Taiji is an amazing medium for delivering lessons in awareness, relaxation, fitness, and self defense. The lessons are made all the more effective in the hands of an expert instructor like Steven because he brings passion, fun, and creativity to class. Steven explores this art from many different angles and isn't afraid to borrow ideas from other arts to help solidify the principles being taught. His realistic treatment of the art in today’s world reminds me that, like all arts, if we stop pushing the boundaries or fail to challenge it, it stagnates and dies.

Taiji offers a good amount of relaxation-talk. An interesting thing happens when we try too hard to relax—we create tension. We get the exact opposite of what we wanted.

Through regular practice of Qi-gong, we discover deeper awareness of our bodies and tissues. Our awareness can be applied to the stance and body structure needed for the practice of marksmanship.

Balance gets better and bodies develop efficiency. The same with grounding. They're both dynamic. And I'm not talking metaphorically here.

The word self-defense usually conjures images of how to deal with physical violence. I imagine a class where the martial arts instructor goes over attacks and attack scenarios along with techniques and/or drills to deal with them. As I learn methods to defend myself physically I also like to remind myself that violence never happens [...]

Hands hover chest level, elbows dropping downward. Just below these hands, running parallel to the ground, is a membrane. Like a viscous liquid, my mind slowly drops sinks into it.