Winter 2026 Schedule
January-February 2026
24 Posture - Short Form
Monday Mornings 10-11:15 am
Sid Olufs - Instructor
&
Tuesday Evenings 6:15-7:15 pm
Kat Wood - Instructor
NO CLASS 12/23
Great Class for Beginners
This class focuses on the Standard Tai Chi Chuan 24 Posture Short Form. A wonderful form to learn for beginners looking to start their Tai Chi journey. Helps to develop a basic sense of body-mind awareness, balance, and flow within the Tai Chi movements. Most begin with the Short Form and “graduate” to learning the Long Form after they feel a bit more comfortable with the basics as practiced in the Short Form.
Tuishou (Push Hands)
Monday Evenings 5:30-6:30 pm (Begins 1/5/26)
Jeffrey Daniel - Instructor
In this class we’ll work with a partner to explore the dynamics of energy when you interact with a partner or external forces. Each class we’ll use standing and qigong practices to develop our awareness and sensitivity to qi, as well as, drills and push hands techniques to learn how to dissolve and neutralize our partner’s force. Over the course of the session we’ll investigate specific dissolving techniques using a form called Da Lu, as well as the underlying methods that live inside the forms. The emphasis of this class is on expanding our understanding of Tai Chi’s core concepts and the fundamentals of relaxation and central equilibrium, while also developing the skills of sensitivity and flow. Students of all levels and experience are welcome to attend, however, at least some understanding of the Tai Chi forms and principles will be of much help.
Beginning 108 Posture - Long Form
Tuesday Mornings 10-11:15 am
Sid Olufs - Instructor
This class is for those looking to move from the 24 posture short form into the Long Form. We’ll proceed relatively slowly, focusing on the fundamental principles of Tai Chi Chuan, the basics of stepping, moving from the base and waist, and the general feel of flow through the forms.
If you have further questions, you can contact Callista directly at callista.brown@plu.edu
This offering is somewhat different from our Tai Chi classes. Here is the registration process:
1) If you are paying the monthly fee for classes at the Center, then please register using the registration form to let us know how many people will be there. Your monthly tuition covers the donation.
2) If you do not attend our other classes at the Center, we request that you register so we know how many are attending, and we request a donation per class in an amount of your choosing. You can donate through the website's "Donate to the Center" option, or you can donate by cash or check in person.
Merlino Meditators
Tuesdays 4:45-6 pm
Callista Brown - Instructor
NO CLASSES UNTIL 2026
Each meditation session will include somatic protocols in the lying down meditation position, sitting meditation, and compassion practices. Sometimes we’ll practice walking meditation. Brief dharma talks and discussions will address features of the practice or connect meditation to everyday life. Our primary focus will be on deepening our meditation experience on and off the cushion.
If you are joining a Merlino Meditators session for the first time, please send an email to callista.brown@plu.edu so that we can meet you at the building door at 4:35 pm. That will give us time to help you set up your meditation space. We have blankets available for the lying down posture, and cushions, benches, and chairs on hand for sitting meditation.
All meditation practices are led by Callista Brown, who is trained in the Tibetan Buddhist lineage of Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche, Reginald A. Ray, and Caroline Pfohl. If you are a beginning meditator or practice in a different tradition, you are welcome to join us. All practices are guided.
Tai Chi Movement
Wednesday Mornings 9:30-10:45 am
Bobbi Youtcheff - Instructor
Great Class for Beginners
Tai Chi is best learned with a sense of play! This class’s approach to exploring Tai Chi Movement will include a variety of ways to tap into the body-mind connection through Tai Chi postures and flowing forms. This class is ideal for those with at least some fundamental Tai Chi experience, and for those looking to better develop their balance and cultivate and work with their energy.
The Qigong of Tai Chi
Wednesday Evenings 5:30-6:30 pm (begins 1/7/26)
Jeffrey Daniel - Instructor
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. 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.
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.
*Class starts and ends on time. Bill usually comes early to accommodate anyone with specific questions or issues, or who just wants the extra practice.
Criteria for Participation: Anyone can participate, but those coming in having some acquaintance with Da-Lu or basic push hands will likely benefit most.
The Twelve Energy Dissolves
(Cultivating sensitivity and instinctive awareness by immersive exploration)
Friday mornings 10-11:30 am (begins 1/2/26 and runs until 2/27 with the exception of no class on 2/20)
Bill Mc Cabe - Instructor
The twelve energy dissolves, as a system, are unique to the Tacoma Center and are rooted in remnant traditions from the Ironcrane Gun-Fu program. They address the fundamental need to manage and dissipate incoming energy, which is usually associated with an aggressor, or attack (but not always).
By participating, you will achieve improvement in flow, deeper understanding of the various postures and movements within the form, and will be in a position to progress in push hands.
And ... it will be fun.
Advanced 108 Group Practice Session
108 Posture - Long Form
Saturday Mornings 8:15-9:15 am
Bryan Smith - Instructor Emeritus
Not so much a class as it is a place for those familiar with the Long Form to practice with a group of other practitioners. To begin with, we revisit our traditional drill work and will then proceed into the Long Form itself. We typically make it through the entire form 2 to 3 times with short breaks between each recitation of the form.
Beginning 108 Posture - Long Form
Saturday Mornings 9:30-10:30 am
Bryan Smith - Instructor Emeritus
NO CLASS 12/20 OR 12/27
The theme of the class is: Starting at the Beginning
The focus of the class will be twofold:
1. Developing kinesthetic awarenesses associated with Tai Chi movements and
2. Learning, from the beginning while applying the aforesaid awareness, the
full sequence of movements in the Yang 108 Long Form.
The class will be appropriate for complete beginners as well as for those who
know the physical movements but wish to also work on developing internal awareness.
Starting September 6th, the class will run in 7 week blocks: meeting for 6 weeks and then
taking a "break week" off (although Bryan will be there most of the "break" weeks
for those who just wish to come by for a place to practice and/or chat while
sipping Corina tea or coffee).
Bagua Zhang
Saturday Mornings 10:45-11:45 am
Abrian Curington - Instructor
Baguazhang is one of the three internal Chinese Martial Arts, along with Xingyi and Tai Chi. It blends various fluid movements with stepping patterns performed in a circle, focusing on improving balance in movement and spinal flexibility. Students will learn a blend of stepping fundamentals and natural body alignment while performing patterns of varying complexities, largely from the Jiang Rongqiao family style. Though most Baguazhang practitioners learn another internal martial art before beginning Baguazhang, beginners are welcome.
Tai Chi Basics
Saturday afternoons 12-1 pm
Sid Olufs - Instructor
Great Class for Beginners
Tai chi includes many disciplines of movement that can be used for a more active, healthy, and peaceful life. We will explore several of these.
A tree as great as a man’s embrace springs from a small shoot;
A terrace nine stories high begins with a pile of earth;
A journey of a thousand miles starts under one’s feet.
— Lao Tsu
