Drop In Classes
Balance, Stability, and Dance
Cost is $18/class or a 10 class pack can be purchased for $150.
Mondays
TAOIST INTERNAL ALCHEMY: NEIGONG WITHIN QIGONG
Within this class, we will take physical exercise and transform our presence of mind so that it becomes an exercise of Spirit. To approach this stillness within, we will first develop more body awareness to allow for fluid movement within the sinews, organs and tissues. We will activate and expand our Taiji Poles, strengthen and expand our Wei Qi fields and purge and tonify our channels.
All of this will facilitate the more fluid movement of Qi through the whole body inviting a deeper stillness within our minds. Once our minds are more quiet, we can begin to transcend the Void and get closer to becoming one with the Tao. During this process, we will develop greater mental clarity, emotional calm and vital life force energy.
Movements will include both dynamic and static stance training. All practices are from genuine lineage of the Dragon Gate sect.
Neigong Within Qigong is taught by Irene on Mondays from 9:00 - 10:00
Beginning Yang Tai Chi and Qigong
Class includes Qigong warm up techniques such as shaking, tapping and vocalizing. We will then practice a Qigong form such as the Five Treasures. Following that we will play with Tai Chi basic techniques such as weight shifting, stepping, opening and closing, continuous movement. To finish the class we will practice Yang Style Tai Chi, beginning with Yang 10 and progressing to longer forms.
Beginning Yang Tai Chi classes are held on Mondays and Thursdays from 11:30 - 12:30 and are taught by Susan
Tuesdays
Fascia Focused Medical Qigong
Fascia Focused Medical Qigong class includes the Eight Silk Brocades, Radiant Lotus Qigong, Kuan Yin Qigong and a Myofascial Release and core strengthening practice. Emily is a Myofascial Release Therapist Licensed in Massage and Bodywork Therapy, certified in Pilates and trained in Radiant Lotus Qigong and the founder of Solbody Movement and Myofascial Bodywork in Black Mountain (and is now also offering her services here at Dragon Phoenix Saturdays 12-6pm.) She has studied under John F Barnes, PT, since 2012 in John F. Barnes Myofascial Release Approach® and has been teaching movement since 2002.
Qigong and Myofascial Release are movement and touch practices that cultivate healing, balance, and empowerment. Myofascial Release (MFR) and Qigong release blockages in fascia, the seamless web of tissue connecting and protecting all structures, meridians, organs, and joints within the body, activating Qi to flow with ease throughout and ripple light into all aspects of life. Both help people from all walks of life to heal, nourish, and harmonize their body, mind, and emotions and discover a deeper level of health and wellbeing. The healing powers of synergizing Myofascial Release and Qigong are exponential. Awaken your body's innate ability to release tension, dissolve stress, heal illness, prevent disease and nourish your whole being. This class is great for all ages and ability levels.
Qigong is an ancient Chinese healing art for all people to regain health and reduce stress by caring for themselves with the energy work of simple and mindful movement. Myofascial Release is a form of Osteopathic Manual Therapy that uses gentle touch to activate the body's innate ability to heal. MFR holistically treats pain, dysfunction and imbalance with gentle touch and sustained pressure to eliminate fascial restrictions for restoring joint function, whole body balance and ease.
Emily will guide us through a series of gentle and mindful Qigong movements and meditation in Yin shapes lying on the ground with props for releasing tension and fascial restrictions. You will leave feeling relaxed and rejuvenated learning a practice you can repeat on your own daily at home.
Taught by Emily on Tuesdays from 9 - 10am
*This class is currently paused while Emily helps with hurricane relief in Swannanoa
Nia Dance
Nia is a sensory-based movement practice that draws from martial arts, dance arts and healing arts. It empowers people of all shapes and sizes by connecting the body, mind, emotions and spirit. Classes are taken barefoot to soul-stirring music in more than 45 countries.
Nia draws from Tai Chi, Tae Kwon Do, Aikido, jazz dance, modern dance, Duncan dance, yoga, Alexander Technique and Teachings of Moshe Feldenkrais. Every class offers a unique combination of 52 moves that correspond with the main areas of the body: the base, the core and the upper extremities
Through a fusion of martial arts, dance arts, and healing arts, Nia brings the body, mind, emotions, and spirit to optimal health through music, movement, and self expression. Nia connects us to the wisdom of the body through the sensations of comfort, pleasure, and ease. Each class is a blend of fun choreography, freedance, Floorplay, and your own personal movement creativity. Non-intimidating, effective, kind to bones and joints, dynamic movement, sweaty fun!
Taught by Annie on Tuesdays from 10:30 - 11:30 & Thursdays from 9:30 - 10:30am
Wednesdays
Tai Chi Balance
In our Balance Class we take things slowly. We are working on improving our balance through exercises that help you to think with your feet while strengthening your balance muscles that help to keep you stable. We work on intentional walking and movement while focusing on how our weight shifts through the feet and legs during motion. This class is also great to help get creaky joints moving and to gain awareness of how we hold ourselves. Alignment is a major focus to help protect the knees and heal the body. Falling down is one of the biggest risks to health as we age. This is because of two reasons. The first being the physical damage that can occur during a fall. The other is the psychological damage that can happen after a fall. If we become hesitant about getting up and moving about, then we start to get less and less physical exercise. This can result in an even greater lack of balance that leads to more falls as well as weaker immune system that can lead to more frequent illness.
Taught by Bonner from 11:30 - 12:30
Tai Chi Fan
The Tai Chi Fan class includes a short Flying Rainbow Single Fan form, partner work showing the martial application of the fans when they are used as a weapon and Flying Rainbow Double Fan form.
The Fan forms include movements from Yang, Chen and Sun styles of Tai Chi. Videos are available if you wish to practice at home.
Fans will be provided for class if you don't have your own and if you want to purchase a pair for yourself they are reasonably and easily available online.
As we practice the forms we focus on the Tai Chi principles. There are opportunities coming up to join in activities for Chinese New Year celebrations.
Beginners are welcome!
Tai Chi Fan is taught by Liz on Wednesdays from 1-2
Gentle Yoga for Seniors
A yoga class geared to seniors offering gentle stretching and strengthening through accessible yoga poses and modifications.
Meditation, breath work and relaxation in every class. Props provided or bring your own.
Gentle Yoga for Seniors is taught by Stephanie on Wednesdays from 2:30 - 3:30
Thursdays
Nia Dance
Nia is a sensory-based movement practice that draws from martial arts, dance arts and healing arts. It empowers people of all shapes and sizes by connecting the body, mind, emotions and spirit. Classes are taken barefoot to soul-stirring music in more than 45 countries.
Nia draws from Tai Chi, Tae Kwon Do, Aikido, jazz dance, modern dance, Duncan dance, yoga, Alexander Technique and Teachings of Moshe Feldenkrais. Every class offers a unique combination of 52 moves that correspond with the main areas of the body: the base, the core and the upper extremities
Through a fusion of martial arts, dance arts, and healing arts, Nia brings the body, mind, emotions, and spirit to optimal health through music, movement, and self expression. Nia connects us to the wisdom of the body through the sensations of comfort, pleasure, and ease. Each class is a blend of fun choreography, freedance, Floorplay, and your own personal movement creativity. Non-intimidating, effective, kind to bones and joints, dynamic movement, sweaty fun!
Taught by Annie on Tuesdays from 10:30 - 11:30 & Thursdays from 9:30 - 10:30am
Beginning Yang Tai Chi and Qigong
Class includes Qigong warm up techniques such as shaking, tapping and vocalizing. We will then practice a Qigong form such as the Five Treasures. Following that we will play with Tai Chi basic techniques such as weight shifting, stepping, opening and closing, continuous movement. To finish the class we will practice Yang Style Tai Chi, beginning with Yang 10 and progressing to longer forms.
Beginning Yang Tai Chi classes are held on Mondays and Thursdays from 11:30 - 12:30 and are taught by Susan
Fridays
Intermediate Yang Tai Chi and Qigong
For students who would like to progress beyond the beginner level or who have previously studied Yang style Tai Chi. The focus of this class is going a little deeper into the Yang 24 form with more attention to details.
Intermediate Yang Tai Chi classes are held on Friday mornings from 10:30 - 11:30 and are taught by Susan
Saturdays
Chen Man-Ching Taiji (the Professor’s form)
The Yang 37 form was created by the Tai Chi Master Chen Man Ching (The Professor), a student of Yang Cheng-Fu, in 1946 as a way to make the longer Yang form easier to learn for newer students. It shortens and balances the Yang 108 form, removing many of the repetitious movements and focuses more on health benefits than martial application. This class is a step up from the Beginners Class and is a great class for those who have studied Yang 37 or would like a form that is a little bit more involved than Yang 10 or 24. The Yang 37 class includes Qigong exercises as well as meditation.
Our Yang 37 classes are held on Saturdays mornings from 8:30 - 9:45 and are taught by Ken
Chinese Tea and Tai Chi Foundations
In this Taichi foundation class, we start with sitting together to share tea. Chinese tea is good to help settle our Qi 氣. Next we do Standing Pose or Zhan Zhuang 站樁, a fundamental exercise that helps to improve posture in Taichi, and to ensure the sinking of Qi to DanTian. Creating good alignment in our posture helps to alleviate knee and back pain, and is a requirement for good Tai Chi.
Chen Style Tai Chi emphasizes the importance of Standing Pose in its teachings and is an important practice for developing Tai Chi skill. After Standing Pose we do Silk Reeling Exercises (Spiral Energy), and break down movements. Moving and twisting from the DanTian from Silk Reeling Exercises help with sensing the spiraling power in Tai Chi. These two fundamental practices help us understand how to be soft yet still have strength in our movements. We will end the class sitting with tea again.
This is a class for all ages and all levels. No experience is needed.
Taught by Shunyu Mondays 9:30 - 10:30 and Saturdays 10:30 - 11:30