Weekly Classes
Located at Tacoma’s Tai Chi & Qigong Wellness Center
Now offering classes through the Tai Chi & Qigong Wellness Center in Tacoma, WA
Blue Heron Tai Chi is proud to partner with The Tai Chi & Qigong Wellness Center to offer in-person classes.
Located at the Merlino Arts Building, The Tai Chi and Qigong Wellness Center has been offering classes to the community since 1993. The Center is a non-profit with a board of directors and an open membership.
Register for these classes online through the Tai Chi & Qigong Wellness Center website. Click the “REGISTER NOW” buttons below.
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Tuishou (Push Hands)
When: Monday Evenings 5:30-6:30 pm (Begins 1/5/26)
Cost: Tuition is priced on a sliding scale from $75-$125 / month for unlimited weekly classes.
Location: Tai Chi & Qigong Wellness Center. The classroom is inside the Merlino Arts Building on the second floor:
508 Sixth Avenue #8
Tacoma, WA 98402
(253) 272 -4045 -
The Qigong of Tai Chi
When: Wednesday Evenings 5:30-6:30 pm (begins 1/7/26)
Cost: Tuition is priced on a sliding scale from $75-$125 / month for unlimited weekly classes
Location: Tai Chi & Qigong Wellness Center. The classroom is inside the Merlino Arts Building on the second floor:
508 Sixth Avenue #8
Tacoma, WA 98402
(253) 272 -4045
What will we cover in these classes?
Tuishou (Push Hands)
Tui Shou translates to “pushing hands” and is a two-person training method used to develop the timing, sensitivity, and mind state necessary to be calm and effective in a self defense, or really any, stressful situation.
In this class you’ll work with a partner. We’ll explore the dynamics of energy when you interact with a partner or external force.
Each class you’ll learn:
Standing and qigong practices to develop your awareness of qi (energy).
Drills and push hands techniques to dissolve and neutralize your partner’s force.
Dissolving techniques using a form called Da Lu, plus the underlying methods that live inside the forms.
Expand your understanding of Tai Chi’s core concepts.
Dive into the fundamentals of relaxation and central equilibrium.
You’ll develop sensitivity and flow.
Who can take this class?
Students of all levels and experience are welcome to attend, however, some understanding of the Tai Chi forms and principles will be of much help.
The Qigong of Tai Chi
Taking the form from a choreography into a living and spontaneous flow.
A class for students who wish to begin moving out of the beginning level and deepen their experience of the internal layers of the practice. Our focus will be on developing the dan tian and qi flow in our Tai Chi forms and we’ll be using the Yang Style Long Form as our movement set.
The word “Qi” has many meanings, but first among them is life energy and breath. You can think of Qi as the general quality of your life and well-being. “Gong” means attention or dedicated time spent with something. So literally, qigong means “energy work”, or dedicated time and attention towards nurturing energy or breath and its quality.
Qigong is an entire wing of Traditional Chinese Medicine and can be applied to nearly anything that ails you. When someone says they practice Qigong, in general, they mean they’re practicing an art meant to create greater health and well-being in themselves.
There are, of course, a tremendous number of benefits that come from opening the energy channels of the body and learning to circulate your energy throughout the various parts of the body/mind.
Each class will include a combination of the following:
Warm Up + Qigong form review: We’ll loosen and awaken the body with simple exercises and stretches then utilize one or two of the forms we explored in the fall session as a general moving meditation and exploration.
Sitting and Standing Meditation: We’ll focus on the breath and mind, developing facility, release, and freedom using breathing and visualization techniques.
The Long Form: We’d pursue the fundamental principles at play in Yang Style Tai Chi and work toward more awareness and facility with qi within the body. Our focus will be on Section 1 (the first 17 or so movements) of the 108 posture Yang Style Long Form.
Who can take this class?
Beginners are most definitely welcome to attend, however, it’s recommended to have at least some familiarity with Tai Chi principles, and forms, and/or the Standing Like A Tree practices.
WHY SHOULD YOU WORK WITH ME?
I’ve been a devoted student of Tai Chi Chuan and Qigong for over 18 years and have taught for 8+ years to a wide range of students, including children, college-aged students, older adults, and retirees.
“My students find more awareness of themselves, gain a deeper sense of well-being, and harmony that serves them in their everyday life.”
Jeffrey Daniel, Tai Chi & Qigong Instructor
Tai Chi & Qigong Wellness Center Classes FAQ
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Find the class you’re interested in below and click “REGISTER NOW”. You’ll register for class and pay a monthly tuition on the Tai Chi and Qigong Wellness center website.
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Tai Chi is an effective means of exercise with slow, fluid and graceful movements meant to strengthen the body, ease the mind, release tension, and improve overall health and balance.
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Anyone who is already a member of The Tai Chi & Qigong Wellness Center in Tacoma, WA can join these classes.
New center members can register on their website and pay monthly tuition online, or in-person by cash or check each month.
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I’ve created a whole page dedicated to the many of Tai Chi and Qigong. Click this link to learn more.
The “Official” Bio
Jeffrey is a Tai Chi and Qigong Instructor and creator of Blue Heron Tai Chi, based in the Pacific Northwest.
Jeffrey specializes in helping active adults with body pain and chronic health issues stay active as they age, gain more stability, balance, vitality, relaxation, and ease with stationary and moving meditative practices.
He offers his students a new perspective to relearn their movement and reconnect them with their body and mind.
A devoted student of Tai Chi Chuan and Qigong for over 18 years, he’s taught for 8+ years to a wide range of students, including children, college-aged students, older adults, and retirees.
Combining his many years of knowledge and study as a Tai Chi player with his training as a Certified Reiki Master Teacher, his unique approach folds in holistic energy flow and allows his students to become more aware of themselves and gain a deeper sense of well-being and harmony in their everyday life.
Jeffrey grew up in Washington and currently lives in the Greater Seattle area with his wife, two young boys, and two cats, and he can be found dreaming of squeezing in more pickleball time, enjoying a cup of coffee, or napping.
