Tai Chi Chuan is suitable for people of any age or level of fitness and is known to be beneficial to physical and mental health and well being. It is proven to improve co-ordination and balance as well as help with joint mobility and flexibility.
What happens in a Tai Chi Class?
A Tai Chi class normally begins with a series of exercises of different types:
- Exercises to warm up and energise the body, which may sometimes include gentle stretching.
- Exercises to relax and calm the mind and body and help you to let go of any burdens you have been carrying around with you and begin the Tai Chi in a state of peaceful self-awareness.
- Qigong (Chi Kung)exercises, both movements and stationary postures, sometimes associated with breath control and visualisations of energy flow around the body.
- Movements and postures to improve balance and co-ordination and help you to develop the Tai Chi sense.
- Sometimes a movement from the form (Tai Chi sequence) is repeated many times in the “warm ups” to allow you to become more familiar with it.
- There may also be breathing exercises and “silk reeling” exercises which enable you to begin to develop a sense of whole-body connection and internal power.
There are currently tai-chi classes available for our members in Otley. The instructor is Colin Hamilton who is qualified to teach a full syllabus of Chinese Internal Martial Arts. Colin is also a qualified Fitness Instructor and Personal Trainer. BSc Hons Physiology, Post Grad Cert Ed.
Our classes have been running since April 2008 and are regularly attended by more than 25 members per session. The sessions are held at Otley Common every Thursday at 1.30 p.m. The cost of the session is £6.00.
To book a place please contact us.
