After the 9:00 AM Taiji Class at the West Side YMCA, weather permitting, we go to Central Park and review the YMT Fan Form. At times we also do the Second Duan of the Yangjia Michuan Taijiquan Long Form. Here are a few pictures of some of the hearty group.

After 27 years as a New York Taiji group we know how to enjoy a good meal and have a fun meetup! The New York Yangjia Michuan Taiji group, founded by Robert Politzer in the spring of 1994, had a great lunch at Legend 72 – continuing a time-honored tradition of friendship, tasty food, and cheerful storytelling. Classes continue at the West Side Y on Saturday mornings and virtually with Robert on Monday evenings.

We’ve continued to teach and practice Yangjia Michuan Taiji together and are all working together to help get through this. Robert continues to teach his virtual meditation taiji class on Monday evenings, Lisa is meeting folks in Central Park for an informal practice on Wednesday afternoons and the Saturday 8:45 in the park is still happening on a weekly basis.

Here is a recent group shot inspired by Melba’s trip back to NYC and below is a lovely note she sent to all of us.

Stay healthy and keep practicing taiji.

Dear Tom, Robert, Arnold, Alana, Lisa and all of my dear YMCA family. 

I am very happy living in beautiful Ft Lauderdale where I hope all of you will visit me sometime in the future. 

When I started my massage therapy degree program in 2015, a couple of my professors encouraged all the students to learn Tai Chi. They explained how learning Tai Chi willhelp us train our bodies to utilize all of the massage therapy techniques without causing harm to our own bodies. We learned how to move and balance ourselves between the natural opposing forces of yin and yang and the external elements of earth, fire, water, wood, and metal.

At first I cringed at the idea of being in a class at 9 am on a Saturday. So I went to Robert’s Tai Chi class on a Wednesday to check it out.  I was immediately mesmerized  by the meditative unison of the instructor and the students. It was the advanced class so naturally there was no way I could follow along. But something in my whole being told me I had to learn this. So I showed up to Tom’s beginners class on a Saturday morning and felt like a cat or a dog chasing my tail as I struggled to follow the group. I was so relieved when I was sent to the the other side of the room where Alana was teaching the newbies. Then I started going to the Monday night classes and the Wednesday classes. Whatever class I was in I made sure to stand right behind the instructor.  I was determined to learn this. My professors were correct. It made my course of study easier in so many ways.  I was so grateful to simultaneously learn not only the practice, but also about the principles of Tai Chi. What I was learning in Tai Chi were fundamentals of the massage therapy program.

Some of you are dear friends, some were my clients and I am forever grateful to the incredible instructors I had the honor of learning this practice. I hold your commitment in reverence. Tom, thank you for doing the virtual classes during this awful pandemic. For me it was such a blessing. Thank you Lisa, Robert and Bob for the weekday classes. 

Thank you Tom for the video. I promise to practice as often as I can. It will be a lifetime part of my overall wellness regimen.

I miss all of you dearly. Whenever I travel to NY I will be sure to come to class. I do hope you will consider visiting me. It will be great watching the sun and the moon rise over the ocean with you.
With all my heart, 
Namaste 🙏🏽 Melba 

The New York Yangjia Michuan Taiji group, founded by Robert Politzer in the early 1990’s at the West Side YMCA, has met virtually, and occasionally outdoors, since Covid shut the country down in March of 2020. The Saturday group is now back in session – meeting every Saturday morning @ 8:45 in Central Park. Here is a photo of the hearty group after our second session on May 22nd.

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Please post a comment to your fellow Taiji friends below…

We are now meeting virtually for short Taiji classes on Saturday morning and Monday evenings.

Paul G, one of our students, just sent me this. Speaking of “walking like a cat”!

Zodiac image found here: https://www.writtenchinese.com/legend-chinese-new-year-animals/

On Saturday, December 14 some of the Taiji Class gathered at Legend 72 for a noontime banquet. Good food and good conversation was had! Bob Simon is planning our New Years gathering on Saturday, February 1 and the restaurant wants reservations, so let him know if you are going to be there.

And here is a direct link to some study aids that were posted a few years back – including a video by Nicole Henriod demonstrating the introductory form; the Thirteen Postures.

https://nycymt.com/2014/11/24/yangjia-michuan-taiji-study-aids/

To My Dear Tai Chi Students:

It was deeply touching for me and my family to have trees planted in Israel in honor of our Father who passed at age 97.
You very generous and touching gift and the trees that were planted as a result will warm our hearts for years to come.

Much Love to you all.  

A belated happy year of the Pig to all!  Below is an image from one of our recent banquets, some nice pig stamp images, and a link to T shirts that students and teachers can buy from. I designed the logo based on one our older shirts and it celebrates 25 years of our class in NYC! Robert did a great job of making it easy, just order the size you want from the site, pay for it, and they will be all delivered to Robert who will pass them out…

Here are some images related to our taiji classes and taiji in general. Starting at the top and moving clockwise: March 17, 2018 Saturday class in second floor room at the YMCA, Lunar New Year Stamps, March 10 YMT class banquet on 72nd Street, A taiji cookie hides in plain site, May 26, 2018 Memorial Day Class, A look at the Lincoln Plaza Cinema.

Here are two links that I have consolidated from other pages on this site for students and teachers to use.  The first is to Herve Marest’s video of the Wang Yen-nien Fan Form, which is taught in our YMT class.  The second is to Nicole Henriod’s video of the 13 Postures.  Enjoy!

Here are a few things to celebrate the changing of the seasons.  From to top to bottom are:

Morning Taiji Class on September 22, Somewhere beautiful in Vermont, A Class Taiji Banquet on June 24, Morning Taiji Class on May 20, A Tasty Cookie by Holly Leavy, A Collection of Fish, A Whisker Friendly Catfood Dish.

We had our annual Chinese New Year Lunch (Banquet) for the Yangjia Michuan Taijiquan class on Saturday, January 28. Good conversation and good food were had.

Happy Year of the Rooster to all!