Tai Chi

What is Tai Chi Chuan?

Tai Chi Chuan is a soft martial art performed in a series of slow, dance like movements which improve physical and mental strength. Practicing these graceful movements engages all the major muscle groups and improves balance and stamina.

Classes focus on the Principles of Movement essential to any sport. These include relaxation, straightness, single weightedness, nose/navel alignment, and folding.

Students of any age over 12 are accepted although our classes are devoted to teaching senior age people who can stand and walk.

When are classes?

For information on signing up call the community center phone at (301) 441-2647.  Anyone is welcome to stop by and observe.

What classes do you offer?

Below is our schedule and a description of each class:

10:30 am
Tai Chi Principles Class

NEW CLASSES BEGIN MAR 6 WITH FREE LECTURE DEMONSTRATION AT 10:30 AM. PLEASE JOIN US TO SEE IF T’AI CHI CAN HELP YOU!

Simple movements for Chi energy  generation and circulation (Chi Gong) form the core of this class. The exercises are suitable for any one who can stand on their feet; some exercises can be performed from sitting positions. This class will help you improve balance and leg strength.

The easy to learn exercises are ideal for persons who are recovering from illness or surgery or heart conditions. The class is slowly paced and enjoyable and includes a 10 minute meditation with breathing and visualization exercises.

The Tai Chi Principles class  is also designed as an introduction and warm up for the  Beginning and Intermediate Tai Chi classes. We feel students get the most value from attendance at the two hour block of classes which include both the Tai Chi Principles and either Beginning or Intermediate Tai Chi Classes.

11:30 am
Beginning Tai Chi Class

This class is for students who have never taken a Tai Chi class or may have taken Tai Chi in the past but want to start at the beginning.  We teach the Yang Style Short Form as taught by Professor Chen Man Ching and our teacher Patrick Watson.

Students should be able to stand for one hour and shift weight from one leg to the other as they learn the series of movements.

11:30 am
The Intermediate Tai Chi Class

This is a class for returning students who have learned the first 10 hours of the Yang Style Short Form.  If you have not taken classes with us before we will need to approve your entry into this advanced class.

About Frances Korbly-Canter

Frances Korbly-Canter has been studying Tai Chi for 37 years with the Tai Chi Foundation (formerly the School of Tai Chi Chuan). She has been teaching for 35 years in many locations in Suburban Maryland and before that in New York City.

Frances team teaches some classes along with several colleagues. The team teaching approach was developed by our teacher, Professor Patrick Watson. All of Patrick Watson’s students have spent many hours in class learning the special team method of teaching.

More information about our foundation can be found at Tai Chi Foundation.org. We teach the Yang Style Short Form as taught by Master Chen Man Ching and our teacher Professor Patrick Watson, a senior student of Professor Chen Man Ching with permission to teach.