Drop In Classes

Balance, Stability, and Dance

Cost is $15/class or a 10 class pack can be purchased for $130.

Mondays

Barre Fusion

Barre Fusion is a high energy low impact practice that shapes, sculpts, and tones the body like a dancer. This class is designed to make fitness feel beautiful! Focus is on ballet technique and creative movements with light cardio, and experience a full body workout in just 1 hour. This class is for all levels. Bring a yoga mat + water.

Movement Barre is held on Monday mornings from 9:30-10:30 and is taught by Emily

*Starts 6/19

Beginning Yang Tai Chi and Qigong

Class includes Qigong warm up techniques such as shaking, tapping and vocalizing. We will then practice a Qigong form such as the Five Treasures. Following that we will play with Tai Chi basic techniques such as weight shifting, stepping, opening and closing, continuous movement. To finish the class we will practice Yang Style Tai Chi, beginning with Yang 10 and progressing to longer forms.

Beginning Yang Tai Chi classes are held on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 11:30 - 12:30 and are taught by Susan

Tuesdays

Medical Qigong

Medical Qigong class includes the original Qigong sets, Five Animal Frolics, the Eight Silk Brocades, and QuanYin Qigong. Lara is a certified acupuncturist and the founder of Lutea Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine here in Asheville. She has studied under Jeffrey Yuen, an 88th generation Daoist priest. This class is great for all ages and ability levels.

Qigong exercises are a series of movements that were created to help promote the natural flow of Chi in the body and comes from Ancient China. Some of the benefits from regular Qigong practice include improved energy, vitality, bone density, strength, flexibility, balance, coordination, and longevity, reducing blood pressure, cancer support, thyroid issues, back pain, arthritis, and more.

Qigong is a system of coordinated body-posture and movement, breathing, and meditation used for the purposes of health, spirituality, and martial-arts training. With roots in Chinese medicine, philosophy, and martial arts, qigong is traditionally viewed by the Chinese and throughout Asia as a practice to cultivate and balance Qi or Chi, which roughly translates to “Life Energy”.

Medical Qigong is held on Tuesdays from 9-10am and taught by Lara.

Nia Dance

Nia is a sensory-based movement practice that draws from martial arts, dance arts and healing arts. It empowers people of all shapes and sizes by connecting the body, mind, emotions and spirit. Classes are taken barefoot to soul-stirring music in more than 45 countries.

Nia draws from Tai Chi, Tae Kwon Do, Aikido, jazz dance, modern dance, Duncan dance, yoga, Alexander Technique and Teachings of Moshe Feldenkrais. Every class offers a unique combination of 52 moves that correspond with the main areas of the body: the base, the core and the upper extremities

Through a fusion of martial arts, dance arts, and healing arts, Nia brings the body, mind, emotions, and spirit to optimal health through music, movement, and self expression.  Nia connects us to the wisdom of the body through the sensations of comfort, pleasure, and ease.  Each class is a blend of fun choreography, freedance, Floorplay, and your own personal movement creativity.  Non-intimidating, effective, kind to bones and joints, dynamic movement, sweaty fun!

Taught by Annie on Tuesdays from 10:30 - 11:30 & Thursdays from 9:30 - 10:30am - $15/class

Wednesdays

Tai Chi Balance

In our Balance Class we take things slowly. We are working on improving our balance through exercises that help you to think with your feet while strengthening your balance muscles that help to keep you stable. We work on intentional walking and movement while focusing on how our weight shifts through the feet and legs during motion. This class is also great to help get creaky joints moving and to gain awareness of how we hold ourselves. Alignment is a major focus to help protect the knees and heal the body. Falling down is one of the biggest risks to health as we age. This is because of two reasons. The first being the physical damage that can occur during a fall. The other is the psychological damage that can happen after a fall. If we become hesitant about getting up and moving about, then we start to get less and less physical exercise. This can result in an even greater lack of balance that leads to more falls as well as weaker immune system that can lead to more frequent illness.

Taught by Bonner from 11:30 - 12:30

Tai Chi Fan

The Tai Chi Fan class includes a short Flying Rainbow Single Fan form, partner work showing the martial application of the fans when they are used as a weapon and Flying Rainbow Double Fan form.

The Fan forms include movements from Yang, Chen and Sun styles of Tai Chi. Videos are available if you wish to practice at home. 

Fans will be provided for class if you don't have your own and if you want to purchase a pair for yourself they are reasonably and easily available online.

As we practice the forms we focus on the Tai Chi principles.   There are opportunities coming up to join in activities for Chinese New Year celebrations. 

Beginners are welcome!

Tai Chi Fan is taught by Liz on Wednesdays from 1-2*

*Begins 7/12

Thursdays

Nia Dance

Nia is a sensory-based movement practice that draws from martial arts, dance arts and healing arts. It empowers people of all shapes and sizes by connecting the body, mind, emotions and spirit. Classes are taken barefoot to soul-stirring music in more than 45 countries.

Nia draws from Tai Chi, Tae Kwon Do, Aikido, jazz dance, modern dance, Duncan dance, yoga, Alexander Technique and Teachings of Moshe Feldenkrais. Every class offers a unique combination of 52 moves that correspond with the main areas of the body: the base, the core and the upper extremities

Through a fusion of martial arts, dance arts, and healing arts, Nia brings the body, mind, emotions, and spirit to optimal health through music, movement, and self expression.  Nia connects us to the wisdom of the body through the sensations of comfort, pleasure, and ease.  Each class is a blend of fun choreography, freedance, Floorplay, and your own personal movement creativity.  Non-intimidating, effective, kind to bones and joints, dynamic movement, sweaty fun!

Taught by Annie on Tuesdays from 10:30 - 11:30 & Thursdays from 9:30 - 10:30am - $15/class

Beginning Yang Tai Chi and Qigong

Class includes Qigong warm up techniques such as shaking, tapping and vocalizing. We will then practice a Qigong form such as the Five Treasures. Following that we will play with Tai Chi basic techniques such as weight shifting, stepping, opening and closing, continuous movement. To finish the class we will practice Yang Style Tai Chi, beginning with Yang 10 and progressing to longer forms.

Beginning Yang Tai Chi classes are held on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 11:30 - 12:30 and are taught by Susan

Fridays

Qigong Flow

Qigong is the modern name for the Art of Dao (Guiding) and Yin (Leading) the life force energy of Qi. Qi constantly flows through your body and we can enhance this flow with exercises, movements and meditations. Some exercises awaken your body and increase your energy level. Other times you may need something to calm yourself in times of stress. We’ll have fun learning various skills to adapt to your needs.

What happens if you are ill, injured or incapacitated? What can you do? No problem. Dragon Phoenix has mats for floor exercises as well as chairs for sitting Qigong. The class is open to all age groups and fitness levels.

Allen has been teaching Qigong, Yoga and exercise professionally for over forty years.

Qigong Flow is held on Friday mornings from 9:00-10:00 am and taught by Allen - allen@ashevilleqigong.com

Saturdays

TAOIST INTERNAL ALCHEMY: NEIGONG WITHIN QIGONG

Within this class, we will take physical exercise and transform our presence of mind so that it becomes an exercise of Spirit. To approach this stillness within, we will first develop more body awareness to allow for fluid movement within the sinews, organs and tissues. We will activate and expand our Taiji Poles, strengthen and expand our Wei Qi fields and purge and tonify our channels. 

All of this will facilitate the more fluid movement of Qi through the whole body inviting a deeper stillness within our minds. Once our minds are more quiet, we can begin to transcend the Void and get closer to becoming one with the Tao. During this process, we will develop greater mental clarity, emotional calm and vital life force energy. 

Movements will include both dynamic and static stance training. All practices are from genuine lineage of the Dragon Gate sect.

Neigong Within Qigong is taught by Irene on Saturdays from 11 - 12 starting 7/15