Tai Chi - Beginner

Content

This course introduces the essential principles of Tai Chi through Wu Tai Chi (Wu Taiji) Chuan. With this particular Tai Chi form, participants develop an understanding of how the body, particularly their own body, moves with greater balance and relaxation, releasing tension that has been unconsciously accumulated in time.

During the course we will relearn standing, walking, weight shifting and breathing under Wu Tai Chi Chuang. The course is rooted in Tai Chi tradition, informed by Shaolin philosophy and martial arts virtue for personal development. The practice emphasizes quiet observation, bodily sensing, and learning through direct experience rather than verbal instruction. Many sessions will be held largely in silence, allowing participants to develop comfort with uncertainty, trust their eyes and body, and cultivate clarity of mind and body.

About Wu Style Tai Chi Chuan

Wu Style Tai Chi Chuan is one of the five major traditional styles of Tai Chi. It is known for its gentle, continuous movements, upright posture, and emphasis on balance, relaxation, and subtle internal awareness. Less demanding on muscular strength, the practice develops body alignment, and efficient movement through calm attention and mindful repetition.

Many previous participants find that the philosophy behind the practice is just as valuable as the physical movements in their daily life.

Participants can expect to gain:

• Improved body awareness and balance
• Improve posture
• A calmer, more focused mind
• Greater self-trust and clarity
• A grounded introduction to Tai Chi as a lifelong personal practice.
• Wu Tai Chi Part 1 (Movement 1 - 15) (Movement 16 - 35)

Teaching module

• Tai Chi basic postures
• Body openings
• Ignite the inner teacher: Trust your senses, Befriend with uncertainty and silence
• Developing body awareness and focus: Ying - Yang breathing to Connecting Heaven and Earth breathing and Weight shifting and balance training to Wu Tai Chi walking meditation
• Introduction to the principles of Tai Chi - Wu-style Tai Chi
• Wu Tai Chi Part 1 (Movement 1 - 15)(Movement 16 - 35)

Structure

• The course will be held at Medborgarskolan’s house at Hagagatan 23A on four Sundays at 13:00-15:00.
• Dates: August 30, September 6, 13 and 20
• The practice will often be conducted in silence.
• The course focuses on awareness and process rather than perfection.
• Please arrive a few minutes early to settle and prepare.
• Please turn off your mobile phone before the session starts.
• Participate in soft clothes you can move freely in.
• Bring a water bottle with you.

Course leader

Thuy Huynh studies traditional Wu-style Tai Chi under Master Zuan Shifu through the Shaolin Temple of Europe. Her teaching emphasises on awareness, alignment and self-mastery – reignite your inner teacher. She treats movement as a form of mediation. The integration of movement and breathing harmonise body and mind, emotion and intelligence, making traditional Tai Chi accessible and relevant to everyday life.

She’s been into all forms of body movements such as dancing (2 years in aerobic dance as a kid, 1 year in street dance as adult), ~5 years training and sparring in Taekwondo, self-defense and other sports before she discovered online teachings from Shifu Shi Heng Yi (2019) and Shifu Zuan (Wu Tai Chi in the journey to Oneself - Koh Phangan Retreat, 2023).

Professionally, she does designs (digital product, web and branding) and illustration, communication consultant, content creator and entrepreneur.

Course Materials

Participants should bring:

• Flat shoes (such as exercise shoes with flat soles) or thick indoor socks with grip
• Comfortable, loose and soft clothing that allows free movement

Target Group

Suitable for complete beginners, and for practitioners wishing to revisit the foundations to deepen their understanding. This is a start to a journey coming back to oneself - Slow pace, helping correction and personal adjustment.

Pre-knowledge

No prior knowledge or experience is required. The course is suitable for complete beginners.

Good to Know

• Minor changes to the schedule and course content may occur.
• You will receive a confirmation before the community opens.
• If you have any questions or specific needs, don’t hesitate to contact us.

Discounts

• As a Medborgarskolan participant, you also receive discounts at Bokus and Akademibokhandeln during the term. Learn more about our discounts and benefits.

Payment via Epassi

• When registering, please select Medborgarskolan invoice as your payment method.
• Please wait until you have received your invoice.
• Once you have received the invoice, log in to the Epassi website and choose online payment.
• Fill in the requested details and select Medborgarskolan Sthlm - Hagagatan as the provider.
• When the payment has been completed, Epassi will automatically send us a payment confirmation. We will then match the payment against your invoice.
• If the amount paid via Epassi is lower than the total invoice amount, please pay the remaining balance using the same invoice.

För betalning via Epassi

• Välj Medborgarskolans faktura som betalsätt när du anmäler dig.
• Vänligen invänta fakturan.
• När du fått fakturan - logga in på Epassis hemsida och välj onlinebetalning.
• Fyll i uppgifterna och ange Medborgarskolan Sthlm - Hagagatan som leverantör.
• När betalningen är klar så skickar Epassi automatiskt en betalningsbekräftelse till oss som vi kvittar din faktura mot.
• Om summan understiger beloppet på fakturan så betalar du in mellanskillnaden på befintlig faktura.

Medborgarskolan and Popular Education (Folkbildning)

Medborgarskolan is a humanistic study association that offers you the opportunity to learn, develop, and exchange experiences and ideas with others. We have a broad range of activities and collaborate with associations and organizations in many different fields.

Popular education, or Folkbildning, is something we create together in study circles, which progress through knowledge exchange. The study circle is the traditional course format of the popular education movement and can cover both major and minor topics, local and global issues. It can take place in physical meetings or remotely, and individual participants can influence the structure and content of the circle based on a democratically inspired model.