Teacher Training Method Camp accepting registrations for all skill levels

DANBURY, CONN. — A Tai Chi Teacher Training Method Camp will be offered from July 22 through 27, 2016, by the International Yang Family Tai Chi Chuan Association in partnership with the Institute for Holistic Health Studies at Western Connecticut State University.

Daily sessions of the camp, sponsored by the association’s North American Teacher Training Division, will be held from 9 a.m. to noon and 3 to 5 p.m. daily at the Campus Center on the university’s Westside campus, 43 Lake Ave. Extension in Danbury. Additional time for practice review will be provided an hour before each morning class and during the lunch break.

Camp registration is open to all skill levels including teachers, beginners and advanced students of Tai Chi. The registration fee is $600, with a 20 percent discount available for WCSU students with valid ID. Registration inquiries should be directed to Mari Lewis, head director of the IYFTCCA Teacher Training Program, at mari@yangfamilytaichi.com.

As part of the camp, Grand Master Yang Jun will teach Tai Chi Kung and the standard method of the Ten Movement Hand Form. Classes will provide insights into the cultural and philosophical foundations of Tai Chi through instruction in Tai Chi pedagogy, the history of Yang family Tai Chi, anatomy and biomechanics for Tai Chi teachers, and the fundamentals of traditional Chinese medicine and the Five-Element Theory.

Lewis observed that the overall goal of the camp is “to give participants an intensive in-depth understanding of Tai Chi and a standardized method for those interested in becoming Tai Chi instructors.” Participants in the camp may apply in advance to receive formal evaluation for certification to teach Tai Chi; applicants must attend the entire camp and undergo testing at the conclusion of the camp in practical skills, general knowledge and teaching skills based on information covered in the classes.

For additional information about the camp, contact Lewis at mari@yangfamilytaichi.com or IHHS Director Christel Autuori at autuoric@wcsu.edu.

Western Connecticut State University offers outstanding faculty in a range of quality academic programs. Our diverse university community provides students an enriching and supportive environment that takes advantage of the unique cultural offerings of Western Connecticut and New York. Our vision: To be an affordable public university with the characteristics of New England’s best small private universities.