Ceylan's Tai Chi Chuan

Tai Chi & Qigong with Ceylan Crow

I have been practicing Tai Chi and Qigong for 24 years and teaching for about 14 years, including helping my teacher in class with beginners. 

I studied with several established instructors including C.K. Chu in New York, and Dr. Martin In, in San Francisco, and over 20 years and ongoing with my teacher in Sonoma County. Currently I also study online with Alex Dong at Alex Dong Tai Chi.

My journey began in my 30s when I sought healing for my knees ravaged by many years of running. After a year of steady 2x a week Tai Chi classes under Teacher CK Chu, my knees recovered and with regular practice became very strong and stable. 

I fell in love with Tai Chi, realizing practicing Tai Chi is an ever-evolving endeavor; the more one learns the more is revealed, it’s a deep practice that changes your mind and body, and strengthens your spiritual connection to nature.

The Tai Chi and Qigong class is geared towards releasing tension and uncomfortable patterns to nurture greater ease of movement. As we age, we develop holding patterns restricting our movements and giving us discomfort, robbing us of overall vitality and balance.  

The Qigong exercises gently align our meridian network, opening the pathways for smooth energy flow. Through breathwork, visualization, and directing our intention in the moves, we gently stretch the fascia, opening the meridian channels, and stimulating acupuncture points leading to enhanced vitality. This process is what releases tension and holding patterns.

I teach the Flying Crane Qigong, and have started teaching The Ba Duan Jin (Eight Brocades/Treasures) part 1Qigong taught by Grandmaster Su Zifang via Debbie Leung of Chinese Healing & Movement Arts in Olympia, as well as learning the Dong Qigong series.

The Tai Chi taught in this class is the Tung Style Yang long form as taught to my teacher by master Tung Kai Ying. We strive to learn in depth the first 24 moves of the form corresponding to the first of the 3 part form. We learn the form by repetition and refinement, eventually executing the moves slowly in a smooth steady flow. 

I will occasionally clue you in on underlying martial applications of the postures as well. At certain intervals, I walk around giving, if permitted, personalized gentle corrections, to encourage correct posture within the form. 

The class builds strength and flexibility leading to physical and emotional and spiritual balance.  Each class starts with gentle joint work and stretches to prime the body for the Tai Chi and Qigong movements. 

We will practice good posture, the basic bow stance, and mindful Tai Chi walking every class. 

I strive to bring Tai Chi and Qigong to our everyday life by encouraging mindful movement in all we do. Our goal will be to establish a self practice in our lives for the long term. I hope you visit the class and get a taste. ~ Ceylan Crow (pronounced Cheylan)