Resources

Why a Free Tai Chi/Qigong Lending Library? Public libraries will buy the items when requested but if they are not rented frequently, the library rarely keeps them. I came up with this lending system in 2017 after hearing concerns about students who wanted to rent items.

Artists Links

MN Songwriter Association

Springboard for the Arts (Supportive Place for MN Artists)

Metro Regional Arts Council

Ukulele Gent

Monthly Open Mic and Poetry Reading Online with Austin, TX Book Women

Radio Station Recommended by a Friend

Sea Others Glow Album 2024-2025

Sea Others Glow Album 2023-2024

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

Tai Chi or Tai Chi Quan (Chuan) 太极拳; 太極拳 and Qigong (Chi Kung) 气功 are graceful coordinated 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 original practice and Tai Chi started from 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 of Tai Chi. Tai Chi means supreme ultimate and it is the yin and yang symbol. Quan or Chuan means boxing or is thought of as shadow boxing. In Western society, we tend to drop the word Quan or Chuan but this can be confusing if speaking to someone from the East or China as they will think of the symbol or the meaning.

Tai Chi for Health is a 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, practice of the form, and 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 incorporated into the practice. Principles are what separate these practices from 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 Justin 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 practice. 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 welcome as we will repeat the lessons over time. We practice slowly and we move within one's comfort zone. There are 6 principles incorporated in the practice to focus the movements more inward. The founder does not consider this practice as an exercise in the traditional sense. It is common but not necessary to end the practice with 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 were 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 an off-balance recovery 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 offers which is a 2011 program. There has been a major revision in the program and research 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 practice sitting or standing. In the newest version of the program, it is offered in 3 months of commintments for beginners and 3 months for advanced practice.
Community Singing or Sing Outs or Paperless Singing or Singing Circles are 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 a way of calming the senses, the mind, body, and heart. There are many ways to achieve meditation through stillness, breathing 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 coordinated 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 Creating is about feeling creative or playful or unsure. Use your intuition for whatever artistic media you like to use. You can create paper collages, digital art, sketch, paint, weave, carve, knit, etc... use this creative time together to be inspired and share your artistic expression/passion/insights. Consciously create what you emotionally react to for wellness and 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 with others to express what is important to you at this moment for healing with a different theme each month. Please come to be inspired by yourself and others and to please share your visual art talents. My main art media will be paper collages. If you like to make a paper collage during 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, 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. 4. We will cut out the imagery/words, arrange the collage, glue it, and share what we have done.

About Sing and Share Freely (SSF) Song Circle will help Sing and Share Freely with your voice and body. Play with vocal warmups, chants, community singing songs, healing movement and supportive community connection. Feel visible and vibrant and make friends. Stephanie created SSF in 2022 as a monthly online class at Pathways Minneapolis and is continuing as an in person offering (Pathways closed in 2024). Stephanie will share 5-6 songs, do some cantering movements, vocal warmup and there will be time for others to share as well which is why it is called Sing and Share Freely.

Sing and Share Freely is a virtual class that combines community singing and an open microphone (mic) for people to sing and 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 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, 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, 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 a focus on inspiration and gratitude. In the class, there is a different theme or focus for discussion, meditation, movement, song, artwork, 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 is encouraged. Benefits include added insight, joy, and connection. Taking notes at the end of the class is suggested as this will help your practice in between our scheduled sessions. All are welcome. All levels of gratitude are welcome. The goal would be to find a connection with others using all our senses as well as having a mindful connection with ourselves.
Touching Worlds Together is an online offering that started as a demo but turned into a movement, a quote, a joke, meditation, and a song in a presentation format. It has turned into the greater theme of my business.

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