Welcome to WestWind T'ai Chi

T'ai Chi Ch'uan (tie chee chuwan) is a form of exercise and a way of living that has been practiced in the Chinese culture for thousands of years. T'ai Chi is a combination of ancient philosophical teaching, a system of health and healing, a form of meditation and a system of self-defense. T'ai Chi helps us create balance in our lives by teaching us to be in Harmony with the Universe. It is more than just physical exercise or mental exercise, but a meshing of the two.

The Chen style of T'ai Chi Ch'uan is known as the Original style from which all other styles of T'ai Chi developed. Chen style T'ai Chi combines fast and slow movements as well as hard and soft to create a balance of opposite, or Yin and Yang energies. This, in turn, creates balance in our minds, bodies and souls. Chen style T'ai Chi promotes health as well as self defense. Indeed, it is a well-rounded martial art from which anyone can benefit.

Traditionally, all Martial Arts styles were practiced as a means of self defense, but also as a way to create "gong fu" or "mastery of" the Self. A person could not very well defend him/herself without being able to master emotions and energy.

Today we practice T'ai Chi to gain mastery of our bodies, minds and souls. This, in turn, helps us be the best we can be it whatever capacity we choose - from being the best we can at our jobs and in our personal lives to increasing our golf swing or ability to balance making dinner and helping kids do homework at the same time.

T'ai Chi is an all-inclusive art. It is gentle and encouraging to those who have had little or no exercise, and is challenging to those who love to work out. T'ai Chi is all about creating balance in our lives and helping us grow into the very best person we can be.