AUBURN #- Traditionally, Tai Chi is what is known as a “soft” martial art, known to help promote health through a practiced series of movements and poses that help focus the energy of the mind and body.
This principle coupled with the ideas of the eastern philosophy known as Taoism, have coupled to create a school of Tai Chi known simply as Taoist Tai Chi, which for the past several years has been a staple of the fitness programs offered at the Auburn YMCA-WEIU.
This school of Tai Chi was founded by Master Moy Lin-shin, who began teaching in Buffalo in 1974.
Pam Nevius, one of the instructors at the Y, has been practicing the art of Tai Chi for the past three years.
“I really enjoyed it,” Nevius said. “It has been a lot of fun and I have really learned a lot, it has been a wonderful experience.”
After studying as a student, Nevius decided that she was interested in sharing what she had learned as an instructor.
“I worked really hard with the instructors I was studying with,” Nevius said. “And I decided that I wanted to share that experience.”
One of the principle tenants of Taoist Tai Chi is to share knowledge and experience with others.
“We are a service organization,” Nevius said. “None of the instructors are paid. We do this because we want everybody to be able to share in the experience of Tai Chi and we want to be able to make that available to everybody.”
For the past year, Nevius has been sharing her knowledge at the Y as well as the Unitarian Church in Auburn and has continued to pursue her own studies in Skaneateles.
Tai Chi focuses on the entire body, helping to develop an overall healthy body through a series of moves and meditations that are not unlike a kata in other martial arts disciplines.
These moves are designed to have an impact on two levels.
Nevius explained that not only do the movements of Tai Chi help strengthen the body, they also help the mind focus in a manner similar to meditation.
“This is for health,” Nevius said.
“It is a very gentle whole body workout. It works on the mind and the body. Once you get comfortable with the moves, it becomes a lot like a meditation that brings the body and the mind into focus.”
These benefits manifest themselves in several areas in particular according to Nevius.
“It is a good way to relieve stress,” Nevius said.
“But it also helps work on balance and movement. As we get older we start to worry about balance and this helps with things like balance and stretching. It is a good series of slow gentle movements that help in these areas.”
Nevius said that each student and each class she teaches is different, with a combination of students new to Tai Chi and student who are just getting started.
This provides a unique opportunity to start from the beginning, which unlike many other types of workouts, with Tai Chi, there is always something new to learn even for those that have been studying for a number of years.
“Everyone is different,” Nevius said.
“Everybody moves differently. When I get new students, I start right at the beginning. No matter how long you have been doing this it never hurts to go back to the beginning. I had one student who had been taking this for a few years and from going back to the beginning she told me that no one had ever explained a move to her like I had before and it made it something new for her. And I think it is that way for everybody, there is always something new to learn.”
Nevius said that the classes have been well received with generally eight or more students attending each of the classes that are held three times a week at the Y.
Nevius said that students get interested in Tai Chi for a number of reasons, from the mental and physical benefits to the interest in the beauty and flow that is much like dance.
And she has found that students are responding well to the classes on many levels.
“A lot of them like to get together as a group,” Nevius said.
“They help each other and help with the moves and help each other work on things. And a lot of people have noted that it has helped with their movements and balance and strength. I just hope that everyone that takes these classes enjoys it and learns something from it.”
Tai Chi classes run Tuesdays at 3:30 p.m., Wednesdays at noon and Fridays at 3:30 p.m. and go in seven week sessions.
For more information, contact the Y at 253-5304.
This school of Tai Chi was founded by Master Moy Lin-shin, who began teaching in Buffalo in 1974.
Pam Nevius, one of the instructors at the Y, has been practicing the art of Tai Chi for the past three years.
“I really enjoyed it,” Nevius said. “It has been a lot of fun and I have really learned a lot, it has been a wonderful experience.”
After studying as a student, Nevius decided that she was interested in sharing what she had learned as an instructor.
“I worked really hard with the instructors I was studying with,” Nevius said. “And I decided that I wanted to share that experience.”
One of the principle tenants of Taoist Tai Chi is to share knowledge and experience with others.
“We are a service organization,” Nevius said. “None of the instructors are paid. We do this because we want everybody to be able to share in the experience of Tai Chi and we want to be able to make that available to everybody.”
For the past year, Nevius has been sharing her knowledge at the Y as well as the Unitarian Church in Auburn and has continued to pursue her own studies in Skaneateles.
Tai Chi focuses on the entire body, helping to develop an overall healthy body through a series of moves and meditations that are not unlike a kata in other martial arts disciplines.
These moves are designed to have an impact on two levels.
Nevius explained that not only do the movements of Tai Chi help strengthen the body, they also help the mind focus in a manner similar to meditation.
“This is for health,” Nevius said.
“It is a very gentle whole body workout. It works on the mind and the body. Once you get comfortable with the moves, it becomes a lot like a meditation that brings the body and the mind into focus.”
These benefits manifest themselves in several areas in particular according to Nevius.
“It is a good way to relieve stress,” Nevius said.
“But it also helps work on balance and movement. As we get older we start to worry about balance and this helps with things like balance and stretching. It is a good series of slow gentle movements that help in these areas.”
Nevius said that each student and each class she teaches is different, with a combination of students new to Tai Chi and student who are just getting started.
This provides a unique opportunity to start from the beginning, which unlike many other types of workouts, with Tai Chi, there is always something new to learn even for those that have been studying for a number of years.
“Everyone is different,” Nevius said.
“Everybody moves differently. When I get new students, I start right at the beginning. No matter how long you have been doing this it never hurts to go back to the beginning. I had one student who had been taking this for a few years and from going back to the beginning she told me that no one had ever explained a move to her like I had before and it made it something new for her. And I think it is that way for everybody, there is always something new to learn.”
Nevius said that the classes have been well received with generally eight or more students attending each of the classes that are held three times a week at the Y.
Nevius said that students get interested in Tai Chi for a number of reasons, from the mental and physical benefits to the interest in the beauty and flow that is much like dance.
And she has found that students are responding well to the classes on many levels.
“A lot of them like to get together as a group,” Nevius said.
“They help each other and help with the moves and help each other work on things. And a lot of people have noted that it has helped with their movements and balance and strength. I just hope that everyone that takes these classes enjoys it and learns something from it.”
Tai Chi classes run Tuesdays at 3:30 p.m., Wednesdays at noon and Fridays at 3:30 p.m. and go in seven week sessions.
For more information, contact the Y at 253-5304.
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