Meeting Details
| Frequency | Weekly |
| Time | 9.30 am (beginners) and 10.30 am (improvers) on Friday |
| Duration | 1 hour for each session |
| Location | Castle Street Centre |
| Coordinator | Jane Willis |
What we do
This group began in April 2005, with new intakes in September 2005 and 2007. We play the Cheng Man Ch'ing 'Short Form' Tai Chi sequence - a slow tranquil flow of moving postures in a set sequence that takes around ten minutes. We have around ten to twelve regular members and are starting a new beginners group this September (2008).
Learning Tai Chi is a bit like learning the piano - you need to set aside time to practice daily, even if it's only for ten minutes. Once you have got to the point where you can remember the sequence, then you can enjoy 'playing' the form in different ways. Regular practice of Tai Chi not only helps to keep you flexible and to improve balance and co-ordination, but also relieves stress, bringing calmness and tranquility into our lives.
Each class begins with warm-up exercises which illustrate basic principles of Tai Chi. We then play what we know of the Form together, revise the new posture we learnt the previous week before going on to begin the next posture in the sequence. There is always plenty of time for individual practice and questions. You might like to read the feedback from some members of our current group on their experiences of learning Tai Chi.
There is a DVD and video available for purchase from 'The Rising Dragon School of Tai Chi' which people find really useful for revision - especially if you have missed a session or two.
Reports
August 2008:
Despite what it says in the Autumn 2008 newsletter, there WILL be a new Beginners group starting for Tai Chi on
Fridays, 9.30 to 10.30 at Castle Street Centre. The present group of 'Improvers' will now meet at 10.30 - 11.30.
We begin on Friday September 5th, and for this first session both groups will meet together at 9.30.
'Improvers' will be most welcome to attend the Beginners group whenever they wish (only one 70p for the 2 hour session.)
For more details and to book a place, please ring me or send a message via the Contact Us page.
Jane Willis
July 2008:
Our Tai Chi group is still making excellent progress – we are on the point of completing the Yang style Short Form – a sequence of 77 smooth flowing postures. We are having a month off in August and start back on September 5th. Next term we’ll be learning some new warm-ups, revising the Short Form sequence, and exploring some postures more deeply, revisiting basic principles. If you have played some Tai Chi before and would like to join, you are welcome to visit our group any Friday (9.30 to 11.00 at Castle Street Centre) to see if what we do would suit you.
Jane Willis
March 2008:
Our ‘beginners’ who started in September have made fantastic progress and have now caught up with the main group. The ‘extenders’ will be completing the Short Form in few weeks’ time, and the main group is around ten weeks behind them. Some people who’ve not been able to attend for a while have returned to the group. The great thing now is the spirit of co-operation that exists within the group - we all learn from each other. So if you've done some Tai Chi before - you are welcome to come along.
Jane Willis
November 2007:
A ‘catch-up class’ for complete beginners started this September (2007), at the earlier time of 9.30. Our aim is to use this initial half hour to build up the beginning of the Short Form sequence, so that the beginners reach the point where they can join in fully with the core group.
The class is pretty much full at the moment, and new beginners would find it hard work to catch up, but if you are really keen, or if you have done some Tai Chi before, and would be willing to spend time practicing at home, and would like to join us, please contact Jane Willis.
Jane Willis