Be-Fit Hub

Introduction to Tai Chi: Exploring Five Traditional Styles

### Class Description

This introductory Tai Chi session offers participants a guided experience through five representative movements from the Chen, Yang, Wu, Sun, and Wu (Hao) styles. Participants will explore the unique characteristics of each style while learning foundational principles such as posture alignment, weight shifting, relaxation, and coordinated breathing. This class provides both a physical practice and a cultural introduction to Tai Chi.

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### Class Outcomes (What participants will walk away with)

Participants will:
• Understand the basic principles of Tai Chi movement
• Experience five distinct traditional styles
• Improve body awareness and balance
• Learn foundational posture and weight transfer mechanics
• Gain tools for stress reduction and relaxation

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### Who is it for

Adults interested in gentle movement, balance training, cultural exploration, and mind-body wellness.

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### Pre-requisites

No prior experience required.

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### Age

Recommended for adults 18+, especially beneficial for 40+ and active older adults.

> > About the instructor:
> > Mengjun (Kate) Wang holds a Master’s degree in Sports Medicine from the University of Pittsburgh and has over 15 years of professional training in Tai Chi and traditional Chinese martial arts. She has taught community and university-based adult wellness programs and specializes in balance training, joint mobility, and healthy aging. Her approach integrates traditional Tai Chi principles with modern biomechanics and evidence-based movement science.

Class Description
This introductory session introduces Baduanjin (Eight Brocades), one of the most widely practiced traditional Qigong systems. Participants will learn gentle, flowing movements designed to improve circulation, mobility, breathing coordination, and overall vitality. The session is suitable for beginners and emphasizes proper posture and relaxed breathing.
Class Outcomes
Participants will:
• Learn foundational Baduanjin movements
• Improve flexibility and joint mobility
• Enhance breathing coordination
• Experience stress reduction and improved energy
• Gain a simple practice they can continue at home
Who is it for
Adults seeking gentle, low-impact movement and stress relief.
Pre-requisites
No experience required.
Age
Adults 18+, ideal for 40+ and seniors.

About the instructor:
Mengjun (Kate) Wang holds a Master’s degree in Sports Medicine from the University of Pittsburgh and has over 15 years of professional training in Tai Chi and traditional Chinese martial arts. She has taught community and university-based adult wellness programs and specializes in balance training, joint mobility, and healthy aging. Her approach integrates traditional Tai Chi principles with modern biomechanics and evidence-based movement science.

Welcome your day and the sun with Vinyasa Flow! Vinyasa means “to place in a special way”. This 50 minute class coordinates breath with movement while addressing flexibility, balance, strength, and endurance. A gentle warm up will slowly build through Sun Salutations, a peak pose and a quiet Savasana. This class is a mixed-level class which means it is suitable for active beginners to advanced practitioners. Modifications and props are offered to make the class accessible to students of multiple levels. See you on the mat!
About the Instructor:
Chris “Coach” Walsh
Yoga Instructor

Meet Coach Walsh, Inspiring Healer. Coach is a 500 E-RYT trained by Master teachers Mynx Inatsugu and Melanie Salvatore-August. He has 700 Hours of Professional Teacher Training through YogaWorks. Coach has over 7,000 hours of teaching Yoga. In 2014 he started the Yoga program at Campolindo High School (Moraga) where he taught for 34 years. The program began with one class of 45 students and has grown to 5 classes of 45-50 students. He also holds a Teen Yoga Teacher Training Certificate. Coach draws on his educational background (Un. Of Oregon M.S. Anatomy & Physiology) incorporating aspects of anatomical and biomechanical skills into his teaching of skilled alignment in Asana.
Why We Bring Yoga to Behavioral Fitness
At Behavioral Fitness, movement has always been an essential part of wellbeing — and yoga has been at the heart of that vision since the very beginning. We’ve been supporting free community yoga since 2019, beginning in Arbolado Park, and now, with the support of the generous donors of PEACE (Providing Easier Access to Care Everywhere) — a registered 501(c)(3)nonprofit — we’re able to bring these offerings into our beautiful studio space.
We have long believed in the transformative power of yoga. The research is compelling, and its value is undeniable. Yoga supports physical strength and flexibility, but just as importantly, it helps calm the nervous system, increase awareness, and cultivate balance from within.
Access matters. Many people have never had a truly safe, welcoming place to try yoga — to learn not only the movements, but also the deeper principles of mindfulness, self-compassion, and connection that make yoga such a powerful practice.
Our goal at Behavioral Fitness is to change that. By offering yoga and other wellness experiences at below-market rates, made possible through PEACE’s generous donors, we’re creating opportunities for people to explore movement, healing, and community in ways that are both accessible and meaningful.
How you can help:
• Show up — for yourself and your community.
• Share our offerings with others so more people benefit- help spread the word - it’s the greatest gift!
• Support PEACE and Behavioral Fitness so we can continue to grow and reach more people.
Together, we’re building something bright, local, and deeply needed — a community of care where everyone belongs.
Let’s build wellness like a local.