Best Tai Chi in
Chicago, Illinois
Yaakov Schy Tai Chi
The slow art of moving well — an ancient practice taught the way it was given: patiently, precisely, and with the breath that carries it.
The Journey
A Practice That Crossed an Ocean
Yaakov didn't set out to become a Tai Chi teacher. He went to rural China — and came home with a practice he has spent the last decade passing on, exactly as it was given to him.
Where the form took root
Seven years in rural China — studying, learning Mandarin by living it, and training every morning under teachers who had practiced for fifty years. Tai Chi there wasn't a class on a schedule; it was woven into the day, corrected with a touch rather than a word.
- Seven years living in rural China
- Daily morning practice with lifelong teachers
- The form passed hand-to-hand, in detail
Carried back, taught faithfully
Back in Chicago, he began teaching — quietly, one student at a time. The Chen-style form, kept intact: not a workout you complete, but a practice you keep through every decade of life.
- Chen-style form, kept whole and unhurried
- Private lessons & small group classes in Chicago
- A decade of teaching, one person at a time
What Is Tai Chi
Developed in the early 1600s — an unhurried answer to modern life.
Tai Chi Chuan is a Chinese internal martial art practiced for its physical health, mental clarity, and meditative depth. It is slow on purpose. Each movement teaches the body to relax under load, the breath to lengthen, and the mind to follow one thing patiently.
Yaakov teaches the Chen style — the original form of Tai Chi, developed in the early 1600s and passed down through generations of lineage holders. It is suited especially to students who want a sustainable, lifelong practice.
Strength comes from alignment and relaxation, not exertion.
The pace gives the nervous system time to learn what the body is doing.
A practice that grows with you — through every decade of life.
What Students Experience
A Practice That Changes How You Move
One of the most thoroughly researched forms of movement in the world — recommended by Harvard Health and studied for decades. The changes are quiet at first, but they reach the whole person: body, breath, and mind.
The Body
Balance, mobility, and quiet strength built from the ground up.
- Steady root on uneven ground
- Hips and shoulders that move freely
- Posture that holds without strain
- Joint health that grows over years
- Up to ~50% lower fall risk in studies of regular practice
The Breath
A breath that's longer, lower, and available when life narrows it.
- The diaphragmatic breath, recovered
- Movement matched to breath
- Calm you can return to
- A nervous system that knows how to settle
- Supports blood pressure, circulation & sleep
The Mind
Attention you can place on purpose — and keep there.
- One slow thing to follow
- Stillness without effort
- A quieter hour, every week
- Focus that carries into daily life
- A practice you can keep into your nineties
In Practice
The Form, Up Close
Moments from Yaakov's own practice — balance, flexibility, and strength, each moving quietly on its own.
Who It's For
Tai Chi Meets You Where You Are
No level of fitness, age, or experience is required to begin — the form adapts. Hover a path to see who it's for.
Older Adults
The single most studied benefit of Tai Chi is improved balance and fall prevention. The form is low-impact, gentle on the joints, and remarkably effective at restoring proprioception, stability, and confidence in movement.
Busy Professionals
Tai Chi is one of the few practices that works on the nervous system directly. For people who live with chronic stress, tight shoulders, and broken sleep, the form offers something more durable than rest — a way back to a settled breath.
Athletes & Movers
Runners, climbers, lifters, dancers — Tai Chi rebuilds the small stabilizers, the breath, and the recovery your sport quietly depletes. It is the off-day practice that makes the on-days better.
Anyone Beginning
No prior experience. No special clothing. No background in martial arts, yoga, or meditation required. The form was made for ordinary people — and so is the class.
The Class Experience
What an Hour With Yaakov Looks Like
Each class follows the same simple shape — the one his teachers used in China, refined over a decade of teaching here.
Arrival & Settling
Quiet stepping, breath, and a gentle warm up — the body arrives before the form begins.
Foundations
Standing posture (站桩), weight shifts, and the mechanics behind every movement. New students learn here; returning students refine.
Partner Work or Application
For those who want it — light push-hands and the martial intention inside the slow form. Always optional, always at your level.
Closing
Standing, breath, and a moment to notice what changed. Most students leave noticeably quieter than they came.
What People Say
In Their Own Words
Anybody interested in either learning Tai Chi or if you just want to learn more about how to exercise for pain relief, Yaakov is the right person to learn what you would never have thought about. Get to know your body and how to properly move. Good for any age young adult to senior age.
Yaakov is an excellent teacher. He is patient with students at different levels, gives personal attention to each person’s needs, and creates a class where everyone can learn and improve at their own pace. I’m seeing tremendous growth in my abilities at a rapid rate, and I really appreciate his thoughtful and attentive teaching style.
I’m enjoying learning the basics of Tai Chi. I think it will benefit me overall in terms of range of motion and balance. It’s also fun. Yaakov is a great instructor. He’s very particular about how we do things, but is also very patient with us learning at our own pace.
I joined class to help build back muscle, increase spine support, and improve posture. Class has helped me to improve my core strength and develop back muscles to help with back pain. Yaakov’s teaching style is very good. He focuses on repetition and individual attention to help correct what I’m doing wrong.
Common Questions
Before You Begin
Do I need any experience to start?
None at all. The Beginner Series is designed for people who have never practiced Tai Chi, martial arts, yoga, or any movement discipline. The form was made for ordinary people, and so is the class.
I'm older / I have an injury / I'm not flexible. Can I still practice?
Almost certainly, yes. Tai Chi is one of the most adaptable forms of movement in existence — it is practiced by people in their nineties, by people in physical therapy, and by people recovering from significant injury. If you can stand and walk, you can practice. If you can't, the form can be adapted to seated work. Talk to Yaakov before your first class and he'll help you decide.
What should I wear?
Wear workout clothes, form-fitting athletic pants, and flat shoes with modest ankle support. Avoid jeans and baggy pants.
How long until I see results?
Posture and joint mobility usually shift within three to four months. The deeper benefits — the ones that change how you move through your whole life — emerge over years. Tai Chi rewards patience.
Is this spiritual or religious?
No. It comes from a combination of kung fu, meridian studies, Chinese medicine, and Chinese nature philosophy. It is taught as a pure physical and mental training without any spiritual framing. Students of every background practice with Yaakov.
Where are classes held?
In a quiet studio space in the Chicago area. The exact address is shared on booking. Private lessons can also be conducted by video for students outside Chicago.
What if I miss a class in the Beginner Series?
Students can catch up in subsequent classes. The series is designed to build modularly so each part will be repeated many times in a few month period. Yaakov is always open for questions and individual guidance during class.
Begin
The first lesson is the hardest.
Everything after is practice.
Reach out to schedule a first session or ask about the next beginner series. No pressure, no commitment — just a conversation.