*Please note that this page is constantly evolving as I apply new information and update the page.
The Covid-19 pandemic has changed the way we offer and participate in classes. T’ai Chi classes are currently being offered via Zoom with a few in-person classes starting up at a few organizations.
The calendar below lists the current schedule of classes. Please be aware that this class schedule will likely change as less popular classes are dropped and new classes are added.
MetroWest T’ai Chi independent classes are now $5 per class (with the exception of the T’ai Chi Basics classes on Mondays and the TCHABB classes on Mondays and Thursdays).
Any of the classes shown in white on the calendar are now $5. Please use the PayPal button below to make your payment.
Prefer to pay by check? Click here
If you would prefer to pay by check, you can send it made out to Jonathan Woodward to:
Jon Woodward
MetroWest T’ai Chi
PO Box 3164
Framingham, MA 01705
Also, please give me a heads up about your check by filling in the information below:
MetroWest T’ai Chi independent classes are now $5 per class (with the exception of the T’ai Chi Basics classes on Mondays and the TCHABB classes on Mondays and Thursdays).
Any of the classes shown in white on the calendar are now $5. Please use the PayPal button below to make your payment.
Prefer to pay by check? Click here
If you would prefer to pay by check, you can send it made out to Jonathan Woodward to:
Jon Woodward
MetroWest T’ai Chi
PO Box 3164
Framingham, MA 01705
Also, please give me a heads up about your check by filling in the information below:
How to Join a Class
To join any of the classes shown in white or yellow on the calendar above, click the name of the class below, then clicking the “Join” button. Please note that if you join before the previous class ends, you may be put into Zoom’s “Waiting Room”. All is okay. I will admit you into the class once the previous one has ended.
For classes listed in Blue, the organizations running the class will send an email to those who are registered for that class or are members of that organization (if the class is open).
For classes listed in Orange or Green, I will send an email for those who have registered for the class.
You can find brief descriptions of each of the classes below. Just click on the name to expand the text.
Advanced Class
In this class we will work on advanced concepts and refinements as well as deeper explorations. Independent practice is critical for this class, as is a commitment to regularly participate.
It is also important to have a camera set-up that allows a head to foot view, so that the instructor can suggest corrections and refinements.
Zoom – $5 Per Drop-In Class – Starts 9/7
Deeper T’ai Chi
In Deeper T’ai Chi we will discover new ways of experiencing the movements of T’ai Chi and sometimes Qigong moves. This class will be a mixture of movement and discussion.
We explore how the physical movements can include various awarenesses of energy or flow. We explore deeper overall experiences of the movements. And we explore how we can bring those deeper experiences into our everyday lives.
This new class will start on 10/13 and will run at 2:30.
Zoom – $5 Per Drop-In Class – Starts 10/13
Full Traditional Form
We will run through all three sections of the form in this class. Each class we may focus on a particular move, group of movements or an element of T’ai Chi, but always within the context of the entire form.
Zoom – $5 Per Drop-In Class – Starts 9/9
Mini Routines 1
Mini Routines are short groupings of movements that are part of the Traditional form. We connect the end of the routine back to the beginning to create a “loop”, allowing us to explore deeper aspects of Tai Chi with a relatively simple set of moves.
In this class, we will focus on the Mini Routines from the first section of the form.
Zoom – $5 Per Drop-In Class – Starts 9/14
Beginner Friendly but also challenging
Mini Routines 2
We focus on Mini Routines from the Second Section of the form. This class also provides and excellent opportunity to learn and practice the Second Section of the form.
Zoom – $5 Per Drop-In Class – Starts 9/8
Mini Routines 3
We focus on Mini Routines from the Third Section of the form. This class also provides and excellent opportunity to learn and practice the Third Section of the form.
Zoom – $5 Per Drop-In Class – Starts 9/10
MW YMCA – MetroWest YMCA
This class is strongly focused on the T’ai Chi for Better Balance program. Each week we will focus on one or two elements of T’ai Chi that help improve balance. We will also practice movements from the program, applying what we have learned to those movements.
Live & Zoom – Free for Y members – Drop-In Class – Run by the Y
Beginner Friendly
HIDDEN Natick Rec Department 1 & 2
We have two or more teachers in the Natick classes so two classes run side by side. So beginners can focus on the First Section of the form while those who want to progress on can focus on the Second Section of the form. We progress methodically through the movements so that the student can build a stronger and stronger sense of familiarity with the sequence of movements.
Live – $75 for 8 week session – Starts 10/5 – Run by Natick Rec Dept
First Section is Beginner Friendly
HIDDEN Natick Rec Department 3 & Advanced
We also run two classes during the later 7:45 class. Those who have progressed through the first two sections can move on to the Third Section of the form, while others can take the Advanced Class where we focus on deeper concepts and refining the form.
Live – $75 for 8 week session – Starts 10/5 – Run by Natick Rec Dept
Sudbury Senior Center Zoom Class
The content of this class will depend heavily on who signs up for the class. It will likely feature Mini Routines as a basis for the class that we can use to apply different concepts and ideas. Beginners and experienced students alike are welcome to join the class.
To register for the class, call the Senior Center at 978-443-3055 or email Chery Finley.
Zoom – $39 for 8 week session – Starts 10/19 – Run by Sudbury Senior Center
Beginner Friendly
T’ai Chi Basics
This is a free class open to anyone who is interested in exploring T’ai Chi. We cover basic elements that inform the rest of our T’ai Chi and apply that to a short, easy to learn routine of movements. This is a very “Beginner Friendly” class. However, experienced students can also benefit from more deeply exploring the essential concepts of T’ai Chi.
Zoom – $5 Per Drop-In Class – Starts 9/14
Very Beginner Friendly
Tao Te Ching Book Club
Each meeting we study a different chapter of the Tao Te Ching. Using different translations and commentaries, we attempt to interpret the deeper meanings of each chapter.
As we are part way through the book, this class is closed to new participants. At some point in the future, I will either start at the beginning again or we will move on to a different book. At that point this group will open up to new participants.
TCHABB – T’ai Chi for Healthy Aging and Better Balance
This is a new and improved Better Balance program! This is a 12 week / 2 classes per week course focusing on elements and exercises that help improve balance and stability. Students must be able to attend the majority of classes.
In this program, there is less of an emphasis on T’ai Chi movements and more on the elements, ideas and concepts within T’ai Chi that can instantly improve our sense of stability. It is a common experience for students to feel changes to their sense of balance and stability immediately after practicing and exercise. These T’ai Chi concepts will also be applied directly to real life, everyday activities so that we can move easily bring this experience into our everyday world.
Zoom – Free 12 week session – Start date 9/21
Zoom – Free 12 week session – Second Course Added – Start date 9/30
Very Beginner Friendly
Wellesley Zoom Class
We will likely focus on the Mini Routines from the Second Section of the form in this class while also incorporating elements that help improve balance and rooting.
Zoom – $50 for 8 week session – Starts 10/10 – Run by Wellesley COA
Beginner Friendly but also challenging
Weston Zoom Class
We focus primarily on the Traditional Form, often using the Mini Routines to explore it. The Mini Routines help make this more accessible to those who are new to T’ai Chi or who come from the Better Balance class. We also bring in other concepts and ideas into this class to help complement and reinforce both the Traditional Form and the T’ai Chi for Better Balance program.
Zoom – $5 Per Drop-In Class – Starts 9/1 – Run by Weston COA
Somewhat Beginner Friendly but also challenging
Qigong
We currently practice a style called Hunyuan Qigong. This is a very internal style of Qigong with a strong focus on working with and moving energy (Qi) throughout the body. There are 12 “movements” in the set (although some moves have multiple parts). It takes about 45 minutes to go through these moves.
Zoom – $5 Per Drop-In Class – Starts 9/9
Beginner Friendly
Following is a list of classes held around the greater Framingham area. Many of the classes are currently running, while others begin throughout the month of September. Please click on the link for more information.
Ongoing Public Classes
- Tolles Parsons Center, Wellesley – Traditional T’ai Chi: Mondays 10:30 AM, Requires Registration
- Callahan Senior Center, Framingham – Traditional T’ai Chi: Mondays 12:30 PM, Ongoing Drop-In Class
- Sudbury Senior Center – Traditional T’ai Chi Advanced Class: Mondays 2:15 PM, Requires Registration
- East School Building, Natick – Traditional Yang Style T’ai Chi: Mondays 6:30 PM,
Beginners/1st Section, Requires Registration,- East School Building, Natick – Traditional Yang Style T’ai Chi: Mondays 6:30 PM,
Section 2, Requires Registration,- East School Building, Natick – Traditional Yang Style T’ai Chi: Mondays 7:45 PM,
Section 3, Requires Registration,- East School Building, Natick – Traditional Yang Style T’ai Chi: Mondays 7:45 PM,
Advanced, Requires Registration,- Weston Council on Aging – Traditional Yang Style T’ai Chi: Tuesdays 9:30 AM, Ongoing Drop-In Class
- Weston Council on Aging – T’ai Chi for Better Balance: Tuesdays 11:00 AM, Ongoing Drop-In Class
- Sudbury Senior Center – T’ai Chi for Healthy Living: Tuesdays 1:30 PM, Requires Registration
- Lumina Mind Body Studios at Longfellow, Wayland – Traditional T’ai Chi (Advanced): Tuesdays 7:00 PM, Ongoing Drop-In Class
- Lumina Mind Body Studios at Longfellow, Wayland – T’ai Chi for Better Balance: Wednesdays 11:30 AM Ongoing Drop-In Class
- Tolles Parsons Center, Wellesley – T’ai Chi for Better Balance: Wednesdays 2:00 PM Requires Registration
- MetroWest YMCA – T’ai Chi for Healthy Aging: Thursdays 11:45 AM, Requires Registration
- Sudbury Senior Center – Traditional T’ai Chi Beginner’s Class: Thursdays 2:30 PM, Requires Registration
- Push Hands group – Fridays 9:30-11 AM, Ongoing Practice Group
Below is information about the the different types of programs that I offer.
Traditional Form
The “Traditional Form” that I teach is a version of the Cheng Man-Ch’ing style or the Yang 37 form. (For those who are more knowledged about these things, it is a variation of the routine with a blending of elements from both the Yang style and the Cheng Man-Ch’ing style.)
This form consists of a set routine of movements that takes about 15 minutes to go through. For the purpose of the classes, this routine is divided into three sections, each one offering challenging movements. The first section can be learned and used as a stand alone form, taking about 5 minutes to run through.
Practice of this style offers not only a relaxing, meditative experience, but also explorations into areas such as:
- Awareness of body structure
- Improved focus
- Development of internal energy
- Sense of fluidity and flow
- Greater overall awareness of self
- Martial applications
- Philosophies and ideas from T’ai Chi
While this style of T’ai Chi involves a greater level of commitment and perseverance than the T’ai Chi for Balance program, the experience tends to be deeper with greater impact on life.
T’ai Chi for Balance
This program is focused primarily on improving balance, with a lighter emphasis on the areas of T’ai Chi listed above. While there are 8 movements in the basic set used for this program, they are generally easier to learn and to follow, allowing us to put a greater emphasis on the elements of T’ai Chi that help to improve our balance.
T’ai Chi for Balance programs go by several different names and include:
- T’ai Chi for Healthy Aging
- T’ai Chi for Healthy Living
- T’ai Chi for Better Balance
- Movement for Better Balance
There are many studies that have shown that T’ai Chi in general is a practice that helps to maintain and improve balance as we go through life. The T’ai Chi for Balance programs offered here have been built to focus specifically on aspects of T’ai Chi that have the most impact on improving our balance. In these programs the moves are simpler and fewer while an emphasis is placed on posture, weight shifting and body awareness, among other aspects of T’ai Chi.
The movements take about five to seven minutes to go through the initial set of eight movements. These movements can be done in any order so that there is no need to remember a particular routine. The full set of fifteen movements takes anywhere from ten to fifteen minutes to perform.
Qigong
The term “Qigong” (pronounced Chi Gung) refers to any number of styles or systems that focus on improving and balancing our flow of energy (or “Qi”). Qigong may consist of a set of movements, or meditative postures and typically emphasize aligning our posture, regulating our breathing and using mind intent to create the benefits we seek.
The practice of Qigong predates T’ai Chi and includes a much broader spectrum of styles. Qigong can be used as a stand alone practice or as an excellent complement to T’ai Chi.
Currently, the style of Qigong that we most often practice in classes is called “Hunyuan Qigong”. This style of Qigong is very focused on working with Qi. Regular practice of Hunyuan Qigong will help to develop a stronger sense of Qi within our bodies while also increasing and improving the flow of Qi through various organ systems.
Practicing
Practicing is certainly helpful and is fairly necessary to learn the movements of both T’ai Chi and Qigong. Practicing will also help us to get the most benefits from T’ai Chi and Qigong and to explore the deeper aspects of our T’ai Chi and Qigong experience. To learn the movements and routines from any of the programs, it is recommended that participants practice at home what they have been learning in class. The more we practice, the more we get out of our practice. However, even fifteen minutes a few times a week will have a vast positive impact.
That being said, while practice is urged, we will never make you feel embarrassed or guilty if you do not practice. Everyone has their own path and their own reasons for taking classes. Practicing may simply be difficult for some of the students.
Ultimately, I want participants of our classes to enjoy the experience of taking their T’ai Chi classes. So the classes are typically fun and lighthearted. I believe that this is often the most effective environment to learn.
(The one exception to this is the early morning Advanced Class in which practice is expected.)
If you have any questions about the classes, feel free to go to the contact page and connect with me. I’ll do my best to answer your questions.