Twin Cities Tai Chi Chuan

Find balance, reduce stress, and increase relaxation with T'ai-Chi

Since 1993, TCTCCS has helped thousands of people in the Twin Cities find a path to better health. We’ve helped cancer patients manage the side-effects of chemotherapy treatments. We’ve helped heart attack survivors find a path to renewed health and vigor. We’ve helped numerous people more easily manage depression, sometimes allowing them to live free of medication. And these are only a few of the ways in which we’ve been able to help the Twin Cities community.

Individual renewal is only part of our story. Our studio inhabits an integral space along the Green Line Creative Enterprise Zone, a network of artists, entrepreneurs and others who make a living by their skillful capacities. Your gift is essential to maintaining Ray Hayward and Paul Abdella’s teachings of the healthful benefits and cultural context of Yang-style T’ai-Chi in our community.

Energy from relaxation, awareness and healing within our community sparked these T’ai-Chi stories:

"Six and a half years later, I find T’ai Chi still situating itself on my life path. It has proved itself a useful tool in relaxation and focus on the present moment, two skills critical to anyone suffering from chronic anxiety. And like any other skill, practice and perseverance are necessary to refine it to bring out its full worth. I look forward daily to practice because it increases my ability to handle all situations life brings me."

This Studio's longevity and its robust curriculum have allowed many people to improve their lives, no matter what kind of challenges they face. Some of those students have agreed to share their stories here. Jane, a professor of dance at a local college, started practicing T'ai-Chi during her treatment for brain cancer. The T'ai-Chi movement and breathing lessons she received helped her brain recover from the cancer treatments and her body recover from the chemotherapy.

"I came looking for a way to work out through back pain. Now my back pain is gone! Is it the relaxation? Is it the strengthening of the bones or the core muscles? I don't know but it feels great.  I do the long form and meditate daily. It has become a positive addiction, and because of this I feel more calm, sane, and decisive. It's been fun learning new challenging physical skills at a moderately advanced age."

Karen was an active person, but her anxiety was literally making her sick with worry. "This therapist that I was seeing said, 'You worry so much that it is wearing out your body and your mind.' She diagnosed me with generalized Anxiety Disorder." Karen tried medication for her anxiety, but the pills "took away everything. It didn't only take away anxiety, but it also took away my desire to laugh out loud." She decided to try T'ai-Chi, and loved it immediately. T'ai-Chi has helped her find stability in her life, and conflict management skills for her career.

Individual renewal is only part of our story. Our studio inhabits an integral space along the Green Line Creative Enterprise Zone, a network of artists, entrepreneurs and others who make a living by their skillful capacities. In keeping with this spirit, our studio provided elder classes, public demos, new curriculum, student scholarships and guest presenters in the community this past year. As both of our teachers continue to study their art and refine their teaching methods, our studio membership increased, strengthening our presence within this zone.

Stop by and visit the studio if you are in the neighborhood to experience what we do. You can also visit our website at http://tctaichi.org/.

Karen's story about renewal and health gained from learning and practicing Tai Chi.