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St. Cloud State University
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Students relax with Tai Chi
By Amanda Degen
Published:
Monday, October 27, 2003
Media Credit: Kim Bucholz
Students, professors and community members took a break from their Thursday afternoon and submerged themselves in yoga exercises, breathing and relaxation. The class was held in Atwood Voyager and led by instructor Cristina Seaborn. The class was put on by Mind Body and Spirit Studios of St. Cloud, which offers a variety of different classes, and is sponsored by the Women´s Center.
Instructor Nancy Bronson demonstrated Tai Chi to a full class Thursday in the Atwood Voyager South room. Tai Chi, the art of slow relaxed postures, is growing in popularity in the St. Cloud area.
Bronson came to campus to demonstrate the techniques in order to heighten awareness of the art form as well as its benefits. She talked of her background and how its roots began in martial arts.
"My background really started in martial arts and karate," Bronson said. "I did karate for 18 years, until parts of my body gave out, and I actually quit when I was 52-years-old, so you can do these things young and old. During that time I did a lot of training and energy work. I'm a Reiki Master and I do other forms of healing work; I'm certified in Chi Qigong healing. I have an extensive background in martial arts, but my beginnings were in (Tai Chi.) I want to let people know (Tai Chi) is another form of wellness."
Bronson teaches at two places, one of which is the newly opened Mind Body & Spirit Yoga Studios, which opened downtown last month. The studio offers various forms of Yoga, Tai Chi and Pilates, as well as meditation and psychology classes to better understand the thinking behind these exercises. People can either enroll in a class or drop in for a small fee.
Bronson began with a brief history of Tai Chi before teaching some basic movements to the class.
"Tai Chi Qigong dates back to 1766 B.C., making it one of the oldest forms of Qigong practiced in the world today," Bronson said.
She related its beginnings to a Taoist priest who tired of his hard style of martial arts, and ventured to the highest mountain to meditate in order to be closer to the holy ones. As he was meditating, the priest witnessed a fight between a crane and a snake. He studied the creatures and how they moved; they had this fluidity about them and it was interesting how they repelled and fought with each other. He then began to study them. This form of fighting was so much different than the style he was used to. It was so non-aggressive and flexible. The priest also studied nature and the animal kingdom, studying rivers, trees and cats for their movements.
From there he developed a pattern of 32 movements, called the Wu Tong 32 Pattern Longfist, which still exists today. Many other styles of Tai Chi have developed, many of which are named after family names. Bronson teaches the Yang Style Short Form 24. Each form is named, such as the Push Hua Mountain and the White Crane Spreads Wings, as most forms are derived from nature or animals.
"I teach the flow of energy through your body; we have energy going through our bodies all the time," Bronson said. "When you stretch or when you walk, that's creating energy. When you do Tai Chi, you're creating more energy."
Focus was placed on breathing techniques and slow, gentle movements. Body position was of great importance, and to make memorization easier, Bronson related the movements to a story about Minnesota winter, correlating hand movements to opening the windows, pushing the car and waving to neighbors.
There was a combination of older and younger men and women who attended, all for the benefits of reducing stress, increasing flexibility and creating energy.
"I was introduced to it last year through class," said student Gwen Fyter. "The movements really reduce stress; they're slow, relaxing and it gets your body centered."
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