Bill Banick, T’ai-Chi Ch’uan Teacher, 500 E-RYT

 

Bill Banick is the founder of Long River TaijiTherapeutics and co-founder of BigFaceLove Yoga. His classes are designed to suit the mood and abilities of the students present. Form and flow, dynamic and still, challenging and relaxing, all seeming opposites blend into a harmonious balancing of mind, body and spirit.

 

Bill teaches Taijiquan (or T'ai-Chi) and Kung-Fu. His lineage is Northern Wu Taijiquan and Liu Seong Royal Kung-Fu. Bill's primary teachers are in the tradition are David Dolbear of Syracuse, NY and Liu Chang-Jiang of Beijing, China. He also earned the Rank of Orange Sash in Liu Seong Royal Kung-Fu.  

 

Bill earned an Ayurvedic Yoga Specialist certification from the Himalayan Institute in addition to two separate 500 hour certifications in the Hatha Tantra tradition.  He has studied with Rod Stryker, Alan Finger, Doug Swenson, Rolf Gates and Ana Forrest. His current teachers are Pandit Rajmani Tigunait, Rolf Sovik, Sandy Anderson, Kathryn Templeton and Sue Neufeld.  His 200 YTT was with Kim Valeri of YogaSpirit.

 

Bill instructs individuals and groups of all experience levels and has adapted yoga and T’ai-Chi classes and series to meet the needs of children, autistic and special needs children, Seniors and clients with Multiple Sclerosis (M.S.), Parkinson’s and other challenges.

 

Bill teaches in the traditional style and has adapted forms and techniques for therapeutic uses to help students struggling with physical symptomologies.  The practice has been particularly effective in helping his students with neurological disease and injury, as in early onset Parkinson’s and traumatic brain injury. Many of these clients are referred to Bill by their physicians.

 

Bill was on the staff of New Haven's Cold Spring School, where he worked with students from Pre-school to 6th grade to incorporate Yoga into the school curriculum.  Students learned to apply yoga in their everyday life, using the tools of breath, stillness, and movement as they face challenges and learn to bring in balance and wellbeing. He has also worked at Beecher Road School and various ACES programs.  He co-developed AChievements, a mindfulness program specifically for Wallingford Park and Recreation to work with Children on the Autistic Spectrum.

 

Bill teaches taijiquan and yoga classes at Yale University.  He is a regular instructor for Hamden Adult Education, Woodbridge Recreation Department and Your Community Yoga Center.  He has worked with Hamden Hall Football and Field Hockey teams as well as professional athletes.  He works and consults with Doctors and other Wellness professionals and offers private and group lessons.