Offered by Session, please see Classes - Now Enrolling page for upcoming class sessions. Pre-enrollment requested, please contact us to enroll. Tai Chi Fitness - 13 Weeks
Excellent introduction to Tai Chi for adults which teaches the basic movements (Tai Chi warm up & stretching, Tai Chi & Qigong Breathing Patterns, Tai Chi Stance Training); the 5 Centering Set for increased balance, flexibility, and strength; 8 Verses of Brocade helps develop a solid yet pliable structure and has been used as a rehabilitative set; and the Beijing 24 Movement Short Form which is THE MOST POPULAR form done in the entire world. Course is a minimum of 26 1-hours classes. Beginners to Advanced.
Beijing Short Form - 8-10 Weeks
This form enables old and young, beginning and advanced, to develop the essential principles of Tai Chi--effortless movement, relaxation, and awareness of the mind and body as one. This form was created in China in 1956 as a simplified form, complete in the essential exercises, and suitable to people with busy life styles. Beijing Short Form (the Beijing 24 or the 24 Step Form) is THE MOST POPULAR form done in the entire world. Session is a minimum of 16 1-hour classes.
Chi Gung Set - 13 weeks
This is Energy Work and includes the 5 Organ Set, 8 Essential of Tai Chi (Riding the Tai Chi Horse, Ascending Dragon, and many more); and the 12 Tao Yin or “The Way of Becoming Soft” (Swimming Dragon, Snake & Crane Dispersal, plus 10 more!). Course is a minimum of 26 1-hour classes. Beginners and up!
S.T.A.R. & B.E.A.M. - on going
Seniors Transcending And Revitalizing and Body Energy and Mind programs help you cultivate your knowledge, power, inner harmony and love through integrating body, energy, and mind work with practical applications. This FUNdational Tai Chi Program teaches essential concepts and breathing that are revitalizing and empowering for anyone with movement challenges and wish to increase range of motion and cultivate vitality, energy and spirit into their senior years. Enhances mental, emotional and physical health. Course duration to be determined based on needs and abilities of participants. 45 minutes. Beginners.
12 Tao Yin Chi Gung - 8 weeks
Tai Chi Players (ALL LEVELS, i.e., from never had a class before to years of practice) are invited to “pursue the way of becoming soft” by learning the 12 Tao Yin Chi Gung Set. As we play, we will be focused on learning standing and moving postures that promote BALANCE, PLIABILITY, AND SOFTNESS WITHIN THE BODY. Softness like a chain whip made of pliable, connected steel not like overcooked spaghetti! Through movement and stretching players will discover structural weaknesses/stiffness and energy blocks, then play to strengthen the “links in the chain.” This is a 16 1-hour classes course.
Tai Chi Forms Practice - on going every session
Continue YOUR practice of the forms you have learned and improve on your skills while increasing your good health! Free your mind, enjoy low impact aerobics, and de-stress your body while conditioning and strengthening for 30 minutes of the 5 Centering Set, 8 Verses of Brocade, the Beijing 24 Short Form, 12 Tao Yin, Wu Style Short Form, and/or the Tai Chi Fan Form (for those who have completed the course). Other forms will be added as instruction is completed. This is not an instructional class; it is instructor led and you may demonstrate knowledge of the any of the forms to enroll. 30 minutes-45 minutes.
Wu Style Short Form & 8 Essentials of Tai Chi - 13 weeks
Learn the first section of the Wu Style long form plus the martial applications. Wu Jian-quan movements emphasize softness, redirection of incoming force, and are relaxed, natural, closer to the trunk of the body and nimble. There are many hand techniques which are used for push hands (two people "gentle sparring" to be offered in the future). 8 Essentials of Tai Chi Qigong set includes energy building and dispersal exercises...be solid like an oak tree and pliable like the willow while learning to move fluidly through the world integrating body, mind and breath.
26 1-hour classes course.
Tai Chi Self-Defense Level One - 8 to 10 weeks
An introduction to 5 FUNdamentals from the Art of War by Sun Tzu (6th c. BC) with Master Peter Hill's conflict resolution Paradigm: Goal/Intent, Emotions, Situations, Inner Skills, and Techniques. This course is intended to assist Beginner to Advanced students on their personal path of physical, mental, and emotional empowerment. The practice of Tai Chi helps train and condition your body and mind to protect your health and longevity with the additonal benefit of being able to effectively defend yourself. Think about it...if you cannot defend yourself FROM yourself, why worry about the boogeyman in the bushes? No previous martial arts experience is needed. Course manual fee additional. 16 to 20 90-minute classes.
Crane, Deer, & Bear Animal Frolic Qigong - 8 to 10 weeks
This set includes 3 of the famous Five Animal Frolic, an exercise set created 1800 years ago by the famous Chinese doctor, Hua-Tuo. Session includes standing postures. These exercises help to develop powerful and flexible legs while cultivating light or heavy movement. 16 to 20 60-minute classes.
Crane, Deer, Bear, Tiger & Monkey Animal Frolic Qigong - 13 weeks
All 5 of Hua-Tuo's Animal Frolic Qigong exercises are included in this program. 26 60-minute classes.
Tai Chi Boxer 1 Form - 13 weeks
Intermediate to Advanced level - Introduction to the 46 movement martial Boxer form that can be performed slow or fast. All of the Boxer forms are martial in focus. 26 1-hour classes.
Tai Chi for Weight Loss - 13-14 weeks
This program combines Chen, Yang, Sun and Wu Tai Chi Styles to train in two key areas of Weight Loss - Sweating and Generating Energy. Learn how generating energy/chi in the body reduces hunger while you burn more calories...all while you eat less. For Beginners to Advanced. 26-28 60-minute classes.
Note to Advanced - There is always opportunity to "go longer, stronger, deeper" and this form is no exception. Everyone benefits having greater ability to generate, at will, more chi in the body and focused training in this area will be beneficial in all areas of training.
Peggy Wheeler is a Certified Advanced Instructor (Black Sash) with World Tai Chi Association. Her goal is to assist individuals in their ongoing quest for knowledge, power and inner harmony as they serve in their various roles and communities. She studies with internationally recognized Grandmaster Jinheng Li (Wu Shu World Champion, Chinese Rope Dart Expert, Tai Chi Master, Senior Member of Beijing Wu Shu Team) and Master Peter Hill (Tai Chi Curriculum Innovator, Chinese Kenpo Tuite, Shaolin Kung Fu and Wu Shu) who provide exacting training standards while promoting the positive mental, emotional, and physical benefits of Tai Chi. Also, she holds a Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do (World Tae Kwon Do Federation), is a Certified Clinical Acupuncture Technician (International Association of Medical Acupuncture), and has completed the Compassion In Action program training of The Twilight Brigade (palliative care). She lives in Topeka with her husband and two children.