What is Tai Chi?
Tai Chi originated in China as a martial art underpinned with Chinese spiritual and medicinal theories, but the exact origins are unknown and hotly disputed between the different Tai Chi styles and schools.

What is agreed by most schools are a set of principles on how to hold the body and how to create movements according to classic texts and that through repetition of these movements are born a unique set of sensitivities, skills and benefits which Tai Chi is famous for.

Once these skills are mastered through empty handed solo practice, students can progress to more challenging 2-person routines and weapons training in weapons including sword, staff and spear.
Due to the extremely difficult nature of training required in the older styles of Tai Chi, a gradual simplification of Tai Chi has taken place over the past 100 or so years, in some cases being simplified to a point where the movements begin to resemble simple Qigong movements, leading to a lot of confusion among beginners as to what exactly is the difference between Tai Chi and Qigong.

At Central Tai Chi we teach Yang Style Tai Chi and begin by introducing students to the core skills required to learn Tai Chi movements and gradually progress students on to higher level material as their quality of practice increases.
About classes
  • Build on Qigong principles to develop balance, co-ordination, lower body strength and a focused mind.
  • Suitable for beginners and those who attend daily classes, the Tuesday Qigong class or have previous Tai Chi experience.
  • Includes warmups, conditioning and Tai Chi movements.

What are FULLY GUIDED classes like?
Fully Guided classes introduce students to the main principles of Tai Chi through a variety of different Tai Chi movements and conditioning exercises. Through aiming to co-ordinate multiple body movement principles at once, students develop sensitivity to internal and external movements and and enjoy higher levels of focus, relaxation and grounding.

What are IN-DEPTH classes like?
In the current 5 Week Course we'll be learn how to move the body according to Tai Chi principles through practices including Silk Reeling and Taiji Jibengong (The Groundwork Routine), out of which come all the benefits of Tai Chi practice.
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Classes begin with warm ups and preparatory movements, getting the mind and body ready for learning a new movement each week. Repetition of these movements during the week is the secret to Tai Chi success!

YOU'RE IN SAFE HANDS!

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Sessions are taught by a fully qualified instructor with over 10 years teaching experience and instructor membership from The Tai Chi Union for Great Britain, and accredited by the Chartered Institute for Management of Sport & Physical Activity, UK Coaching and ​REPs.