T’ai Chi Classes

T’ai Chi Classes with Linda

Safety First:   It is important to me that students who come to any of my classes feel safe and have the confidence that they will not get ill being around other people. I am very proud of the fact that at no time have we had an outbreak in my classes.  We mask when necessary, honor social distancing and students stay home when they do not feel well.   Although the Big 3- Covid 19,  Influenza and RSV are active in our community, I am not requiring masks during class at this time.  The Firehouse has a high filtration system, Hillcrest is a large room with lots of air  movement and  St James is also a large room.   However, if you are immune suppressed or have other vulnerabilities, feel free to mask. Remember, if you are feeling a bit under the weather even if you think it might be a mild cold, stay home. Keep us all healthy.

Protecting the wonderful flooring of the Firehouse: The owner of the Firehouse prefers we not wear  street shoes in the performance hall to protect the flooring.  Any other shoe is acceptable or socks and some students prefer to purchase Tai Chi Slipper. Ask me about about these slippers if you are interested.

T’ai Chi Ch’uan : What are the characters on the student’s red shirt in the photo you may ask?   T’ai Chi Ch’uan. Tai meaning ultimate or supreme. Chi meaning energy and Chuan meaning fist. So, the meaning is Ultimate Fist or Supreme Fist or sometimes “Shadowboxing”. There are many interpretations

Check my Linda’ Blog on the top right of my webpage from time to time. I keep schedules and events updated..

bellingham tai chi classes

So you are interested in learning Tai Chi or have taken some lessons and wish to continue your study. Come try a T’ai Chi class with me, Your first class is at no cost so you can decide whether it’s right for you. Just dress in loose, comfortable clothing and join Linda and your fellow students on the days and times listed below.  Please call or email Linda for more information at 360-389-5754 or Lindataichi@comcast.net

What I teach: I teach the Tung Style Long Form created by Master Tung Kai Ying who is internationally known. He comes from the lineage of the Yang Style. Master Tung Kai Ying began his study as a young child and studied many forms of Tai Chi. He comes from a long line of Tai Chi Grandmasters. Tung Ying Chieh taught his son, Tung Hu Ling who taught his son, our teacher, Grandmaster Tung Kai Ying.

The Tung style is based on traditions of Yang Style and Wu. It is taught in 3 sets. Set 1 is designed for students starting out. Set 2 is more advanced and finally Set 3, the culmination of all 87 postures. There is no requirement to learn all 3 sets. Some students learn Set 1 and stay with that set throughout their entire course of Tai Chi practice.

Tuition
The first class is at no cost to you  so you can try it and see if you like it and to find the class with the best fit for your level and personal goals.
Tuition is $30.00 per month unlimited access to all classes cash or check made payable to Linda Tai Chi.  This means you can attend as many classes in a week or month as you desire including the Wednesday morning  ZOOM Qigong class at 9:30 AM. Contact Linda for more information about ZOOM.

Private lessons are not available at this time.

Community Qigong Classes (Open to the community at no cost to the participant) – We are meeting at Hillcrest Church on Larrabee Avenue in Fairhaven every Tuesday at 10:15 AM.    This is a service I offer to the community to bring a sense of health and wellbeing to our community.  In the summer we go outdoors to Zuanich Point Park usually starting  July 8, 2025. Watch this site for any updates.

Qigong by ZOOM every Wednesday at 9:30 AM by invitation. If taken as a stand- alone and not in conjunction with other classes, the tuition is $25.00 per month.   If you are taking other Tai Chi classes, the ZOOM class is included in your monthly tuition.

All of the Qigong routines are guided by the imagery of nature. They are  lovely to perform and allows the student to use his/her body in a natural way to improve posture, breathing, balance and a sense of calm.  All of the routines can be performed standing or seated.

                                                       Beginning Tai Chi Classes at the Firehouse Arts Center 1314 Harris Avenue 

Designed for students with no experience in T’ai Chi or for those with less than 6 months of class experience. Beginning classes will help each student learn the core concepts of performing T’ai Chi and learn set 1 of the Slow set. The class incorporates some Qigong exercises.

                                               There are 4 beginning classes. Each beginning class focuses on Set 1 but work at different paces

Tuesday at 2 PM – 3 PM is designed for students new to Tai Chi or have had some limited experience.

Tuesday at 3 PM- 4 PM is an advanced  beginning class for students with more experience and know the basic postures of set 1. 

Tuesday at 4:00-4″45 PM is a beginning class for students who wish  to move at a slower pace. This tends to be a smaller group. 

NEWLY ADDED as of January 29, 2025: Wednesday 1:15 PM to 2:15 PM ( may end at 2 PM occasionally depending on events at the Firehouse). This class is designed for students new to Tai Chi or have limited experience. 

  Peter Burkland is an advanced student and co-teaches some of these  beginning classes. We are joined with other coaches to help guide students who are new to Tai Chi. Meg McConnell is a Certified Practitioner and Lois Penick whose certification is pending approval by the American Tai Chi and Qigong Association .

 


                                                          Intermediate Tai Chi Classes- There are 4 classes from which to choose
Designed for students who are comfortable with Set 1 and can perform this set with a level of confidence.  These classes will continue to focus on the core concepts and move forward with set 2. Some Qigong exercises are incorporated into the class.

Monday 4:00 PM – 4:45 PM at Hillcrest Church. If you feel comfortable with Set 1 and want to move forward to learning Set 2,  you can attend a class on Monday at 4:00 PM to 4:45 at Hilcrest Church of if you attend the Monday evening class or Tuesday class and want more help , you can  attend  my Monday 4 PM- 4:45 PM class at Hillcrest. This class goes at a slower pace than the regular Intermediate classes. If you feel confident in Set 1 and feel ready to move forward in your Tai Chi, this is the class for you.

Monday 5:15- 6:15 PM at St James Presbyterian Church 910 14th Street (lower level)  Fairhaven

Tuesday  11:30 AM – 12:30 PM  at the Firehouse Arts and Events Center.

 

 


                                                                                               Advanced Classes
Designed for students who can perform Sets 1 and 2 with some level of confidence.  This class focuses on learning Set 3 and incorporating the 10 foundational principles of T’ai Chi.

Wednesday 11:30 AM -12:30   PM at the Firehouse Arts and Events Center, 1314 Harris Avenue in Fairhaven

Monday at 3:30 – 4 PM at Hillcrest Church is a coaching class led by Peter Burkland or Paul, both advanced students. This class is designed to lend support to those students new to Set 3 or who want to refine their postures.

     Weapon Classes

  • Yang Style 18 form fan- Currently being taught Wednesday at 12:30  PM at the Firehouse
  •  Single Knife Broadsword (Tung Style)- on hold currently
  • Yang Style 32 Sword  – Currently being taught Wednesday at 12:45 PM at the Firehouse  

You must be enrolled in a class to participate in learning these forms. These are advanced forms.

Private Lessons not available at this time.

Tung Family Style – A traditional T’ai Chi Ch’uan Form based on principles of Yang style

Of the 5 styles of T’ai Chi Ch’uan, Yang Style is the most popular world- wide. I teach a yang style/Wu style  form based on the Tung Family Master Tung Kai Ying.  This form is characterized by soft slow moving postures with the energy arising from within. Deep breathing and an internal mental focus are classic traits of this form. Each class is designed to guide students through the form to increase learning and to achieve the ultimate goal of T’ai Chi- tranquility and inner harmony. This is achieved by focusing on the here and now, synchronizing the breath and using imagery to enhance the mind, body spirit connection. There is certainly a spiritual component to T’ai Chi. Being aware of our own internal process and how we relate to the world and the universe is fundamental to my approach to teaching T’ai Chi.

Linda’s T’ai Chi Curriculum

5 Animal Frolic Qigong
8 Pieces of Brocade Qigong

The Heart Kidney Qigong

The Five Treasures Qigong

The 5 Breaths Qigong

Tiger Mountain  Qigong
Slow Set  Tung Family style long form – 87 postures (Based on Yang style)
Fan Set 18 form Yang Style
Tung Single Knife (sabre broadsword)

Yang style 32 form sword
Tung Family Set

 


One more Word about my  Community Qigong Classes  

As a Community Service, I offer free Qigong classes every Tuesday  at Hillcrest Church at 10:15 AM October – June. During the summer, July – September, I offer these classes at Zuanich Point Park behind the Boathouse near the water’s edge. These are fun , easy to follow routines to improve breathing, posture and stamina. The Zuanich Point Park class starts at 10:15 AM  and ends at 11 AM. Outdoor classes are cancelled when a severe smoke warning is issued by local governmental agencies.

 

bellingham tai chi classes
Linda leading a Chair T’ai Chi class at the Bellingham library. This is pre-pandemic photo of a community class. All community classes now at Hillcrest Church every Tuesday at 10:15 AM  or Zuanich Point Park in the Summer.

 

 


 


Learning options for Enrolled Students

  • Linda offers extra help for students before or after classes as needed
  • Access to videos of me performing postures to assist in practicing at home
  • Weekly hand-outs on topics of health, wellbeing as well as techniques
  • Resource materials available to learn more about Tai Chi and Qigong
  • Seminars with local experts to enhance and deepen the students understanding of Tai Chi and Qigong