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Chicago Tai Chi

5 ★★★★★ 9 Google reviews · Tai chi studio in Chicago, Illinois

Tai chi studio Tai Chi for Arthritis Certified Seniors welcome Beginners welcome Qigong Private lessons Online classes

Certified instruction — reviews and the studio's own info point to a recognized tai chi program or lineage (think Tai Chi for Health / Dr. Paul Lam, the Taoist Tai Chi Society, or a named family-style teacher). If credentials matter to you, ask which program the instructor is certified in and which style they teach.

Plan your first class

  • Tai Chi for Arthritis & fall prevention gentle, joint-friendly classes — often based on the Arthritis Foundation / Dr. Paul Lam program — that may help with balance and stiffness; check the studio's schedule
  • Great for seniors welcoming to older adults, with slow, low-impact movement for balance, mobility and fall prevention
  • Beginners welcome all levels welcome, including total beginners — you don't need to be fit or flexible to start
  • Qigong & breathing qigong and breathing practice — gentle "moving meditation" — taught alongside the tai chi form
  • Private lessons one-on-one lessons available — a focused way to learn the form at your own pace; ask about availability and rates
  • Online & Zoom classes live online or Zoom classes you can follow along with from home
  • Free / donation / in the park free, donation-based, or outdoor park classes — a low-cost way to try tai chi; confirm times on their site
  • Today see hours ·
  • Website & schedule chicagotaichi.org — see the live class schedule and book
  • Phone (312) 203-3557

Hours

Monday 10 AM–7 PM
Tuesday 10 AM–7 PM
Wednesday 10 AM–7 PM
Thursday 10 AM–7 PM
Friday 10 AM–4 PM
Saturday 9 AM–1 PM
Sunday Closed

Hours shift for holidays, workshops, and seasonal outdoor sessions — worth a quick check before a special trip, and class times can differ from the studio's front-desk hours.

The classes they run

Tai chi and qigong classes on the schedule at Chicago Tai Chi, drawn from students' own reviews and the studio's info — not guessed from the sign out front.

🌱 Beginners 4 mentions

“Chris embodies everything you could want in a teacher: he is incredibly thorough, breaking down movements so they are easy to understand for all levels.”

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🌬️ Qigong 6 mentions

“Chris Cinnamon is an excellent instructor for anyone new to Tai Chi and Qi Gong as well as practitioners who have a lot of experience.”

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👤 Private Lessons

“He offers a variety of Tai Chi and Qigong classes, private instruction, and corporate programs.”

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🔄 All Levels 3 mentions

“Chris embodies everything you could want in a teacher: he is incredibly thorough, breaking down movements so they are easy to understand for all levels.”

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Styles taught here

Tai chi grew into several family styles. Here's the lineage students mention learning at Chicago Tai Chi — mined from their reviews and the studio's own info.

Styles are mined from reviews and the studio's own info — they show what students mention learning, not a formal guarantee of the current timetable. If you specifically want a certain style, confirm the schedule with the studio.

What students say

The things reviewers bring up again and again across 9 Google reviews — in their own words.

🧑‍🏫 patient, skilled instructor 2 mentions

“Chris Cinnamon is an excellent instructor for anyone new to Tai Chi and Qi Gong as well as practitioners who have a lot of experience.”

🌱 welcoming to beginners 4 mentions

“Chris embodies everything you could want in a teacher: he is incredibly thorough, breaking down movements so they are easy to understand for all levels.”

🌿 calming, low-stress atmosphere 3 mentions

“It's soft and gentle practices seemed like a good fit for my current physical and mental states.”

🧓 great for seniors & mobility 2 mentions
🏮 authentic, traditional style 3 mentions
⚖️ improved balance & health 3 mentions

“He takes pride in his knowledge of the forms, ability to relate to and to teach others, and in sharing his dedication to the Energy Arts.”

From the reviews

4 and a half years ago I began studying Wu Style Tai Chi and Qigong with Chris Cinnamon at Chicago Tai Chi because at the age of 56 I was suffering from a variety of issues affecting my professional and personal life.

★★★★★ — Rob, Aug 2022

Chicago Tai Chi is everything you could ask for in a Tai Chi school/class. Most of my life here living in the city-limits, I've looked for and tried a few different Tai Chi places - I was always on the quest to find the most legitimate and authentic school around. Lo-and-behold, Chicago Tai Chi is that match.

★★★★★ — Sam, Jun 2020

A life-changing experience! Chris Cinnamon is a phenomenal instructor! If you are curious about Tai Chi or looking for an incredible new class, you must check out Chicago Tai Chi and instructor Chris Cinnamon! I started his classes recently and the experience has been absolutely fantastic.

★★★★★ — Mary, Dec 2025

I’ve practiced Tai Chi on and off for a number of years, and I felt the need to seek out a sifu (instructor) after having been in Chicago for a couple of years. Chris Cinnamon is an excellent instructor for anyone new to Tai Chi and Qi Gong as well as practitioners who have a lot of experience.

★★★★★ — Richard, Jul 2022

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 9 reviews →

New to tai chi? Start at Chicago Tai Chi

Chicago Tai Chi comes up as a beginner-friendly studio, going by its listing and students' reviews. If you've never tried tai chi, that's exactly who a good beginners class is for. A few things worth knowing before your first session. First, you don't need to be fit or flexible to start — the movements are slow and gentle, you set your own pace, and many can be done seated if standing is hard. Second, there's nothing to buy and nothing to keep up with — wear comfortable clothes and flat, flexible shoes, and simply follow along. Third, all ages and abilities really are welcome — ask whether there's a dedicated beginners or all-levels class time so your first session is alongside others who are also starting out. Most studios are happy to let you watch or try a class first, so reach out before you commit.

Check beginner classes on their site

Your first tai chi class at Chicago Tai Chi

Nervous about walking into a tai chi class for the first time? Almost everyone is, and good instructors expect beginners to come through the door. Here's what to know. What to expect: a typical first class is a gentle warm-up, then learning a few slow movements of the form, step by step — no pressure to get it perfect, and you can rest or sit whenever you need to. What to wear: loose, comfortable clothing you can move in, and flat, flexible shoes (some studios practice in socks or bare feet). What to bring: water, and that's about it — there's no equipment to buy. Arrive a few minutes early to say hello to the instructor and mention it's your first class. It comes together faster than you'd think — most people feel far more at ease by their second or third visit.

Tai chi is gentle and low-impact, but it's still exercise, and the health notes here are general information, not medical advice. If you have any injuries or health concerns, mention them to the instructor before class, and check with your doctor before starting a new exercise program.

Where to find Chicago Tai Chi

180 W Washington St Ste 900, Chicago, IL60602

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Tai chi studio Tai Chi for Arthritis Beginners welcome Qigong Private lessons Certified patient, skilled instructorwelcoming to beginnersgreat for seniors & mobility

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Listing verified July 2026 from public business records and student reviews. Something out of date? Report a correction. Teach here or own this studio? Claim your listing — it's free.