Tai Chi & Qigong
"The secret is to let go, have trust and give up the notion that we must work hard for things to happen."
Wolfe Lowenthal
The holistic development of body, mind and energy, and the interplay between them, form the cornerstones of Tai Chi and Qigong. Training in awareness and the teaching of the fundamental principles of Tai Chi lead to a free flow of energy. This is essential for health, well-being and the internal martial arts. In this way, one can experience how strength can arise from relaxation.
Experiencing and deepening one’s understanding of the fundamental principles of Tai Chi and Qigong lies at the heart of these arts: being balanced, grounded, relaxed, moving from the centre, and feeling connected within the body and with the mind. What you learn can be integrated into your daily life after just a short time.
Aims of the class
• Inner calm
• Heightened awareness
• Openness to the life energy Qi and its cultivation
• Effortless, mindful and natural movement/posture
• Harmonious interaction between body, mind and energy
• General well-being
The Difference Between Tai Chi and Qigong
Both disciplines are based on the same holistic principles. Qigong, which translates as ‘working with qi’, consists of sequences of movements designed primarily to promote health. There are many different types and sequences of Qigong, ranging from relaxing to invigorating.
Tai Chi, on the other hand, is an internal self-defence martial art that involves longer sequences of movements as well as partner work. Qigong is always taught in my Tai Chi classes.
Jonas Althaus
Background
I am a movement artist, performer and juggler. During my training in movement theatre (Scuola Dimitri, 2001–2004), I learnt the short form of Yang-style Tai Chi Chuan under Jean-Martin Roy. I subsequently built on what I had learnt through self-study.
Between 2011 and 2015, I studied the Yang-style long form at the ITCCA (International Tai Chi Chuan Association) under various teachers, including Master Chu King-Hung, Guido Ernst and Louis Mortelecque. In 2014, I was granted teaching certification by Master Chu.
In 2015, I began taking private lessons with Beat Hänsli, who introduced me to new aspects of natural movement and Tai Chi Chuan. I furthered my knowledge by attending various Tai Chi seminars and festivals, as well as taking one-to-one lessons with different teachers.
2020: Certified as a Tai Chi instructor by the Swiss Society for Qi Gong and Taiji.
2023 to present, private student of Sifu Torben Bremann, who is certifying me as a teacher. With him, I am primarily learning Yang style according to Sifu Sam Tam, as well as elements from Master Huang’s system, Chen style and Qi Gong (Soring Crane, Hunyuan, Emei, Baduanjin and others).
For more information about my other work as a performer, juggler and circus instructor: www.jonasalthaus.net
What I teach
The main focus is on Sam Tam’s Tai Chi system, but this is supplemented by other styles and systems such as Master Huang’s, the Chen style, and a wide variety of Qigong sequences (Flying Crane, Hunyuan, Emei, Baduanjin and others).
See Curriculum
Distinctive features of Master Sam Tam’s Tai Chi: This style is very light – with minimal exertion, the focus is on allowing the Qi to sink only as far as the Dantian and not into the ground. In this form, there are clear, sweeping shifts of weight that result in great mobility within the space. Furthermore, the movements are linked by a single flow of Qi, resulting in an effective form of Tai Chi.
Master Sam Tam is a Chinese man living in Canada. He has devoted his entire life to the study of martial arts (Eagle Claw (Lau Fat Mang), Yiquan (Han Xingyuan, Yu Pengxi), Taijiquan (Zhang Xiang Wu, Qi Jiangtao)) and many others. Drawing on his experience, he has developed his own Taiji system.
