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The Attaining Softness TaiJiQuan Association

"A bridge between ancient wisdom and modern wellness"

Mindful Movement for Strength, Balance, & Wellbeing

ASTA offers accessible TaiJi-based wellness programs designed to support mobility, posture, calmness, stress, reduction, coordination, and movement confidence for individuals and communities of all backgrounds and experience levels.

ASTA offers TaiJi-based wellness programs for community organizations, senior wellness initiatives, and individuals seeking greater balance, calmness, mobility, and mindful movement in everyday life.

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* (“Tai Chi” is a less-accurate anglicized spelling pronunciation referred to as the Wade Giles transliteration created in the late 1800’s, “TaiJi” is the more correct spelling and pronunciation utilized worldwide today.)

Modern Life Disconnects Us from Movement

Stress, inactivity, poor posture, tension, burnout, anxiety, and physical stagnation affect people across all stages of life.

Over time, many people begin to experience:
- stiffness
-reduced mobility
-mental fatique
-instability
-chronic stress
-movement hesitation
-physical disconnect

ASTA's TaiJi programs are designed to help individuals reconnect with movement, breath, posture, awareness, and calmness in a welcoming and accessible environment.

Our Teaching Team
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Programs for Diverse Communities & Wellness Needs

Seniors

Gentle balance and mobility support.
TaiJi helps older adults improve movement confidence, posture awareness, coordination, and calmness through accessible, low-impact movement practices designed to support healthy aging and independence. Falls are a leading concern in senior care. TaiJi improves balance, coordination, & strength, helping reduce the risk of falls.

Corporate Wellness

Stress reduction and mindful movement for modern workplaces. Programs help employees decompress from mental fatigue, reduce physical tension, improve posture, and reconnect with calm focus in high-stress professional environments.

Community Organizations

Accessible wellness programming for libraries, churches, and local initiatives. ASTA offers welcoming movement experiences that encourage social connection, mindfulness, accessibility, and community wellbeing across diverse populations and age groups.

Wellness Seekers

Mind-body movement for calmness, posture, coordination, & personal growth. Participants explore breathing, posture, movement awareness, and mindful coordination practices that help reduce stress while cultivating greater physical and emotional balance. The flowing movements and focused breathing of TaiJi stimulate the mind, supporting cognitive function and memory.

Healthcare & Recovery Adjacent

Supportive movement environments emphasizing awareness and accessibility. Programs emphasize gentle pacing, adaptability, body awareness, and movement confidence in ways that may complement broader wellness and recovery-oriented lifestyles.

Beginners

No prior experience or athletic background required. Classes are designed to be approachable, non-competitive, and supportive, allowing participants to progress comfortably at their own pace regardless of age, flexibility, or fitness level.

What Participants Experience

Movement

Gentle stepping, posture work, coordinated movement, mobility training, and balance awareness help participants reconnect with their bodies while improving confidence, stability, and overall ease of movement in daily life.

Instructor teaching martial arts forms to dedicated students. DaShiFu Marc Phillip Black and students at the commencement of TaiJi (Tai Chi)

Breath & Awareness

Relaxed breathing and mindful attention help calm the nervous system, reduce mental tension, and encourage greater focus, emotional balance, and present-moment awareness.

Connection

A welcoming environment emphasizing encouragement, personal growth, and supportive participation helps create meaningful social connection while fostering confidence, comfort, and a sense of shared experience.

Potential Benefits of TaiJi Practice

PHYSICAL

 – Balance and coordination

 – Mobility and flexibility

 – Posture awareness

 – Movement confidence

 – Body awareness

 – Relaxation and recovery

MENTAL & EMOTIONAL

 – Stress reduction

 – Calmness and focus

 – Emotional grounding

 – Increased mindfulness

 – Renewed energy

 – Greater self-awareness

A Tradition of Mindful Movement & Awareness

Zhang San Feng, the Founder of TaiJiQuan (Tai Chi Chuan)
  • Rooted in traditional Chinese movement arts, TaiJi emphasizes harmony between:
  • – body
  •  – breath
  •  – awareness
  •  – intention
  •  – movement

ASTA’s approach preserves these traditional principles while making them accessible to modern practitioners from all walks of life.

THe goal is not competition or performance, but greater awareness, balance, calmness, adaptability, and personal wellbeing.

Wellness Programs & Community Partnerships

Corporate Wellness

Workplace stress reduction and mindful movement sessions. Programs help employees decompress from chronic stress, physical tension, and mental fatigue while improving focus, posture, emotional regulation, and overall workplace wellbeing. Ideal for organizations seeking thoughtful, accessible wellness experiences that support healthier and more balanced teams.

Senior Wellness

Balance, posture, and mobility support for healthy aging. Gentle TaiJi-based movement practices help older adults improve movement confidence, coordination, calmness, and body awareness in a safe and welcoming environment. Programs may include standing or seated participation depending on comfort and mobility levels.

Libraries & Community Centers

Accessible public wellness programming. ASTA offers engaging and approachable wellness experiences designed to bring movement, mindfulness, and social connection into community-centered environments. Programs are adaptable for diverse ages, backgrounds, and experience levels..

Churches & Nonprofits

Movement and mindfulness programs for community wellbeing. Programs support stress reduction, calmness, accessibility, and healthy movement while helping organizations create meaningful wellness opportunities for the communities they serve. Instruction emphasizes encouragement, dignity, and inclusivity.

Workshops & Demonstrations

Introductory experiences for events and wellness initiatives. Interactive workshops provide participants with a welcoming introduction to TaiJi, mindful movement, breathing awareness, posture, and balance practices in an engaging and accessible format. Excellent for health fairs, wellness events, and community outreach initiatives.

Private & Small Group Instruction

Tailored wellness and movement sessions. Personalized instruction allows participants to explore movement, posture, breathing, coordination, and awareness practices at an individualized pace and level of comfort. Ideal for those seeking a more focused or customized wellness experience.

About the Instructor

DaShiFu Marc Black has spent nearly 40 years studying and teaching traditional Chinese martial arts and TaiJi. His work emphasizes mindful movement, balance, posture, awareness, calmness, and personal development through accessible and authentic instruction.

  • ASTA programs are designed to help people reconnect with movement in a way that feels:
  • supportive
  •  adaptable
  •  encouraging
  •  practical
  •  deeply human

Programs welcome individuals of varying ages, backgrounds, mobility levels, and experience.

Bring Mindful Movement & Wellness to Your Community

ASTA partners with:

• senior centers

• corporations

• libraries

• wellness organizations

• churches

• nonprofits

• community initiatives

• educational programs

to provide accessible TaiJi-based wellness experiences designed to support balance, calmness, movement confidence, and overall wellbeing.

I'd Like to Learn More
Schedule a Consultation

How to Get Started

Let’s schedule a conversation to discuss how TaiJi can enhance the lives of your residents and support your facility’s goals. Contact us today to learn more and book a complimentary demo session.

Together, we can create a healthier, happier community through the art of TaiJi.

I'd Like to Learn More
Schedule a Consultation

Together, we can create a healthier, happier community through the art of TaiJi.

Client Testimonials

Read Clark S.'s review of Black Mountain Spirit School of Chinese Kung Fu on Yelp
James Swanson
James Swanson
Black Mountain Spirit is an awesome school where you learn self defense as well as self discipline. You meet very friendly people who has been there longer than you or who hasn't but is still willing to work with you and help you out with your practicing. The Shaolin style is a more intense type of style which will help your endurance as well as strength. Tai Chi is a more calmer style that helps you relax your mind whenever you're fighting or just relaxing. Kung Fu is a MUCH better style than Karate since it feels much smoother and gives you a better piece of mind. The price isn't bad at all, its actually the best deal I was able to find. But the instructor is very helpful and is very charismatic and is knowledgeable about everything he does or brings up in a conversation. But they are very polite and friendly and the instructor is very professional.
Dave Garris
Dave Garris
I have been a student at Black Mountain Spirit Kung Fu for four years. It has been an amazing experience. I used to be in the Marines, where i learned Marine Corps Martial Arts. The self defense i am learning at Black Mountain Spirit in terms of practicality and professional instruction far surpasses the system of hand to hand fighting i learned in the Marines. To say that i highly recommend this school is an understatement. Whether its Tai Chi, Shaolin, or BaGua kung fu, you will learn simple yet awesome techniques for street defense and survival. I work in a state correctional facility and the skills that i have gained in learning kung fu at Black Mountain Spirit helps me perform my duties with a certainty and confidence that did not have before. There is no doubt in my mind that i can effectively defend myself while on the job or on the street in a hand to hand, self defense, survival situation. The instructor is waterfall of deep knowledge and incite about fighting with kung fu, he absolutely has a battlefield mindset when it comes to self defense. It doesn't matter what style of kung fu you gravitate to, he can show you how to practically use any technique for fighting. There are no flowery punches or embroidered kicks, you will learn that every movement has a practical purpose from form to fight. The instructor is very knowledgeable of the rich cultural history of kung fu and lore from the land and people where kung fu was first developed and cultivated. Overall the curriculum is excellent, the people are friendly and welcoming, and the price of tuition is most likely going to be the lowest your going to find when compared to many other martial arts schools in the area.
Spencer Whitman
Spencer Whitman
If you are interested in Real Kung Fu, this is the place to be. Period. I've studied at over five schools and visited dozens more across the United States, and He Shan Shen has the highest level of teaching that I have encountered. Since I started learning Tai Chi and Shaolin over eight years ago I have been amazed by the friendly and awesome quality of Marc Black's lessons. Combine this with the crazy low price, and constant willingness of Marc to teach, and you get an amazing kung fu experience.
Ryan Jannak-Huang
Ryan Jannak-Huang
I spent 4 years practicing both Shaolin Kung Fu and TaiJi from Master Black here during my college years. There is no better place to learn authentic, effective martial arts. If you're looking for a school where you're going to learn real Kung Fu, this is it.
Read Jason B.'s review of Black Mountain Spirit School of Chinese Kung Fu on Yelp
Ed Ryan
Ed Ryan
I studied Kung Fu at Black Mountain Spirit all through college and it was a formative experience for me. Sifu Marc Black teaches a rich curriculum of traditional Kung Fu with an emphasis on practical application. This is not a school where aerobics are dressed up as martial arts, but is instead a place where students work hard and learn valuable skills. The studio itself is clean and well-equipped. The front room has full-length mirrors along the entire wall and weapons for students who are studying advanced forms. The back room has rugged and modern training equipment, with changing rooms downstairs. But even setting aside the facilities, Marc Black is a teacher second to none. He is personable and knows how to break complex maneuvers down in a way that anyone can grasp. Even more impressive, he scales his lesson to the skill level of the student. Every time Marc shows you a technique, the feeling is that what you are seeing is easily attainable with just a bit more practice. If you have ever thought about taking a martial art, you owe it to yourself to visit Black Mountain Spirit.
Jesse Bauer
Jesse Bauer
I've been attending Black Mountain Spirit for about four years. The instructor, Marc, teaches Shaolin Kung Fu, Tai Chi and Bagua. I've been taking the Tai Chi and Bagua classes. He's very knowledgeable about the intricacies that make a technique work or fail. What I like about the Tai Chi lessons here is that Marc teaches both the form for health benefits, as well as the martial aspects of the techniques. Sparring night is very open, with people from other styles coming to spar some nights. I find Marc to be professional with his teaching methods and practical with his technique. The price to quality instruction ratio looks great compared to some other schools in the area, and I've attended a few. I would say the best way to get a grasp on what you can expect at this school is to come view an open sparring night and see how amazing the technique looks.
Gloria Williams
Gloria Williams
The only place where my fiance and I feel at home since moving to Pennsylvanian is at Black Mountain Spirit School of Chinese Kung Fu. We are both athletes and find the classes challenging and enjoyable. Mr. Black is a very knowledgeable teacher who understands the applications behind the drills he teaches. My fiance and I look forward to our development as we continue to train at Black Mountain Spirit School of Chinese Kung Fu.
Patrick Juola
Patrick Juola
As a former student of Sifu Black's, I studied with him when he was teaching under a tree on Forbes Avenue. His knowledge of martial arts is superb, especially of applications.
Henry Hansen
Henry Hansen
I went here while I was in college and really enjoyed it. Proper form is emphasized here which really helped me improve. I liked the sparring especially as it was a great way to practice techniques you learned in a more practical setting.
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