T'ai Chi Chih
with Tony Johansen
Wednesdays, 9:00-10:00 am (new time, as of 8/25/10)

No charge, donations welcome
For info call:  957-1115 or info@sbjf.org

Bronfman Family Jewish Community Center
524 Chapala Street, Santa Barbara

About T’ai Chi Chih
As we grow older, two of our main concerns are maintaining strength and balance. T’ai Chi Chih, which can best be described as a moving meditation, is suited to help with these concerns because, unlike exercise, it requires little effort. Moving with softness and continuity is the goal. We have in each of us a life force called the Chi. The gentle, repetitive movements found it T’ai Chi Chih can help remove the blockages that keep the Chi from flowing naturally. As we free ourselves from the tensions brought on the stress and worries of our daily life, a sense of stillness and well-being can emerge.

T’ai Chi Chih is accessible to anyone who can stand, walk or sit. Chairs will be available for those unable to stand. Once the 19 moves and two postures are learned, the entire practice takes about 45 minutes. Initial classes may be a bit shorter because only a few movements are taught at a time. Each class starts at the beginning so feel comfortable joining in even if you miss some of the first classes. Read more about T'ai Chi Chih here:  http://www.taichichih.org/

Tony Johansen is an accredited teacher of T’ai Chi Chih. He discovered this gentle, moving meditation 8 years ago while recovering from a cancer that left him with a paralyzed left foot. The strength, balance, and sense of calm he experienced while practicing T’ai Chi Chih are gifts he enjoys sharing with others.

Tony has lived in Santa Barbara since 1971 with his wife Rachel. They raised their version of the Brady Bunch, his three and her two children. When he is not teaching T’ai Chi Chih, you might find him playing old timey music with friends or riding around town on a bicycle, his primary form of transportation.