USM 1.5 Credit Course curriculum January 2020 Course # RHF124 T'ai Chi Acknowledgements to my teacher Master Yang Yang and Center for Taiji Studies whose material is widely referenced.

Instructor: Jason Ames of Maine Center for Taijiquan & [email protected] 780-9581 ​ ​ Each Class 20 minutes of warm-ups with essential skill building qigong 5 mins notes at mid point 25 mins of Form movement, lecture/discussion 10 mins “static” near end of class

3 absences max: make up available @ MCT with permission Alternative arrangements and/or special cases regarding make-ups or substitute assignments must be submitted in writing.

Homework: Practice 20 minutes 3x/week not on class days Required writing: two paragraphs a week reflecting on your experience with the practice. Required reading: An Overview of Best Practices in Taiji- Dr. Yang Yang http://www.chentaiji.com/articles/Best_Taiji_Practices_Aug_08.pdf Suggested reading: http://www.chentaiji.com/articles/integrating.html

Taijiquan: The Art of Nurturing, The Science of Power, Yang Yang

2 written assignments, 2 pages minimum each. Suggested topics: • Describe the pillars of a traditional Taiji practice and explain the importance of each aspect.

• What are distinct differences between internal vs. external movement? What are some of the key aspects of mindful awareness practice?

• What elements of the CurriculumDRAFT were most important to you? What did you learn about Taiji and about yourself in your practice at home.

Essential skill building Qigong Warm-ups: - Grand opening - Collecting to Dantein - Open the Temple Doors - Circulating the Qi - Dropping the qi to wash the organs - Wuji Standing - Sante Standing Mediations - Agility Drills Forms: - Opening - Lazily Tying Coast - Fist Under Elbow - Stepping Back - Part the Horse’s Mane - Cloud hands - Return Qi to Dantien

CLASS 1 & 2: FOUNDATIONS; BUILDING AWARENESS & “GONG” Brief history of Taijiquan, Pillars of practice, Qigong & definitions/terminology Body/Mind/Breath Awareness, Essential Silk Reeling Qigong

CLASS 3 & 4: OPENING FORM & THE 4 FUNDAMENTAL “ENERGIES” Standing & Sitting Meditations Agility Drills

CLASS 5 & 6: QIGONG & FORMS Lazily Tying Coat Step Back

CLASS 7& 8: QIGONG & FORMS Fist under elbow Cloud hands

CLASS 9 & 10: PUTTING THE 7 FORMS TOGETHER Reviewing & refining the 7 forms Breath & Introduction to partner work

CLASS 11 & 12: QIGONG & FORMS: wu-wei, wuji, Tao 7 Form review, variations Extended form practice and discussion.

CLASS 13 & 14: PRACTICE, REVIEW AND QUESTIONS 2 Person work, Partner Qigong, Push Hands Student demonstration

COURSE OBJECTIVES DRAFT

1: Become acquainted with essential biomechanics, applied mental intention and internal energy development methods required to build gong and establish foundation for Taiji forms.

2: Learn basic history of Taijiquan and about Yin/Yang theory.

3: Learn efficient and integrated use of body and the role that the breath, heart/mind & intention have on physicality and personal harmony.

4: Deepen the appreciation for and awareness of the relationship between ones mental, emotional, physical and spiritual experience.

5: Explore the differences between physical learning, mental learning & mind/body learning.

6: Learn to appreciate the relationship between “healing arts” and “martial arts” aspects of Taiji. Understand how Taijiquan practice can help to influence our interactions between ourselves ​ ​ and others.

Vocabulary: Qigong, Taijiquan, “gong” Chen, Yang, Sun Wu styles. EBT/EBQ Chinese medicine/ meridians Wuji: The value of stillness Yin /Yang Sitting, standing, lying meditations Static/ Dynamic exercises Forms, push hands/partner training Agility training, Alignment, Central equilibrium Silk reeling (nei & shien) Quiet mind/tranquility Reverse or dynamic breathing, abdominal or belly breathing, whole body breathing Peng, Lu, Ji, An, Song, Dantein, Lougong, Base of support, Range of motion Links • How to Structure Daily Practice - http://centerfortaiji.com/newsletter/17March2012/TrainingTip13.html • A training tip for the New Year: On Meditation - http://centerfortaiji.com//newsletter/16Dec2011/TrainingTip12.html • Or peruse Dr. Yang’s Newsletter Training Tips - http://centerfortaiji.com/newsletter/training_tips.html • Introduction to Dr. Yang Yang’s Evidence-Based Taiji (EBTTM) and Qigong Program - http://centerfortaiji.com/articles/IntroductiontoDr.YangYangsEBTProgram.docDRAFT (MS Word doc) ​ • CTS Research on Dr. Yang Yang’s Evidence-Based Taiji (EBTTM) and Qigong Program: - http://centerfortaiji.com/articles/CTSEBTstudies2.pdf (pdf doc) ​

A FEW TRADITIONAL SAYINGS RELATED TO TAIJI/QIGONG AND HEALING: 事半功倍o Shì bàn gong bèi. Half the work, double the result (i.e., if you practice and study efficiently, you can learn in a fraction of the time). 练拳不练功,到老一场空o Lian quán bù lian gong, dào lao yi chang kong. If you practice form (external movement), but do not practice gong, even if you practice your whole life, your art will be empty. 药补不如食补,食补不如气补,气补不如神补o Yào bu bù rú shí bu, shí bu bù rú qì bu, qì bu bù rú shén bu. To improve your health, medicine is not as good as food/nutrition; food/nutrition is not as good as qi(gong); qi(gong) is not as good as spiritual nourishment. 吾日三省吾身o Wu rì san xing wu . One should look inward three times a day. 不静不见动之奇o Bù jìng bù jiàn dòng zhi qí. If you don’t have quietness or tranquility, you will never see the miracle of movement. 气功能祛病,缘由在松静o Qì gong néng qu bìng, yuán yóu zài song jìng. Song (relaxation) and (tranquility/quietness) are the reasons why qigong can heal you. 笑一笑, 十年少; 愁一愁, 百了头o Xiao yi xiao, shi nian shao; chou yi chou, bai le tou. Smile one smile and you are ten years younger. Add more worries and you gain more white hair.

USM & Departmental Policies:

Cell Phones:​ Please be sure all cell phones or pagers are ​turned off​. Ringing electronic devices are very disturbing in the classroom and ​will not be tolerated​. Students are not expected to leave class to attend to any messages being received. Should you have an impending family emergency that will be clearly necessary to attend to immediately please let me know at the beginning of class.

Laptops:​ ​Are only used for classroom subject matter​. Any other usage during class time will result in your inability to use your laptop during class.

NOTICE OF RISK​: Because there are always risks when one participates in physical activity, participation in the activities incorporated in this course could cause participants to suffer minor or serious bodily harm. Any student who enrolls in this course voluntarily chooses to do so at his/her own risk. A student should only participate if he/she is physically and mentally able to do so. If a student has questions about the content of the course, risks or hazards, he/she should discuss concerns with the Instructor. The Recreation and Leisure Studies Department reserves the right to request written medical clearance for entrance into and participation in courses, which require high intensity or physically challenging exercise.

ADA/Non-Discrimination​: The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1992 mandates the elimination of discrimination against persons with disabilities. If you need course adaptations or accommodations because nd of disability, please contact the Office for Students with Disabilities, 2​ ​ floor, Luther Bonney Hall (780-4706; TTY 780-4396).

Harassment​: Harassment is defined as looks, words or actions between unequals in social authority (e.g. professor/student) and/or between students and staff/peers that create a chilling environment for the student resulting in impaired work and/or learning.

Students who feel they have been harassed should report the harassment to the Chairperson/Director of the Department offering the course, or to the Chairperson/Director of the Department where the incident has occurred, as soon as possible. At theDRAFT Chairperson/Director’s request, students who report harassment should be prepared to provide, in writing, examples/incidences of behavior, which would support the perception of harassment. If the perceived harassment involves the Department Chairperson/Director, the students should report the harassment to the Dean of the College of Nursing and Health Professions. The Chairperson/Director or Dean will investigate the complaint, including talking to the involved parties separately.

In the case of harassment based on any of the protected classes, see the University’s Sexual Harassment Policy in the University’s Undergraduate and Graduate catalogs. Protected classes include race, religion, national origin, ancestry, gender, physical and mental disability, and sexual orientation.

Academic Integrity​: Plagiarism, cheating, and falsification of information are violations of academic integrity that will not be tolerated in this class. Please check the USM Office of Community Standards website (​www.usm.maine.edu/ocs/​) for official definitions of these practices.

APA Format​: ​Students are expected to follow the format of ​The Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association​ (APA). The APA Publication Manual presents explicit style requirements for authors and students in the preparation of manuscripts and papers. The sample paper found in the back of the APA manual may be very helpful. APA tutoring is available through the Learning Center located in Luther Bonney Hall (780-4228).

student is expected to be attending class on time and for the Attendance and Class Participation​: ​Each ​ entire period, participate in class, and follow class rule. ​ The instructor will take attendance each class session. If the student cannot attend class due to extreme circumstances they are expected to contact the instructor prior to the class.

Civility Statement: ​The College of Science Technology and Health encourages all students to review our “commitment to civility. As outlined in the statement, “we will not tolerate disrespectful or abusive speech and or disruptive behavior from individuals or groups. Everyone has the responsibility to foster a safe and supportive learning and work environment”.

DRAFT