Our Summer Semester begins May 15th, contact Master Sean to join in!
Potsdam Class Information & Location
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Master Sean is thrilled to announce that North Country Tai Chi LLC has established a Potsdam Campus at the Trillium Center for Yoga and Health LCC.
We would like to thank Trillium's founders Jean Benvenuto, Terry de la Vega, and Shannon Miller for affording us the opportunity to be in their very special and beautiful space. |
Current Potsdam Class Offerings
Basic Level Course
Tuesday/ Thursday 11:15AM-12:15PM
Cost: Please see "Calendar and Tuition" page
At North Country Tai Chi, no class is more important than our Tai Chi Basics course. All Tai Chi movement is an expression of layered simplicity and our basics course introduces you to the logic of how to do that intelligently and in balance. This is a time tested tradition and it is taught one step at a time.
Our basics class deliberately removes the pressure to learn in a forced way or to advance by simply mimicking a teacher or advanced students. You are taught how to "feel" these movements as an intuitive expression of yourself at play. You are already perfect and learning Tai Chi let's you feel that way by helping your body relax systematically.
In Tai Chi Basics, we learn one simple thing at a time; and with each class, we layer that experience into a sort of knowledge base. As a result, our bodies adapt to that experience more quickly and we "remember" what it means to feel balanced. You carry that from class to class; and, in time, the practice becomes your own. Repetition is the key. The sequences you learn in Tai Chi Basics sets the foundation for the simple grace for which Tai Chi is known and from which the health benefits are ultimately derived.
From a technical point of view, we will use and encounter the following seven movements:
Four arm movements
1) repulsing monkey
2) waving hands at clouds
3) brushing knee,
4) parting the horse's mane
Three stepping patterns
1) monkey step
2) cloud step
3) rocking forward step
Master Sean expresses a particular point of view about beginners: there are no "rookies" in Tai Chi, only folks with an infinite potential to learn at their own pace. He teaches with this grounding philosophy: "First class, last class: same." That philosophical point of view carries into our intermediate and advanced classes, so you are already at the beginning and the end of what you might learn at North Country Tai Chi.
If that sounds like a nice way to learn, then please join us for a Tai Chi Basics class in the near future.
Intermediate Level Course
Tuesday Thursday 12:30 - 1:30
Prerequisite: Tai Chi Basics Course
Our Intermediate Tai Chi class centers on the 24 movements of Yang style Tai Chi and another form called the "Gate of Life." We also incorporate stretching, a standing meditation, and a cool down. Sean Boutin will introduce you to the subtle ways that Tai Chi theory and practice infuse balance into your body and overall sense of wellbeing. North Country Tai Chi's approach to learning is "classical" meaning you are introduced to a system that you begin to feel and intuit, slowly becoming something mastered and expressed. Sean is there to introduce you to the principles and guide you through the sequence of steps. It's as easy as that!
Please go to "Calendar & Tuition" page for scheduling and pricing information.
Tuesday/ Thursday 11:15AM-12:15PM
Cost: Please see "Calendar and Tuition" page
At North Country Tai Chi, no class is more important than our Tai Chi Basics course. All Tai Chi movement is an expression of layered simplicity and our basics course introduces you to the logic of how to do that intelligently and in balance. This is a time tested tradition and it is taught one step at a time.
Our basics class deliberately removes the pressure to learn in a forced way or to advance by simply mimicking a teacher or advanced students. You are taught how to "feel" these movements as an intuitive expression of yourself at play. You are already perfect and learning Tai Chi let's you feel that way by helping your body relax systematically.
In Tai Chi Basics, we learn one simple thing at a time; and with each class, we layer that experience into a sort of knowledge base. As a result, our bodies adapt to that experience more quickly and we "remember" what it means to feel balanced. You carry that from class to class; and, in time, the practice becomes your own. Repetition is the key. The sequences you learn in Tai Chi Basics sets the foundation for the simple grace for which Tai Chi is known and from which the health benefits are ultimately derived.
From a technical point of view, we will use and encounter the following seven movements:
Four arm movements
1) repulsing monkey
2) waving hands at clouds
3) brushing knee,
4) parting the horse's mane
Three stepping patterns
1) monkey step
2) cloud step
3) rocking forward step
Master Sean expresses a particular point of view about beginners: there are no "rookies" in Tai Chi, only folks with an infinite potential to learn at their own pace. He teaches with this grounding philosophy: "First class, last class: same." That philosophical point of view carries into our intermediate and advanced classes, so you are already at the beginning and the end of what you might learn at North Country Tai Chi.
If that sounds like a nice way to learn, then please join us for a Tai Chi Basics class in the near future.
Intermediate Level Course
Tuesday Thursday 12:30 - 1:30
Prerequisite: Tai Chi Basics Course
Our Intermediate Tai Chi class centers on the 24 movements of Yang style Tai Chi and another form called the "Gate of Life." We also incorporate stretching, a standing meditation, and a cool down. Sean Boutin will introduce you to the subtle ways that Tai Chi theory and practice infuse balance into your body and overall sense of wellbeing. North Country Tai Chi's approach to learning is "classical" meaning you are introduced to a system that you begin to feel and intuit, slowly becoming something mastered and expressed. Sean is there to introduce you to the principles and guide you through the sequence of steps. It's as easy as that!
Please go to "Calendar & Tuition" page for scheduling and pricing information.
Potsdam Indoor Campus Location
Trillium Center for Yoga and Health LLC is located at 42 Elm Street in Potsdam NY. Trillium is housed within the Potsdam First Presbyterian Church located at the split between 11 (Elm St) and 11b (Lawrence Ave)
General Information
All of our Tai Chi classes include a stretching/warm-up component, followed by a brief standing meditation. With our bodies activated, we then proceed to learn the movements of Tai Chi. All classes conclude with a brief cool down component.
Tai Chi is a flexible art; and while we practice as a group, significant attention is paid to each individual circumstance. If you suffer from a particular injury or have general aches and pains, all postures are perfectly adaptable to the bodies and comfort levels of each individual. It is not uncommon for spry individuals to practice alongside folks working out the kinks. One exceptional aspect of Tai Chi is that individual differences do not affect the pace or flow of group practice. So, don't be too shy to talk to Sean about your own situation.
Master Sean is willing to invest in any individual who is willing to invest time and energy in their own practice. Sean's primary focus is on building relationships within a practice, so if you have an idea about how to do that for you, please run it by him.
Tai Chi is a flexible art; and while we practice as a group, significant attention is paid to each individual circumstance. If you suffer from a particular injury or have general aches and pains, all postures are perfectly adaptable to the bodies and comfort levels of each individual. It is not uncommon for spry individuals to practice alongside folks working out the kinks. One exceptional aspect of Tai Chi is that individual differences do not affect the pace or flow of group practice. So, don't be too shy to talk to Sean about your own situation.
Master Sean is willing to invest in any individual who is willing to invest time and energy in their own practice. Sean's primary focus is on building relationships within a practice, so if you have an idea about how to do that for you, please run it by him.