Opportunities

Apple Valley Senior Center, Apple Valley, MN (In-Person $. See website for prices). New Sessions about every 6 weeks.

Weekly Private Online lessons. ($25 for 30 min or $50 for 1 hour or $1 a min for 30 minutes without a weekly commitment.

Coming Soon....Weekly Group Online classes (Suggested donation of $10-15 a class but give what you can).

Speaking or Hosting Special Events/Services/Workshops/Camps/Classes/Conferences, (In-Person and Online. Prices vary on the ability to Pay/time/Distance).

YMCA Burnsville, Qigong, and Tai Chi for Health classes every Tuesday (In-Person, Must be a Member).

Pathways Minneapolis. I offer 4 classes once a month, every Wednesday, Here they are: Tai Chi for Rehabilitation, Adventure with Inspirations and Gratitude, Conscious Collage Creating, and Sing and Share Freely.

Common Questions...What is.......?

• Tai Chi or Tai Chi Quan (Chuan) 太极拳; 太極拳 and Qigong (Chi Kung) are graceful slow movements from China. They were created for better health and wellness which is endorsed by many health organizations for many conditions. Qigong (or Chi Kung) is an art and science of regulating internal energy for health, sports or martial arts . Outer qigong would be like Reiki where you send energy out. Qigong is the orginal practice and Tai Chi started out of it. Tai Chi (or Tai Ji) or Tai Chi Quan (or Chuan) 太极拳; 太極拳 is an inner martial art and whole body internal qigong for health, meditation, and martial arts. Series of movements are typically practiced as a form. There are many styles and many forms in Tai Chi. Tai Chi means supreme ultimate and it is the yin and yang symbol. Quan or Chuan means boxing or thought of as shadowboxing. In western society, we tend to drop the word Quan or Chuan but this can be confusing if speaking to someone for China as they will think of the symbol or the meaning.

• Tai Chi for Health is an non-profit organization that was created by Dr. Paul Lam in Australia. He modified traditional forms and created new ones that are easier on the joints and safer. He has created many programs, has lots of research and it is a very popular practice. Enjoy slow graceful movements that create inner and outer balance, strength, and vitality. Tai Chi for Health uses a stepwise progressive teaching method in each class. In each class, we will do warm-ups or qigong movements, break down a form into a progress stepwise instruction, have a practice of the form, and a cool down with reflection. The class will be taught with options of either standing or sitting. All levels are welcome and no experience is required. Each class will build on each other and all are welcomed as we will repeat the lessons over time. There are 6 principles incorportated in the practice. Principles are what separates it dance or aerobics. We practice slowly and we move within one's comfort zone.

• Tai Chi Chih: Joy for through Movement or Tai Chi Chih (for short) is a form of qigong that means supreme ultimate (Tai Chi) knowledge (Chih). It is 19 qigong movements and a pose created by Jusin Stone in late 1960 to 1974 in New Mexico, USA. Another very popular practice with lots of research and is a non-profit organization. The complete practice is about 30-45 minutes long depending on the pace and stillness in the pracitice. The class will be taught with options of either standing or sitting. All levels are welcome and no experience is required. In each class, we will review a movement in more depth. all are welcomed as we will repeat the lessons over time. We practice slowly and we move within one's comfort zone. There are 6 principles incorportated in the practice to focus the movements more inward. The founder does not consider this practice as exercise in the traditional sense. It is common but not necessary to end the practice with a meditation or stillness.

• Tai Chi or Moving for Better Balance or Tai Ji Quan Moving for Better Balance (TJQMBB) are 8 movements that were taken from a traditional Yang form and was modified for older adults at risk of falling and people with balance disorders. This was developed by Dr Fuzhong Li, PhD, a senior research scientist at the Oregon Research Institute. This is a unique practice where the focus of every movement is inducing a off balance recoverty feel. There are no principles in this practice as the focus is on balance and balance recovery. Tai Chi or Moving for Better Balance is what YMCA commonly offer which is a 2011 program. There has been a major revision in the program and research and hence the reason for the new name of Tai Ji Quan Moving for Better Balance (TJQMBB). People are to teach this version but many do not. You can do practice sitting or standing. In the newest version of the program, it is offered in 3 months commintments for beginners and 3 months for advanced practice.

• Community Singing or Sing Outs or Paperless Singing or Singing Circles are a gatherings of people to sing songs that are call and response or paperless singing. No Experience is necessary to join or watch. Usually songs are positive and inclusive of all faiths, people and communities.

• Mediation is way of calming the senses, the mind, body and heart. There are many ways to achieve mediation through stillness, breathe work, slow movement, imagery, singing, drumming, muscle relaxation, tapping, stretching, guided meditation, etc...

• The difference between Yoga and Tai Chi/Qigong is Tai Chi and Qigong are slow or tapping movements with the stretching within the movement where as Yoga is usually a holding pose or stretch until the stretch is achieved. Tai Chi, Qigong and Yoga are meditative and involve movement and stretching.

• Conscious Collage Creating is a virtual class I offer that uses your intuition for paper collage-making that Stephanie Siddiqui came up with. Consciously create what you emotionally react to for healing. It may be because of the color, shape, texture, meaning, activity you like to do/did/will do, or brings up a memory. Create a paper collage with others with the intention of expressing what is important to you at this moment for healing. For the virtual class, please have: 1. Have a sketchbook or loose paper 2. Tape, a glue stick, or adhesive tabs 3. Have 5-15 pages of images or words from magazines or photos or printouts that emotionally excite you for known or unknown reasons. Find images in the mail advertisements, old photos that you can cut up, or go to your local library for free magazines/advertisements or ask friends if they have anything. We will cut out the imagery/words, arrange the collage, glue it, and share what we have done. The goal would be to find connection with others as we use the visual arts to allow us to express what inspires, calms, or motivates us on our journey of healing. Risks are not completing or not feeling inspired and this is okay, we can meet again to complete or get more ideas or inspiration for the collage creation. Benefits would be joy, healing, connection, and motivation to do or feel more. Warning: Do what you are able, physically, mentally, and emotionally. All abilities and creativity are welcome.

• Sing and Share Freely is a virtual class that combines community singing and open microphone (mic) for people sing and to share their creativity. This is a class that Stephanie Siddiqui came up with combining the two formats. Participants are invited to join in song together and space will be created for individuals to share in an open mic format (but not required!). Why is singing healing? Stimulating the vagus nerve benefits your autonomic nervous system and mental health which gives a sense of calmness, compassion, and community. The vagus nerve is connected to your vocal cords and the muscles at the back of your throat. Singing, humming, chanting, and gargling can activate these muscles and stimulate your vagus nerve. Come to listen, participate and have fun! No Musical Experience Needed. The goal as we sing community songs is to connect and express what inspires, calms, or motivates us as we journey toward healing. Some call this style of singing, paperless singing or sing-outs... it is not performance-based singing. Risks and mistakes are encouraged as we share our sacred voices and hearts together through songs, poetry, or visual art for healing. No need to share if you don't want to, you could sing with us on mute while you are cooking or resting in bed, or creating more art. For optimal virtual singing, we will mute ourselves while learning a song or chanting. If one feels comfortable with a song, we can take turns, unmute and sing a line from a song to the group or be creative and change a line, etc... or lead/share a song for the group as well. The benefits would be healing and connection with others as we stimulate the vagus nerve. Remember the ABCs... Always Be Comfortable. All singing and creative sharing abilities are welcome. Singing unmuted and sharing with others are optional. We will be singing non-religious and uplifting songs for all people.

• Adventure with Inspirations and Gratitude is in a virtual discussion class with the focus on inspiration and gratitude. In the class, there is a different theme or focus for discussion, meditation, movement, song, art work, and inspiring words. This class was designed to be personal, experiential and insightful by Stephanie Siddiqui. The intended goal is to feel through our senses. Experiencing gratitude and inspiration is expected, but not required as thinking about them is a good place to start. Sharing insight and feelings are encouraged. Benefits include added insight, joy, and connection. Taking notes at the end of the class is suggested as this will help your own practice in between our scheduled sessions. All are welcomed. All levels of gratitude are welcome. The goal would be to find connection with others using all our senses as well as having a mindful connection with ourselves.