Do you wish to feel relaxed and have a calmer mind? Do you feel stiffness in the joints? If you do, try Tai Chi and feel the difference! Tai Chi is an ancient Chinese health and martial art, based on the principles of relaxation, natural movement, meditation and balance. Its approach is holistic. Internally, it promotes natural deep breathing, mental calmness and better circulation. The practice of Tai Chi affects the nervous system, developing a state of tranquillity which allows your body to re-establish balance, leaving you feeling refreshed and ready to face the day. This will naturally im ..read more

As a health art, Tai Chi is based on the principles of relaxation, natural movement, meditation and balance. Its approach is holistic. Internally, it promotes natural deep breathing, mental calmness and better circulation. The large circular movements of the Hun Yuan Tai Chi have a calming effect on the nervous system. This enables you to experience contentment, inner peace and a feeling of well-being which carries the day. Externally, the practice of Tai Chi benefits the joints, sinews and muscles. The circular movements strengthen the connective tissues and improve the secretion of synovial ..read more

Tai Chi is the way to perfect relaxation. It can enhance activity in the areas of the brain associated with happiness and compassion. When the mind and body are relaxed, endorphins (the body’s natural feel good chemicals) are released, boosting the practitioner’s mood. Tai Chi has also been proven to enhance the functioning of the immune system. No wonder Tai Chi practitioners are healthier, happier, and have a sense of centredness and well being. People from all walks of life, from students to parents to executives to bus drivers, turn to Tai Chi to relieve stress and experience a feeling of ..read more

The Bang (Stick) Gave Me Back the Full Use of My Right Hand When Mark started classes with the Academy, he wondered why we did warm-ups, the Chan Si Gong (Silk Reeling exercises) and Qigong.  He had done a couple of years with a different Tai Chi group some years before, and they spent the whole class learning the form.  The contrast at first was a little frustrating. “I thought, ‘Why can’t we get on with it instead of wasting all this time on this extra stuff?’ ” Now he understands.  In fact, it didn’t take long, perhaps a couple of weeks, for him to realise the importance and ..read more

Elizabeth has always been interested in Eastern philosophies. She began learning yoga in 1968, a practice which she continued until 2011 with a break of just a few years for health reasons. Tai Chi wasn’t available in Canberra in the early days but it was something she’d be been interested in exploring for some time. So when, in 2000, the Tai Chi Academy opened classes very close to her home, Elizabeth took advantage of the opportunity. “I’m not a believer in signs as such but it did seem to be the right time for me to start.” A major health issue intervened in 2002 and it wasn’t until 2003 th ..read more

– interviewed by Instructor Lis About fifteen years ago Beth watched a Tai Chi demonstration outside the supermarket in Queanbeyan’s Riverside Plaza. The Academy was promoting new term classes to the Thursday night shoppers, dodging trolleys of groceries and straggling families while doing the form. The demonstration inspired Beth to join a class. She already knew about Tai Chi and had participated in lessons some years before when living in Sydney. After about a year, life became very hectic and she decided to discontinue classes to concentrate on work and family. She rejoined the Tai Chi Aca ..read more

Perseverance with Tai Chi brings Great Rewards – interviewed by Instructor Lis Eight or nine years ago, a group of Mary’s friends decided a weekly dinner out would be a good idea. Someone suggested they do a Tai Chi class first and then go on to a restaurant. So, the foursome signed up at Dickson. For two terms, they went to Tai Chi, followed by dinner in Woolley Street. As they advanced, unfortunately, the class time altered to 7.30pm. Dinner was under threat! Mary’s three friends dropped out of Tai Chi, but she continued on to complete the traditional Yang form. What made her continue alone ..read more

– interviewed by Instructor Lis Balance is one of the basic concepts of Tai Chi — not only the ability to stand on one leg without falling over but also achieving equilibrium in life, both physically and emotionally. David enjoys his life. “I have a nice balance. I have my family, voluntary commitments, community activities and my Tai Chi class.” Reaching this happy state hasn’t been all plain sailing. He suffers from a muscular disease. Back in the early 1990s, David was working in Queensland for the Customs Department. The Staff Psychologist at his place of employment suggested Chinese herba ..read more

– interviewed by Instructor Lis (March 2007) In January 2001, Aileen aged 46, picked up a Tai Chi Academy flyer at her hairdresser’s. She looked at it and thought, “This is something I’ll do when I’m older.” But when she showed the pamphlet to her family, they said, “No, go now.” So she did. Chinese culture and philosophy had always interested her. While Aileen was in China in 1980, she stayed at the well-known, old European style Peace Hotel in Shanghai. From her window, she had seen people practising Tai Chi on the Bund and had been fascinated. When she came along to her first class, twenty ..read more

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