Tai Chi Chuan is many things to many people. From a gentle exercise of grace and precision to a rigorous discipline of strength and agility, from a holistic system of preventive medicine with many surprising benefits to a curious technique of self-defense based on listening and yielding, there seems no end to its applications. Having roots as deep as China itself and claiming a direct lineage of over a thousand years, Tai Chi Chuan is now one of the most widespread exercise systems in the world.

 

The Falling Water School of Tai Chi Chuan is located in the Frog Hollow district of Middlebury, Vermont. Overlooking the Otter Creek's Upper Middlebury Falls, the studio serves as an ideal location for cultivating the subtle art of Tai Chi Chuan. Classes are ongoing and offered throughout the week for three layers of students: those who are brand new to Tai Chi Chuan and have not yet memorized its movements, those who have already learned the movements and are now on the long path of integration and refinement, and those who are seeking to master the movements and more clearly understand their applications. Prospective students and those simply curious to try are always welcome to attend any of the practice sessions, Beginning Classes, or Qigong Classes at any time. There is no registration required. All that is needed to succeed in Tai Chi Chuan is the will to learn and the patience to learn right. Please see the class schedule for more detailed information.

In addition to offering daily group classes for all levels, the Falling Water School also offers private lessons and in-depth personal training sessions for those who may want or need more careful attention. These sessions utilize Chinese Medicine pulse diagnostics, acupuncture, herbal tonics, dietary therapy, Yijing readings, and customized exercises as needed. The head instructor, Christopher Kiely, is a licensed acupuncturist and Chinese-trained herbalist who has been actively practicing Chinese Medicine for the past 15 years and has extensive experience with a wide range of issues. For more information or to schedule a consultation, please call or e-mail at 802-349-2725 or cloudhandy@yahoo.com.

 

The mission of the Falling Water School is threefold: to celebrate the mystery of Tai Chi Chuan, to share its wonders with as many people as possible, and to offer continuous support for the quiet strength of the lasting heart however it expresses. All classes are taught in the traditional style and are grounded in the teachings of the internationally renowned Master Tung Kaiying and his son Master Tung Chenwei.

Please feel free to come by and try a Practice, Beginning, or Qigong class at any time.

The first class is free. No experience is necessary.

There's only one way to find out.

 

 

"The goal of Tai Chi Chuan is not to demonstrate strength, power or violence. The goal is to attain serenity, tranquility, and the discovery of oneself. It is truly an exercise of the mind."

- Master Tung Kai Ying