Seasons of Energy - Tai Chi Chuan

Chi is the energy that animates all living things. In Summer our Tai Chi practice can help us cultivate the water element. You see this mirrored in nature. Storms disperse the stagnant heat of summer. Water nourishes plants, cools the earth, and sustains life. Our bodies flow with water chi too—circulating oxygen, flushing waste, and regulating temperature. We can tune into to these inner and outer energies through the practice of Tai Chi Chuan. Often described as a ‘moving meditation,’ Tai Chi offers a profound sense of well-being, inner balance, and resilience against life’s stresses. But we’ll do more than just build health and vitality—we’ll dive deep into Tai Chi as a path that reconnects us to the energies that shape both our bodies and the world. In this weekend intensive we will focus on cultivating water chi through the Tai Chi form Crane Spreads its Wings . Though it may resemble a crane flapping its long white wings as it stands on one foot in the water, this movement moves energy inside the body the same way that clouds and rain work. Crane Spreads its Wings cleanses the bladder, invigorates the kidneys, strengthens bones and skin, revitalizes hearing and the sense of smell. We will begin by grounding ourselves in the fundamentals of Tai Chi, emphasizing proper body mechanics, alignment, and intention to create a unified flow between body and mind. Then, we will explore the energetic basis of Crane Spreads its Wings , integrating aspects such as color, direction, season, time of day, the senses, and the corresponding internal pathways and organs. Led by long-time Tai Chi teacher Joseph Pascutazz, this program is a part of a seasonal Tai Chi series— an ongoing exploration of the five elements and their correspondences between the human body and nature. Tai Chi Testimonials Arrival & Departure Friday, please arrive 3:00 - 6:00pm for registration. Dinner will be served at 6:30pm. The program will officially begin at 7:30pm. On Sunday, the program will finish by 5:00pm.