Taiji is a time-tested art which gently exercises the body and the mind

Tai Chi (Taiji) is a time-tested art which gently exercises the body and the mind. It can be used for health, longevity, mental freshness, and spiritual development. Taiji aims at well-being, including the attainment of grace and balance, the promotion of physical and emotional health, and the development of energy flow. The movements of the more popular forms of Taiji are slow-paced, non-impact and not strenuous.

The practice of Taiji does not tax or deplete the body’s energy level; rather it creates strength and increases one’s vital life force and concentration.

THE CMAA Difference

Through a unique, tight-knit community atmosphere, students of all ages and abilities are welcomed to join CMAA's most loyal students, some of which have been practicing at the Academy for 20+ years, and reap the physical and mental benefits of Tai Chi's dynamic exercises. 

Are you a beginner?

If you’ve ever tried Tai Chi before and found the movements confusing or difficult to remember, don’t worry our approach will make things easier. First, we focus on the development of good Tai Chi basics.  Becoming familiar with basic exercises will help us move into the routines more seamlessly.  Once we progress to traditional Tai Chi routines, we break up the routines in to sections.  We will focus on learning each section one at a time through a systematic progression.  Since you will have developed a good foundation in Tai Chi basics and learned the sequences piece by piece, it will seem like a natural process and not overwhelming.

Tai Chi is great for seniors - a wonderful art to begin practicing as you get older.  The slow motion movements offer a form of non-impact exercise and are simple to learn.  Overtime, we develop greater positional awareness, strength, flexibility, and improved memory!

Advanced students

For those already familiar with internal Chinese martial arts and interested in the specifics, we practice a variety of Qigong and Tai Chi styles and routines.  We primarily focus on classic Qigong routines as a warm up (8 Sections Brocade, Shaolin’s Tendon Changing Classic, for example) before moving in to Traditional Tai Chi practice.  Stylistically, we focus on Traditional Yang Style Tai Chi for new practitioners.  In addition to Yang, we also practice Wudang Style and several straight sword routines (Chen/Yang).  Please call if you have any questions about specific styles and routines.  

benefits of tai chi

1. Promotes Heart Health
   Tai Chi lowers blood pressure by reducing stress and inflammation.

2. Enhances Flexibility
   Moves are completed in a variety of positions, and practice over time promotes flexibility.

3. Improves Balance
   Tai Chi allows students to better sense their bodies in space, thus overtime approving balance and decrease risks of falling.

4. Decreases Stress, Anxiety, and Depression
   Tai Chi naturally relieves stress and promotes mental freshness and spiritual development.

5. Strengthens Muscles
   This gentle form of resistance training uses bodyweight to strengthen your upper and lower body.

6. Improves Focus
   Also known as "moving meditation," Tai Chi's slow yet detail-oriented motions improve your focus and concentration.

Qigong (Chi Kung)

Qigong uses breathing techniques, gentle movement, and meditation to cleanse, strengthen, and circulate the life energy (qi).  Qigong is similar to Taiji but does not emphasize self defense.

CMAA PUsh Hands Club

Pushing hands is said to be the gateway for students to further understand the martial aspects of Tai Chi: leverage, reflex, sensitivity, timing, coordination and positioning. Pushing hands works to undo a person's natural instinct to resist force with force, teaching the body to yield to force and redirect it. While we focus on the health and wellness aspects of Tai Chi in class, we practice push hands to complement the physical conditioning available from performing solo form routines. Push hands allows students to learn how to respond to external stimuli using techniques from their forms practice. Among other things, training with a partner allows a student to develop ting jing (listening power), the sensitivity to feel the direction and strength of a partner's intention. In that sense pushing hands is a contract between students to train in the defensive and offensive movement principles of their martial art: learning to generate, coordinate and deliver power to another and also how to effectively neutralize incoming forces in a safe environment. The CMAA Push Hands Club meets weekly; please contact us to learn more about meeting times and agenda.