Please use contact form to receive a link. Qigong Class is 10 AM Saturday and 10:00 AM Thursday

QIGONG: Movement, Meditation and Meaning

THURSDAY 10:00 – 11:00 AM $20 per class/ Four class card $60. This class is at Marbletown Multi Arts  3588 Main Street  Stone Ridge, NY   12484. It is also live on ZOOM.

SATURDAY 10:00 – 11:00 AM ON ZOOM ONLY.

Payment: Pay on the first class or pay here:

Taiji is a series of postures learned in sequence. This means that one proceeds posture by posture and progresses through the set of slow, circular, graceful movements at an individual pace. Taiji comprises martial, spiritual and physical healing aspects for the participant. Students maintain a regular practice to build muscle and spirit memory of the form through repetition and frequency of practice.

Qigong movements are generally slow and easy to follow. Classes are a combination of movement, breath work and meditation. Qigong is one of the oldest systems of medicine – evidence of practice exists from as long ago as 5000 years – and has been proven to heal illness, reduce stress, slow the effects of aging and enliven the spirit. One achieves a sense of active relaxation in tune with oneself and nature. Some forms have a sequence. Sometimes the forms practiced are a result of who is in the class and the season of the year.

Qigong was developed in China thousands of years ago as part of traditional Chinese medicine. Its self-message techniques are relaxing and meditative, but the exercises are also used as preventative medicine to improve health and strength.

Mythosomatic Movement

Drawing from traditional Chinese Qigong and 30 years of practice and study, Bobbi teaches gentle, simple and guided meditations and movements (that can also be done while seated) for healing, strength, detoxification, balance, calm mind and enlivened spirit. We can contact our vital essence (Jing) through the imaginative power of the mind combined with specific archetypal postures. Our bodies are the emotional locus of sensitivity which can be cultivated and nourished – and discovered – through these archetypical forms and ancient understandings.

Some of the benefits of Taiji and Qigong are:

•Balance and Stability in Movement and Stillness

•Improving bone health by stimulating bone marrow growth

•Working with flexibility in the tendons and ligaments

•Helping the mobility in knees and hips

•Aligning the spine

•Strengthening the qi stored in the internal organs

•Working with increasing subtlety with the body, energy and consciousness through progressive levels

Bobbi

Tai Chi is an ancient Chinese martial art. Each student begins for a different reason, but all that is required to begin is a desire to learn. Continuing takes perseverance and the full understanding of Tai Chi reveals itself after a long time of study.  But the benefits become apparent early.

Students start by learning a long, slow sequence of movements that establish the base of what is called the "slow set".  These movements start simply and can  be learned through repetition and practice by most anyone. The slow set is the basis for bringing together the mind, the body and also the spirit to cultivate Qi (chi), or energy, or our life force. Learning the movements is just the beginning. It is the structure upon which true learning and study can begin.

While Tai Chi reveals its full nature over time, its benefits can be felt after one or two classes. Tai Chi helps balance, focus, stillness of the mind, strength, flexibility, breathing and a general sense of well-being. One also learns patience, humility, and gratitude and learns to leave behind negativity, anger and frustration. As Master stung Kai Yang-my teacher wrote- One finds that “a cheerful and calm attitude enhances our learning and that Tai Chi enhances our calm and cheerful attitude.”

Your Teacher

Bobbi Esmark began "playing" Tai Chi in 1993 with Tom Walters, a student and designated sifu of Grand Master Tung Kai Yang. She continued classes after moving to the Hudson Valley with Martha Cheo. Bobbi began teaching in 2007. She studies with Grand Master Tung when possible and also attends workshops of Grand Master Tung’s nephew in New York City, Alex Dong, among other teachers and practitioners of the form and Taoist philosophy.

Lineage - contributed by Joe Bergin

Our style is the Yang Style Long Form as well as advanced forms. Our legacy is in the Tung Family tradition as passed down from Grand Master Tung Ying Chieh to his grandson Master Tung Kai Ying. Tom Walters and Jane Golden are important influences in our school.  Both studied with Master Tung Kai Ying for many years and each teaches in California.  Master Alex Da De Dong is the great-grandson of Grand Master Tung Ying Chieh. He teaches in New York City and frequently has workshops in our area. He has contributed much to our studies and we benefit from his proximity to us, although his form has differences from ours. 

BE TAI CHI is part of New Paltz Taiji, which lists the classes of teachers Martha Cheo and Bobbi Esmark.  For information about our group and classes available in New Paltz and Gardiner, www.newpaltztaiji.com

In addition to the slow set long form, we practice:
Qigong
Fast Set
Hard Set  Hao form or Ca He (open/close)
Sword (Jian)
Knife (Dao)
Tung Family Set
Push Hands (tui shou)
Martial Applications