Yang Tai Chi & Qi Gong - Burlington

History
The Yang style of Tai Chi is one of five established forms which was founded by Yang Lu-Chan during the second half of the 19th century.  Lu-Chan came from a poor family and during one of his odd jobs at the Tai He Tang Chinese Pharmacy located in the western area of Yongnian City in China, he was inspired to learn a form of martial arts that he had never seen before, which was used by one of the pharmacy owners to fend off some local hoodlums who were causing problems. He was subsequently sent to the Chen Village to learn from Chen Chang Xing, who waas the 14th generation of the Chen Family.

The worldwide popularity of Yang style Tai Chi Chuan is due almost entirely to the teachings of Yang Cheng-fu, who was among the first to openly teach his family's Yang Style to the public after the overthrow of the Ch'ing dynasty in 1912. He saw Tai Chi as means  to unite the Chinese people, and Southern China was particularly open to his teachings. 

Yang Style Tai Chi or "Tai Chi Chuan"
Yang style of Tai Chi is also know as Tai Chi Chuan, which is very different from the Tai Chi of the Dao (Tao) philosophy. Tai Chi Chuan respects the tradition of its key founders by teaching authentic postures and hand forms. Combined with Qigong, a practice of aligning breath, movement, and awareness for exercise, healing, and meditation, this unique form of Tai Chi results in greater fluidity of movements and energy flows for stress relief, relaxation, flexibility, fitness, and balance.

About Bruce Leung
Inspired by his mother, Leung began Tai Chi and QiGong practices at the age of 14. He was trained by various Sifus (Master Instructors) and Master Cheung, a Tai Chi Master in Hong Kong. Leung also learnt various martial art forms, including Wing Chun, Wu & Yang Tai Chi during his childhood.

Leung first taught Tai Chi to small private groups in Hong Kong prior to moving to Canada in the early 90s. After moving to Burlington, Leung started teaching Tai Chi at a local branch of a different Tai Chi form. Being motivated by a strong passion for authentic Tai Chi form practices, Leung began teaching Tai Chi and QiGong exercises at Nelson Park, Burlington to a small group of Tai Chi practitioners. By September 2011, Leung started the "Leung's Yang Tai Chi" in Burlington, teaching authentic Traditional Yang Style Tai Chi and other disciplines, including QiGong exercises..

For more information about Tai Chi and Qigong programs, please E-mail bruce@dancescape.com.  

Winter 2012 programs in Burlington start the week of February 6th to 11th. Saturday morning classes begin February 11th from 9:00 to 10:30 a.m.  (Morning classes are also available on Mondays and Fridays from 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., beginning Feb. 6th and 10th.)

SPECIAL PROMOTION
Students that sign up for Yang Tai Chi will also receive a complimentary 4-Class Pass to any of danceScape's danceTONE Fitness (Mondays & Wednesdays are "for women only"; Thursdays are Co-Ed), or Club Salsa/Latin workshops.

Thanks to Terry & Sandy Montgomery and Tim Glover & Sharon Gilmour-Glover for recommending Yang-Style Tai Chi.  danceScape's Robert Tang, is currently learning this form under the direction of Master Bruce Leung in Burlington.