T'AI-CHI LESSONS WITH GENE BURNETT
in Ashland, Oregon
. . . and musical recordings

What is T'ai-Chi?

T’ai-Chi is a Chinese word meaning “supreme ultimate”. The T’ai-chi symbol above represents a universal principle—the idea of an underlying wholeness and balance which unifies all opposites and all things. T’ai-chi Ch’uan is a martial art based on this principle. The basic training of this art is what most people call “T’ai-chi”. It is done in slow motion and is excellent for health, balance, self-awareness and relaxation.

What I Teach

There are many different styles of T’ai-Chi Ch’uan. I teach a symmetrical version of the Yang family style created by the Grandmaster Tchoung Ta-Tchen. All exercises are done left and right handed and include energy work, standing meditations, solo movements (short and long forms ), partnered sensitivity training (pushing hands ), martial applications (including a partnered form ), a faster energy-issuing form and T’ai-chi weaponry (solo and partnered forms ). Each part of this training reveals and supports a deeper sense of balance and centeredness.

My Approach

Although T’ai-chi Ch’uan is a martial art and I teach it that way, I am not primarily combat oriented. My focus is on using martial exercises to teach balance, relaxation, grounding and connectedness.
I use T’ai-chi as a physical, spiritual, and psychological mirror which reflects resistance as well as surrender to life, love and wholeness.

Levels Of Training

There are no “belts” in T’ai-Chi Ch’uan but I do see four interconnected levels of work.

The Bone Level: learning the basic movements and fundamentals, aligning and adhering to stances.

The Muscle Level: learning to let go of excess tension to find fluidity, smoothness and grace, softening and relaxing stances.

The Energy Level: resting into a deeper energetic connection to everything, with intent leading energy, which leads the muscles and bones, referring to stances.

The Spiritual Level: releasing ego control and identification and allowing life itself to lead the intent, energy, muscles and bones, letting go of stances.

How I Teach

I mainly teach private lessons. I enjoy working with people one on one and can tailor a T’ai-Chi curriculum to suit your needs, fitness level and personal goals. You don’t need to study the entire art to benefit from T’ai-chi Ch’uan. Lessons are informal and friendly but serious. I am thorough, patient and I teach “from the ground up”. I give students strong basics and point the way to deeper relaxation, energy, spiritual surrender and understanding of T’ai-Chi principles in daily life. I encourage an atmosphere of warmth, honesty and safety.

My Background

I was certified to teach this system by Andrew Dale, chief instructor of the Xin Qi Shen Dojo in Seattle, WA. I have been teaching since 1985. I’ve worked with many beginners, including senior citizens, and pace instructions to each student’s individual learning speed and style. In addition to T'ai-Chi Ch’uan, I have studied other movement arts including Bagua, Hsing-I, Chen style T'ai-Chi, Contact Improvisation, Aikido and Yoga.