Our eastern movement arts program is expanding and offering an alternative enrichment that complements our standard choices such as weights, cardio, and Pilates. Members can increase their wellbeing by choosing yoga, karate and our new and expanded T'ai Chi program. Our 2010-2011 T'ai Chi program, beginning in September, will offer two choices that provide more variety and enrichment. One class will be taught by Ted Q. Bowes. This is a 19-week, rigorous, disciplined session where students will learn the Yang Style Chinese National Orthodox 24 Short Form. A second and new class will be taught by Marianna Giordano-a relaxed, free-flowing session based on the Wu style of T'ai Chi.

T'ai Chi Ch'uan 24 Short Form

Ted. Q Bowes

This 19-week session (September 7-January 18, on Tuesdays from 11:30 A.M. to12:45 P.M.) will be taught by Ted Q. Bowes, a retired educator and student of eastern cultures. As a young boy, Mr. Bowes learned T'ai Chi from his father, who was a Marine interpreter in a Japanese prison camp in China during World War II. This led to a lifetime interest in eastern philosophies and arts such as mindfulness, meditation, poetry, yoga, calligraphy, brush stroke, ikebana, suiseki, Sufi dancing, and Reiki. Mr. Bowes also brings a broad spectrum of western kinesthetics - dance therapy, creative movement, and pantomime - to provide his students with new paradigms of cross-cultural perspectives as well as an enriched mind-body-spirit harmony. T'ai Chi Ch'uan is a Chinese movement art made up of a series of slow, smooth, and graceful postures known as a form. T'ai Chi's profound effects include energy (chi), power (jing), vitality, balance of mind and body, posture, stability (fall prevention), stress reduction, and a calm sense of centeredness in daily living. T'ai Chi will deeply improve the quality of your life. This class will give students a lifetime tool: The Yang-style Chinese National Orthodox 24 Short form, a concise set of 24 postures that represent the essence of T'ai Chi. This class requires discipline, steady attendance, and home practice. Students will be asked to purchase a DVD for homework. Mr. Bowes brings humor, philosophy, and precise teaching to each class. Pre-registration is required. A sign-up sheet will be at the Front Desk - 7:00 A.M sharp - Saturday, August 7. Demand is high, so sign up early. Last year's class filled up in 49 minutes! (Note: Mr. Bowes will teach the short form in a repeat 19-week session January 25-May 31, 2011). The class is limited to 20 people. Mr. Bowes says, "I look forward to this second annual program, and it is my passion to pass on the profound gift of T'ai Chi Ch'uan to those who seek wholeness."

T'ai Chi - Wu Style

Marianna Giordano

Marianna Giordano will be teaching the new T'ai Chi class starting in September at TCC. Ms. Giordano has been teaching Wu-style T'ai Chi for over 20 years. She is a great believer in the benefits of T'ai Chi, having seen it change many lives for the better, including her own. Ms. Giordano has her own practice doing alternative healing therapies including Reiki, hypnotherapy, foot reflexology, quantum touch and theta healing among others. Her T'ai Chi classes are relaxed, informal, and fun. Although T'ai Chi requires some practice, this class makes it easy to learn without a long-term commitment. Classes are taught in ten-week blocks, but students are free to come and go as needed. T'ai Chi is the #1 recommended exercise for arthritis, Parkinson's, and auto-immune problems. It is also beneficial for building strong bones, keeping knees flexible, breathing problems, and other chronic conditions. Come to class and leave feeling relaxed, energized, and better than when you arrived. Classes will be held in the Group Exercise Studio on Tuesdays from 1-2 P.M., beginning September 7. There is no pre-registration required.