is free with entrance to the gym. Space is limited - please register the week before class to reserve your spot.
If you’re not an SBP member, we would still love to have you! Just grab access to the facility first before reserving your spot: options for 1-month prepaid, punch card or day passes are here. All memberships and day passes get full access to all SBP gyms, including bouldering and training terrain, fitness amenities, sauna (Poplar and UDist) and cold plunge (UDist), and the regular rotation of yoga and fitness classes.
Instructor bio: Ourah teaches movement and sound as tools for experiencing life with heightened connection, relaxation and flow. As a U.S. board-certified Chinese medicine practitioner, she believes in the power of reconnecting to one’s own internal rhythms and the natural rhythms of the earth. She integrates her expertise in health and wellness with her professional background in the arts to help people live life with vibrance, balance and ease. Ig @ouraharts
Taiji Flow FAQs
What is taiji quan?
Taiji quan is a movement practice that originated as a martial arts training tool in China, traced to the late 1600s. It is a relatively young practice if you consider that the foundations of the movement and its correlating philosophies had been developing for millenia prior. The practice is often done slowly and can be adapted to suit a wide demographic. Many people today incorporate it into their regular self-care and wellness routines.
What if I have no experience and have never done anything like this before?
This series is designed to be accessible and modifiable for all levels!
Is taiji quan the same as tai chi?
Yes, these different spellings refer to the same practice, they just come from different systems of romanizing the Chinese language. “Tai chi” comes from the Wade-Giles system that was created between 1850-1900 by two British men whose surnames were Wade and Giles. In the 1950s, a Chinese linguist developed the pinyin system, which literally translates to “spelling sounds.” Pinyin is the more widely used system today and is the format that we are using here.
What’s the difference between qigong and taiji quan?
Qigong refers to working with energy and is a broad umbrella term for a multitude of practices that involve cultivating or manipulating qi. These can be standing, seated, lying down, static, moving, and there are a plethora of styles and practices. Taiji quan more specifically refers to a practice that originated as a martial arts training tool involving the physical body as well as an internal energy component. So, in fact, taiji quan can technically be considered a type of qigong.