Best Strength & Fitness in Chicago
Tai Chi movements at a quicker pace, with more reps — for when you want an extra workout.
The Idea
Same form. More burn.
Not everyone comes to Tai Chi for stillness. Some people want to move — to get their heart rate up and break a heavy sweat. This class is for them.
It uses the same Tai Chi movements taught everywhere else, but turns up the pace and the repetitions. The result is a genuine workout that still builds real form, balance, and control underneath the effort.
Best For
- Anyone who wants more of a workout from class
- Students who already like to sweat
- Cross-trainers and athletes adding variety
- Perfect complement to slow practice
Inside a Session
What a session feels like.
A steady climb from warm-up to peak and back down — same Tai Chi shapes, just faster and with more reps.
Joints loosen, breath opens, heart rate starts to lift.
Pace quickens; familiar movements come faster.
More reps, lower stances — this is where you sweat.
A final push that leaves the legs and lungs working.
Slow, deliberate form to bring everything back to calm.
What Changes
What makes it a workout.
Same authentic form underneath — the pace and the volume are what turn it into real conditioning.
Quicker Pace
Movements flow faster, keeping your heart rate elevated from warm-up to cool-down.
More Reps
Sequences repeat more often, building strength and stamina through honest volume.
Real Sweat
Expect to warm up fast and finish genuinely worked — this one earns the shower.
Still Real Tai Chi
Underneath the intensity the form stays honest — you're still training balance and control.
The Payoff
Strong, steady, and conditioned.
Cardio Conditioning
A faster pace turns the form into genuine heart-and-lung work.
Functional Strength
More reps in low, controlled stances build real lower-body and core strength.
Balance Under Load
Holding form while tired is where balance and control actually get strong.
Calm With a Kick
You still leave with the centered feeling Tai Chi is known for — just earned the harder way.
Questions
Common Questions
Do I need Tai Chi experience?
No. The movements are taught as you go. If you're brand new, you'll pick up the form here just as you would in a standard class — only at a livelier pace.
How hard is it?
You set much of the intensity yourself by how deep you sit into each stance and how fully you commit to the reps. It scales from a steady sweat to a serious workout — Yaakov will help you find the right level.
Will I still learn real Tai Chi?
Yes. These are the same movements taught throughout — the form stays authentic. The pace and volume change, not the substance.
Is this cardio or strength?
Both. The quicker pace drives your heart rate up, while the added reps in low stances build strength and stamina. It's a full-body session, not one or the other.
What should I bring?
Workout clothing you can move and sweat in, water, and shoes you feel steady in. Come ready to work.
Begin
A stronger practice starts
with one class.
Send a message to try a session or ask anything about it. Yaakov will reply personally and help you find the right starting point.