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YMAA Western Mass
5 ★★★★★ 16 Google reviews · Tai chi studio in Florence, Massachusetts
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
- 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
- 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 ymaawesternmass.com — see the live class schedule and book
Hours
| Monday | 4–6 PM |
| Tuesday | 10–11 AM |
| Wednesday | Closed |
| Thursday | 4–9:30 PM |
| Friday | 5:30–7 PM |
| Saturday | 9 AM–12 PM |
| Sunday | Closed |
The classes they run
“I found this classic Yang tai chi martial arts school to be exactly what I had been looking for with QiGong, Long Form, coiling and jing drill and partner work.”
Styles taught here
“I found this classic Yang tai chi martial arts school to be exactly what I had been looking for with QiGong, Long Form, coiling and jing drill and partner work.”
“After years of studying a few different styles of Chinese martial arts, it was really important to me to find a taijiquan teacher who understands taiji as a martial art.”
What students say
“Finally I have found a teacher with whom I connect. Jeff is patient, slow with new learners, and simply a delight to work with, as is the group of his long-time, advanced students.”
“The environment is welcoming and supportive and I feel that I can explore the richness of this tradition at my own pace.”
“Jeff Rosen is by far an excellent, patient, and knowledgable teacher of yang style tai chi.”
“With a strong Taekwondo background I was curious how Tai Chi could complement my martial arts practice with its mix of health and healing and close-range martial principles.”
“The environment is welcoming and supportive and I feel that I can explore the richness of this tradition at my own pace.”
“I found this classic Yang tai chi martial arts school to be exactly what I had been looking for with QiGong, Long Form, coiling and jing drill and partner work.”
From the reviews
This is a great school with a lot going for it. After years of studying a few different styles of Chinese martial arts, it was really important to me to find a taijiquan teacher who understands taiji as a martial art. Jeff is great.
This practice group is amazing! Jeff has a very deep working knowledge of Tai Chi and related forms and a rare ability to teach at every level with the same amount of interest and passion. Dvora brings the same qualities to the study of Qigong and the combination is really powerful!
I first met Jeff as an instructor at YMAA Boston circa 2004 during one of Dr. Yang’s weekend Taiji (Tai chi) seminars shortly after I had started Taiji. Jeff is one of the most accessible and perceptive martial arts instructors I’ve had over 34 years of study of various martial arts.
My training at YMAA Western MA began in the fall of 2012 with Jeff Rosen. With a strong Taekwondo background I was curious how Tai Chi could complement my martial arts practice with its mix of health and healing and close-range martial principles.
New to tai chi? Start at YMAA Western Mass
YMAA Western Mass 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.
Your first tai chi class at YMAA Western Mass
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.
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