No matter what your age or physical ability I believe you can practise Tai Chi and feel its benefits.
Initially, these are usually a calmer mind and less muscle tension, leading to greater movement awareness, improved balance and often reduced discomfort.
It’s slow pace and graceful movement counteract our busy scheduled lives.
It helps to ground or earth a person, and establish fuller slower breathing.
With time and repetition, positive health changes happen as the body systems are brought into internal balance or homeostasis.
This process engages the parasympathetic nervous system, nicknamed the rest and digest system.
Thus slowing the heart rate and improving digestion.
This enables the body to recover from heightened physical and metabolic activity.
Although Tai Chi has its origins in ancient China, it is relevant for people today.
The philosophy of Tai Chi is many thousands of years old.
At the time of the Yellow Emperor, 2500BC, the Daoist monks were trying to make sense of the world around them, and realised that everything in the natural world could be described as having a variable mix of two opposing yet harmonious forces, yin and yang. Examples of yin include dark, soft, receptive and of yang, light, hard and issuing.
Tai Chi Ch’aun is the full name for the movement based on this philosophy of yin and yang. It is a martial art for self-defence and a meditative movement for mind and body health.
“This exercise will lead many practitioners to health, happiness and longevity. The defence is secondary.”
Grandmaster Chang San-feng
Classes start on 12 September 2023
Beginners Classes
| Tuesdays | 9.15-10.00 am | At OCRA’s Pavilion in the Park, Okehampton |
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Starts 26 September 2023. Term ends on 12 December. Half term break on 24 October. £55.00
For New Beginners who wish to try Tai Chi for the first time.
Discover the basics ideas and principles of Tai Chi. All the movements can be carried out without over-exerting the body, as they are slow and harmonious. You explore alignment and balance whilst learning new steps and postures each week. Over the 10 weeks, these will build into a continuous flowing pattern. As you play with this you develop an increasing awareness of breathing and focus which brings calm to both body and mind. It is the start of the Chen Man Ching 37 step short form.
There are no age or health restrictions to starting your Tai Chi journey into healthy movement and mindful meditation. However, if you have complex health issues please chat with me. Booking essential for all please call 07889 532982.
| Tuesdays | 10.15-11.30 am | At OCRA’s Pavilion in the Park, Okehampton |
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Starts 12 September 2023. Term ends on 12 December. Half term break on 24 October. £91.20
Ongoing exploration of Tai Chi form for existing students.
Classes start on 12 September 2023
Tai Chi for those with Long-Term Neurological Health Conditions
| Whitchurch Village Hall, Tavistock | Tuesdays 12.45-13.45 pm |
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New term starts on 12 September and ends on 12 December. Half term break on 24 October. £120
Please ring me on 07889 532982 if you are interested in joining us.
Perhaps you have a long term disorder that limits your mobility, like Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson’s, Post-Polio Syndrome or Stroke but you’d like to exercise a bit more.
Come and join with others who understand what living with a long term health issue is like.
We play with alignment and balance, breath, spirit and release of tension.
Sometimes with music, sometimes without.
We are a happy group of men & women who enjoy getting together and moving.
We stand as much as we can & sit whenever we need to.
We all have good and not such good days, but as a group we recognise this and we are friendly and supportive of each other.
Read Dartmoor Links article about this class at https://dartmoorlinks.co.uk/lifestyle/health/tai-chi-for-long-term-neurological-conditions/
Tai Chi at The Manor House Hotel, Okehampton
If you are staying at the hotel you will have the opportunity to try Tai Chi as I usually teach a couple of classes a week.The hour classes are fun and achievable.
My aim is to give you a basic concept of Tai Chi and to spark your interest so that you join a class near your hometown.
My teaching ethos
We aim to have fun, to move, to laugh, to be serious and focused, to relax, to breathe, to be quiet, to be reflective, to be engaged, to be human.
We hope you will decide to come along and try a class. Bring something special, bring yourself!