LIVE ONLINE WORKSHOP RECORDINGS

Teaching Tai Chi and other forms: a Neuro-developmental and Effort-Shape Perspective  

With Jim Spira

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Most human movement can be described, and improved, through examining and refining neuro-developemental movement patterns, including homologous (sagittal plane), homolateral (vertical plane), and contralateral (horizontal plane) patterns and the way they are functionally integrated by examining the various qualities of movement (Efforts) with respect to spatial intention (Space). To help integrate these fundamental movement patterns, we will explore how each major peripheral joint and central body area can be freed of habit neuromuscular restrictions through practicing counter-rotations, refine fundamental neurodevelopmental movements, and practice basic Tai Chi Chuan movements incorporating Laban Effort-Shape Analysis. The use of Tai Chi movements to incorporate these fundamental movement principles is ideal due to the ability to practice movements in three distinct planes, and then integrate them into diagonals and spirals, similar to most major sports and functional movements. 

This training is intended for physical therapists, movement educators, martial arts instructors, and anyone who wishes to teach optimal movement more effectively, as well as improve their own movement functioning. Students of Laban Movement Analysis and Body-Mind Centering® will be familiar with many of these principles, yet will find the integration of them into Tai Chi informative for teaching and enhancing movement performance. Dr. Spira has previously taught this course as a 300-hour training, yet offers this overview to advanced practitioners who are Registered Somatic Movement Therapists and Educators in a way that is intended to offer additional tools to their teaching repertoire. Attendees need not be practitioners of Tai Chi or other martial arts to benefit from this course. 

Participants will learn: 

• neuromuscular repatterning through a series of counter-rotation movements that help free-up old habit restrictions and help learn more effective ways of moving. 

• a simple yet powerful way to incorporate neurodevelopmental principles for assessing and improving power and flow, balance and coordination, focus and intention into normal movement and sports performance. 

• to integrate specific joint and body movement principles into full body-patterns in relationship to environmental intention through practicing Tai Chi movements, as well as common functional movements common to most sports. 

Jim Spira

PhD, MPH, MSMT

Jim Spira has been studying movement repatterning since 1978, and is Founding Director of the International Movement Therapy Association (now ISMETA). Dr. Spira has taught these methods over the past 30 years to patients with cancer, cardiac illness, MS, Parkinson’s, and other life-threatening illnesses while on staff at Stanford University, Duke University, the University of California San Francisco, and for the Department of Veterans Affairs. He has been greatly influenced by the teachings of Bonnie Cohen, Rudolf Laban, and others.  Dr. Spira has studied and taught Tai Chi since 1980, as well as other martial arts, and is a certified instructor by the World Ranking Martial Arts Association.  He earned graduate degrees in psychology, public health, and education from the University of California, Berkeley, is a licensed psychologist, and currently teaches at the University of California San Francisco School of Medicine. Dr. Spira has a private practice in Berkeley, CA.