Class Descriptions

Employee Assistance and Wellness Classes

There are four classes (Beginning I, Beginning II, Intermediate and Advanced) currently being offered through the Employee Assistance and Wellness Office (EAW). Please see the descriptions below. Beginning I and Beginning II Tai Chi Classes alternate. If there is enough interest in a Beginning I class when the Beginning II class is running, we could add it, provided there is enough interest. To request additional classes, please contact the EAW Office at 523-1552 or email Ask-EAW@nau.edu.

To register for classes, please visit the EAW website or call the EAW Registration Line at 523-7797.

Beginning I Tai Chi
Wednesdays: 5:30p.m. - 6:30p.m.
du Bois Center - NAU Campus
The art of Tai Chi is the practice of letting go of our resistance to change through dynamic relaxation, energy cultivation, conservation and self-defense. This course will cover basic stretching and qi gong warm ups followed by a selection of beginning Tai Chi and Qi gong postures. These basic postures will create a foundation for “the form” which is a series of martial art movements. You will also learn:

• To reduce mental and physical stress
• To become aware of and cultivate internal energy (chi)
• To consciously direct the flow of chi within your physical body.
• To connect your mind, body in a meditative manner.

Beginning II Tai Chi
Wednesdays: 5:30p.m. - 6:30p.m.
du Bois Center - NAU campus
This course will focus on learning the Chen style essential 18 posture short form. The warm ups in this class are a bit more vigorous than the beginning I class and will introduce you to silk reeling. Silk reeling is an internal movement of one’s Qi within the postures. Silk reeling practice adds a gradual increase of mind/body strength i.e. mental concentration, internal organ, tendon and muscular strength.

Intermediate Tai Chi
Mondays: 5:30p.m. - 6:30p.m.
du Bois Center - NAU Campus
This class will focus on strengthening the Chen style Essential 18 posture short form.
Postures will be examined for proper structural alignment and transitions between each posture. It will include tendon and muscle strengthening exercises and a selection of Qi gong stationary and moving postures for energy enhancement. There will also be a selection of Chen style silk reeling for opening the body’s joints and silk reeling with balls.

It is required that students have a competent grasp of the Essential 18 postures before moving forward into the advanced class. A Certificate for the Essential 18 postures will be awarded to students upon the successful completion and individual demonstration of the form.

Advanced Tai Chi
Mondays: 6:45p.m. - 8:00p.m.
du Bois Center - NAU Campus
The advanced class will focus on energy enhancement and building vital health overall. The exercises practiced will open and strengthen joints and muscle, and will increase agility, flexibility and coordination. The program will consist of Chen style warm ups, standing and moving qi gong, silk reeling ball exercises, two person push hands with applications and the 74 posture long form (Laojia – Old Frame First Routine).

Physical Education Service Course

There is one course offered through the College of Health and Human Services. This course can be taken for either non-credit or as a section of the one credit hour course, PES100. To take the course for credit, you will need to be a student and can register for it through LOUIE. To take the course for non-credit, you will need to contact the Physical Education Service (PES) office for more information. Contact them by calling 523-8277 or by email at cepes-p@jan.ucc.nau.edu.

This course is 8 weeks in duration and is offered twice a semester.

PES100 - Beginning Tai Chi
Tuesday/Thursdays: 8:00a.m. - 9:30a.m.
Rec Center - NAU Campus
The art of Tai Chi is the practice of letting go of our resistance to change through dynamic relaxation, energy cultivation, conservation and self-defense. In this course you will be guided into the intrinsic rhythms of human chi (bio electric energy). You will learn:

• To reduce mental and physical stress
• To become aware of and cultivate internal energy (qi)
• To consciously direct the flow of chi within your physical body
• To connect your mind, body in a meditative manner.

You will be practicing a selection of basic postures which will create a foundation for “the form” which is a series of martial art movements. The form you will learn is the original Chen style. All other styles of Tai Chi are derived from the Chen style. You will also learn:

• To release deeper tension by unwinding your body
• To open certain energy pathways as you move through the forms
• To sink your chi and sense your root
• The Chen style essential 18 posture martial art