CTCA

Canadian Tai Chi Academy

https://www.canadiantaichiacademy.org/sub_moylinshin.html

Canadian Tai Chi Academy

The Canadian Tai Chi Academy teaches 108-move Tai Chi, a style developed by Master Moy Lin-Shin (1931-1998). He modified the traditional Yang Style 108-move Tai Chi set to maximize the health benefits for faster health improvement, as he realized that in a modern society, an exercise that was good for health was more important than a martial art for fighting.

The Canadian Tai Chi Academy (founded in 2006) is a national, not-for-profit charitable organization that is dedicated to the teaching of the Chinese internal arts for health as passed on to us by the late Master Moy Lin-Shin (1931-1998). The Academy is 100% operated by volunteer instructors and officers. Our head instructors have over 30 years of experience teaching Lokhupbafa and Tai Chi. In 2009, the Canadian Tai Chi Academy developed a system to teach beginners a very effective way of understanding the fundamentals of this form of Tai Chi. Beginners will benefit from this form in a short period of time.

Our Mission

The mission of the Canadian Tai Chi Academy is to help people of all ages to maintain or regain good health. The methods we use are through the practice and teaching of Tai Chi and other internal arts passed to us by Master Moy Lin-shin from the generations of Chinese Internal Arts Masters who passed this knowledge to him.

Our Aims and Objectives
To preserve the knowledge, traditions and history of Tai Chi and other internal arts for health or health recovery, as taught by Master Moy in Canada.

To provide a forum for all practitioners of the forms taught by Master Moy to come together, examine the processes through which health improvements are made and to share the knowledge each has, with other students and instructors.
To offer class instruction in Tai Chi and other internal arts to all members of CTCA and make the information available to all who wish to learn.
To teach any interested CTCA student of Tai Chi and other internal arts how to instruct others.
To encourage students of Master Moy's internal arts to elevate their personal skills and knowledge to the highest level possible by personal practice and receiving instruction from more experienced practitioners.
To support all students of Master Moy's Tai Chi and other internal arts in developing new CTCA Locations, through advisory, financial, instructional assistance and workshops when requested.

The Canadian Tai Chi Academy is a registered charity and is not affiliated with any religious organizations

Tai Chi for Your Health

Tai Chi is a complete whole-body exercise.
Tai Chi can be practiced anywhere, anytime, with no need for special gear or a change of clothing.
Practiced by millions of people over the centuries, Tai Chi has been proven helpful to the health of the body.

During Tai Chi practice, the muscles and tendons are alternately stretching and relaxing. That makes them flexible and the joints become looser.

During the stretching and relaxing, blood in the veins is being squeezed back to the heart. The blood in the artery flows easier and fuller; and the looser joints will let the blood flow through without impediment. With good circulation, the body will heal and rejuvenate itself naturally. More than blood circulation is improved: the lymphatic, nervous and digestive systems run better as well.

One of the reasons that people feel so good when they are doing Tai Chi is that the movements are relaxing, even at the beginner level. This is because the nature of the movements tends to naturally stretch the muscles, tendons, and ligaments in a gentle manner.

Many other activities give the benefits of stretching, but none do it exactly like Tai Chi because in Tai Chi, stretching involves the entire body, not just arms or limbs or other segments. The more a practitioner can connect the whole body in his or her practice, the more relaxation can be implemented.

Tai Chi exercise allows the body to rejuvenate itself naturally.

The Benefits of Tai Chi

Regular Tai Chi practice has been found to help reverse the physical effects of stress as well as restore harmony both physically and mentally.

Physical benefits:
- Improved flexibility, balance, immune function, cardiovascular function and motor coordination.
- Reduction in pain and tension.
- Better sleep patterns and increased energy.

Mental benefits:
- Reduced stress and anxiety, increased ability to relax, better concentration and focus, and an enhanced sense of well-being.

Health Maintenance

If you want to practice Tai Chi to maintain your health, come to our class regularly once a week.

Your present health will be maintained.

Your hands and feet will be warmer.

You will find that your sleeping is deeper and more restful.

So don't skip a class, even if you feel tired and run down. You'll feel more energy after the class, so you won't regret it.

Health Improvement

If you want to practice Tai Chi to improve your health, come to our class regularly and practice at home two or three times a week.

You'll have more energy and sharper mind than before.

Your joints are more flexible (A state of being younger).

You will have better appetite and sleep better.

Health Recovery

If you want to practice Tai Chi to recover your health, come to our class regularly and practice every day for an hour or more.

You'll find that your pain will lessen.

You'll feel lighter and happier.

Come to class regularly in any case.

At first, you'll need guidance to learn the postures and movements, then you'll need guidance to refine the movements. After a while, you will be surprised how much it helps your health, both physical and mental.

More Information: Tai Chi: An Introduction

The Symbol

The symbol central to the Academy's logo is called "T'ai", with the same sound but different meaning as the "Tai" in "Tai Chi". It is a hexagram from the 5000-year-old Taoist classic, the I Ching.

It represents peace, harmony and good will.

A hexagram is made up of two trigrams, each made up of three lines, solid, broken, or both. The broken lines represent Yin energy, and the solid lines represent Yang energy. In this hexagram, the upper trigram represents Earth (pure Yin), and the lower trigram represents Heaven (pure Yang). Each energy has a motion associated with it.

The light, Heavenly Yang energy tends to rise while the heavy, Earthly Yin energy tends to sink. As the two energies meet and commune with one another, peace and harmony are achieved and great accomplishments become possible.

The Banner

Balance

So sometimes things are ahead

and sometimes they are behind;

Sometimes breathing is hard,

sometimes it comes easily;

Sometimes there is strength,

and sometimes weakness;

Somtimes one is up and sometimes down.

Therefore the wise avoid extremes,

excesses, and complacency.

(Tao Te Ching, chapter 29)