SYMPOSIUM OVERVIEW

OUR MISSION
The International Tai Chi Chuan Symposium on Health, Education and Cultural Exchange combines the wisdom of Chinese culture with the precision of modern science. We seek to provide unique insight into Traditional Tai Chi Chuan for Tai Chi practitioners, healthcare professionals, educators and the public. We also seek to promote the understanding and practice of the art as a means to support creative, healthy, and active lifestyles.

FOCUS ON TRADITIONAL TAI CHI CHUAN
Tai Chi Chuan is one of the fastest growing fitness and health maintenance activities in the world today. With a history rich in over 3000 years of Traditional Chinese Medicine and experience, Tai Chi is practiced by millions of people daily for its potential benefits: reduced stress, improved health and longevity, and lifelong vitality and stamina. A growing body of scientific research supports anecdotal claims of health benefits for practitioners of the art. Consequently, Tai Chi is endorsed by a number of health-promoting organizations, which include the Arthritis Foundation, the American Cancer Society, American Heart Association, National Institute of Health and the Mayo Clinic.

The Symposium provides a forum for presenting and discussing the latest research and scientific evidence that examines the use of Traditional Tai Chi Chuan as a means of intervention and prevention for many diseases as well as a means of promoting health and functional well-being. It is also designed to provide networking opportunities for the masters, scientists, instructors, practitioners, educators, and for everyone interested in exploring the full benefits and best practices of Traditional Tai Chi Chuan.

THE VENUE - LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION!
Vanderbilt University is located just five minutes from downtown Nashville, Tennessee, on a gorgeous 330-acre campus that is also a national arboretum. Buildings on the original campus date to its founding in 1873, and the Peabody section of campus has been a registered National Historic Landmark since 1966.

While music is the lifeblood of Nashville, visitors will also find a city of culture and history, of restaurants and live entertainment, of pro sports, tours, shopping, natural beauty and pure Southern charm. Nashville is a place where the past and the future peacefully coexist and build, one on the other, to create a destination that appeals to the interests of every visitor. This city is alive. Visit www.visitmusiccity.com/ for more about the charm and attraction of Nashville, Tennessee.

ACADEMIC SESSIONS AND MASTERS WORKSHOPS
Academic sessions and Masters workshops will be geared toward enhancing both public and professional knowledge and understanding of Traditional Tai Chi Chuan. Each Master will teach a complete short form during a series of workshops on their respective style of Tai Chi Chuan.

Academic sessions will feature credentialed speakers carefully selected for their unique and highly professional level of expertise in the scientific study and examination of Tai Chi and Qigong. The primary goal of the academic sessions is to provide evidence-based information to healthcare professionals, educators and the public about the potential benefits of the art of Tai Chi Chuan.

CLICK ONE OF THE FOLLOWING LINKS FOR DETAILED INFORMATION ON:

SCHEDULE OVERVIEW

DETAILED SYMPOSIUM SCHEDULE

PRE-SYMPOSIUM WORKSHOP 1

PRE-SYMPOSIUM WORKSHOP 2

GRANDMASTER DAILY KEYNOTE ADDRESS AND WORKSHOP SCHEDULE

RESEARCHER AND PRACTITIONER ORAL PRESENTATIONS

RESEARCHER AND PRACTITIONER POSTER PRESENTATION

COST

GROUND TRANSPORTATION
To make arrangements for ground transportation to/from Vanderbilt from the Nashville International Airport (BNA), please visit http://www.inshuttle.com/ to make reservations.  Click on Reservations, look for Campus-Shuttle and enter the required information.  Upon arrival at the Nashville airport, go to kiosk located by Baggage Claim and pick up the phone which automatically rings at In-shuttle's office. Making a reservation and paying by credit card in advance ensures a timely pick-up and drop-off.  Not making a reservation in advance could incur a lengthy wait-time for transportation to the campus.   If you have any questions, please call In-Shuttle Transportation at (615) 255-3519. Office hours are 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. CST, Monday thru Friday.  Dispatchers are available after hours up to 10:00 p.m.

HOTELS IN THE VANDERBILT AREA
Accommodations while attending the Symposium are available either in the Vanderbilt Residence Halls or at one of the local hotels in Nashville. The following local hotels have provided a group rate for the Symposium attendees.

Hampton Inn Vanderbilt West End
1919 West End Avenue 
Nashville, TN  37203
615-329-1144
FAX  615-327-4723
http://www.hamptoninnnashville.com/home_nashville.php

Walking distance to the Commons area is about 0.8 miles.

Room Types: King Study Non-Smoking; Two Double Beds Non Smoking
Room rate: $109.00 per night (room rates are per room, per night, and are subject to applicable taxes)

Reservations: Click here for the Hampton Inn's custom Symposium reservation website.

Or call the hotel direct at 1-888-880-5394 or 1–615-329-1144 and request rooms from the Tai Chi Chuan Symposium group block.  

Cut off Deadline: Reservations must be received by June 4, 2009 to get the group rate. After this date reservations will be accepted on a space a rate available basis only.

Holiday Inn Select
Nashville-Vanderbilt (DWTN)
2613 West End Ave
Nashville, TN 37203 
Hotel Front Desk: 1-615-3274707 | Hotel Fax: 1-615-3278034
1 888 HOLIDAY (888 465 4329)
http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/h/d/sl/1/en/hotel/bnavb

Distance to the Commons area is about 1.3 miles. A hotel shuttle service is available.

Room Types: Run of the House; King - Single/Double Occupancy; Double Double - Triple/Quad Occupancy
Room rate: $119.00 per night (room rates are per room, per night, and are subject to applicable taxes)
Note: This rate includes a full, hot American buffet breakfast.

Reservations: Either call the hotel direct at 1-877-327-4707 or 1–615-327-4707 and request rooms for the Vanderbilt University special rate or visit the hotel website provided above to reserve a room on-line. 

ARRIVE EARLY/STAY LATE
Tour Tennessee
During check-in, a member of the Nashville Convention and Visitors Bureau will be available to provide information on tours in and around Nashville as well as attraction information for all of Tennessee. Symposium attendees can arrange tours for themselves or for family members that accompany them. Special tours can also be arranged.

July 4th Weekend, 2009
Hailed as one of the best fireworks displays in the nation, the Nashville 4th of July Celebration is a marvel to behold. Symposium attendees can arrive a few days early to participate in the festivities.


On-campus Accommodations and Meals
Vanderbilt University will reserve on-campus space for pre-symposium participants and post-symposium participants to reside in the residence halls and use the dining facility if they want to attend the July 4th Celebration before the Symposium begins or stay to tour the Nashville area after the Symposium ends. Symposium participants can check-in to the on-campus residence hall as early as 1 July and check-out as late as 13 July.

The 2009 Residence Hall and Summer Meal Plan cost information is now available. Vanderbilt policy requires each person staying in a Vanderbilt residence hall to purchase the meal plan for each day they stay on-campus. Click here for details. 

10TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION OF THE INTERNATIONAL YANG FAMILY TAI CHI CHUAN ASSOCIATION
Join us as we celebrate the 10th anniversary of the International Yang Family Tai Chi Chuan Association's role in promoting the theory and technique of Traditional Yang Family Tai Chi Chuan throughout the world.

SYMPOSIUM NEWSLETTER
Sign up for the Symposium Newsletter and get the latest information and announcements on Symposium development and events. By signing up through our CONTACT US page, you will receive notification when each new newsletter is ready to download. All Symposium newsletters can be downloaded in PDF format from the Download page.

Newsletters will be published by the 15th of each month as listed below:

• May 2008 - Available on the Download page. 
• August 2008 - Available on the Download page.
• November 2008 - Available on the Download page.
• February 2009 - Available on the Download page.
• May 2009 - Now available on the Download page.