TAI CHI

tai chi

Tai Chi is a form of moving meditation that builds and balances Qi (life force) in our bodies. It has been practiced for thousands of years and is a wonderful way to calm the mind and body. It is one of the best ways to unify mind, body and spirit.

At Chicago's Alternative Health Group LLC, we teach Yang style forms both Cheng Men-Ching Yang Short Form via Patrick Kelly, Yang Cheng Fu Long Form, Sang Feng Quick Fist by Huang Sheng Shyan and Yang Temple style. We also practice push hands for sensitivity practice.

Classes are taught by Martin Romero, Nathan Paulus, and Timothy Suh.

We recommend students dedicate themselves to come to class a minimum of two days per week to make true progress! At any level, one day per week is not sufficient to learn and go deeper

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See our Full Class Schedule

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Our lineage: Yang Lu Chan, Yang Cheng Fu, Cheng Man-Ching, Huang Sheng Shyan, Patrick Kelly.

From Patrick Kelly:

"The great purpose of genuine Taiji is the great purpose of life itself - Spiritual Evolution. Named 'Emptiness, Immortality or Enlightenment' by the Daoists and Buddhists, 'Self Realisation' by the Yogis, 'To Awaken and Merge with the Source' by the Middle Eastern Gnostics and Western Mystics.

All people come on to the Earth with this purpose, but most quickly forget why they are here. Once enmeshed in the outer physical world their whole life serves merely the survival of the body (which includes the brain). The great physical and social edifices of human society, intended as forms within which humanity may evolve, become prisons. Many dream of a way out but few find the practical path to freedom.

Individual conscious perfection exists as a spark within every human being. There is a pressure from within and without to develop this possibility. The forces maintaining the universe are complex and the reasons for many things in life unclear. Why do some struggle to realise their inner potential while others dissipate it through a life of ignorance, weakness and neglect? For those who sadly allow this spark to fade there is little individual hope, though their life and death still contribute to the general evolution of humankind.

For those who actively choose inner growth there appears the question of the 'Path' or 'Way'. There is a multitude of methods but only one Way. That is the internal path which steadily unfolds as a person delves deeper into their own inner world. That world is deceptive, sometimes dangerous, as the Mind perceives the inner world through its own self-created web of illusion - even delusion. Without true directions and a guide, people will almost certainly go astray. Only a fool would feel capable of guiding others on this individual internal path. It is an obligation to those beyond me, not choice, which is behind what is offered here."

To learn more about Patrick Kelly's lineage, please click here.

Please note there are 3 types of Taiji you may encounter.

  1. There is genuine traditional Taiji where students progress through a long serious training, which produces true inner evolution, a deep well being and some ability at self-defense based on internal refinement rather than external strength and speed. The sublime experience of the past great practitioners is passed down, which requires effort from both students and teachers. The instructors have themselves been through such long training previously with their genuine teachers.

  2. Secondly there is "healing" Taiji where people practice lightly to feel outwardly better and recover from the pressure of work and daily life. There is some external value in this but it does not lead to internal refinement.

  3. Thirdly you may also see "gymnastic" Taiji where all esoteric training is scorned and either beautiful "wushu" movements or rough fighting movements are trained, perhaps with silk uniforms, sometimes for competition. These last 2 methods are typically taught merely as a means of making a living. The lightly trained instructors easily create new movements and systems which propagate their own simple ideas. These methods may increase attachment to and identification with the body (consolidating the ego). This is a long way from the great purpose of the deep and subtle art of true Taiji.

I suggest you think twice before investing your time in these last 2 - ask yourself what is really important in your life, then stay true to that and make your choice.

 

TAI CHI TEACHER BIOS:

Timothy I. Suh, DAOM, L. Ac., RYT

Korean born and raised in the states to a Tae Kwon Do Master father Oriental Medicine was not new to me. My draw to studying Oriental Medicine came after my mother died after two years of fighting cancer. She fought long and hard but the allopathic medicine and cancer took its toll. I wished there was more I could do and but did not have the tools at the time to do it. I now have more of the tools and use all that I can to help my patients with as many alternatives that I can. Thus my focus is on quality of life and pain management.

I have studied martial arts since 1975,  practicing Tai Chi and yoga since 1998. I have lived in Spain and Korea and have been exposed to many cultures and am confident that I can guide patients and practitioners to their healthiest selves.

He found the most internal aspects of Tai Chi when he met Patrick Kelly in 2010 and has been learning and teaching the most internal and spiritual work since.

Join Tim for:

  

Martin Romero (Tai Chi)

I began my Tai Chi studies in 1982. My teacher is Jose Perez, and his teacher is Waysun Liao from the Tai Chi Tao Center. I graduated from the Midwest College of Oriental Medicine in 1990. As I continue to practice Tai Chi, I keep learning more details from different schools in my ongoing journey.

Join Martin for All-Level Tai Chi on Tuesday & Thursday evenings 6:00-7:00 pm, and Saturday mornings 9:00-10:00 am.

 

Nathan Paulus RYT

Nathan has been studying and practicing Yoga since 2002.  In 2010, he began serious study of Tai Chi, under Timothy Suh and in the lineage of Master Huang Shen Shyan and Patrick Kelly.  Nathan teaches Tai Chi as a spiritual practice, focusing on refining the physical body, emotions, and the mind. He teaches beginner classes on Fridays. Privately he does bodywork and runs workshops out of Five Point Holistic Health in Logan Square. 

Join Nathan for:

______________________

See our Full Class Schedule

or

Purchase Classes Here