More Detail about the Classes

 

Beginners are welcome at all classes. Some are easier than others but the best way to see what suits you is to come along and give it a try.

 

Sunday 11am Tai chi in the Park at Westbourne Gardens, Liskeard. FREE

We do Qigong to warm up , then chen style silk-reeling exercises, followed by practising part of the Laojia form. At the end, we run through the whole form, or at least a long part of it. Beginners can either watch or join in as best they can.

 

Monday 10am Tai chi Chen Style online

Qigong breathing exercises and silk reeling exercises to warm up. Practising parts one, two and three of the Laojia form.

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Monday 11.15am Somatics online

Gentle, slow movements that help release long held tension. We start standing, then lie down for most of the session. Movements are done lying on your back and sides and on your front. The emphasis is on being as comfortable as possible, and moving with care and awareness. You need a mat and some cushions as it's mainly done on the floor. Please see the Somatics page for more details. Recordings of the classes are available.

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Wednesday 10am Qigong Liskerrett Community Centre, Liskeard

All exercises can be adapted for sitting. We do gentle Qigong breathing exercises, the Five Daoist exercises, Bagua short sequences and postures, Shen Jin Ba Gu. We work on one of the "Singing Dragon" sequences for a few weeks at a time and then change to another one. These include: Da Wu, Five Animals, Ba Duan Jin, Yi Jin Jing, Daoyin.  

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Wednesday 11.30am Somatics Liskerrett Centre

We start sitting, do a little standing and walking and then most of the session is done lying on a mat on the floor. Somatics is about turning your focus inward to experience how you move. You make slow, gentle movements that co-ordinate your whole body. We have a different theme each session, such as the "red light reflex", "moving from your centre", "breathing" or focussing on a particular part of the body, such as the "releasing your shoulders", "releasing your back" etc. The emphasis is on moving slowly and with careful attention. Please bring a mat and a cushion.

 

Wednesday 2.30pm Tai chi Chen Style, Upton Cross Village Hall (Linkinhorne Parish Hall)

In this class we study the Laojia long form, starting with silk reeling exercises and then going into detail on a particular sequence of the form. This is one of the more vigorous classes but beginners are welcome to join at any time. After the class we sometimes practise the fan form or Bagua sequences, which you can learn if you want to stay on an extra 20 minutes.

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Wednesday 7.30pm Tai chi Chen Style online

This is one of the more vigorous classes like the one above at Upton Cross, studying all four parts of the Laojia form. But beginners are welcome. You gradually learn the form by piecing it together like a jigsaw. The important thing is to practise. If you feel a bit confused or overwhelmed to begin with that is normal, and no bad thing!

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Thursday 1pm Tai chi Yang Style online

This is the only Yang style class on offer at the moment. Yang style 24 form is the first Tai chi form I learned, way back when I was 30. It's a beautiful, simple form, much shorter than the Chen style Laojia form. So it's ideal for beginners, but equally more experienced Tai chi players are very welcome to learn this lovely form. 

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Saturday 10am once a month, The Zone, Downderry. Qigong and Bagua

Qigong energy exercises to warm up followed by Bagua dragon exercises such as "green dragon serves tea", "dragon plays with a pearl", "rising and coiling dragon". We are learning the 8  "Dragon Palm Change" sequence.   We practise stepping "snake step" and "lion step", and we practise walking in a circle for balance and sense of direction. We hold postures to strengthen. ​Bagua is quite demanding, but everything can be adapted for newcomers and beginners. Many of the movements and exercises can be adapted for sitting down. 

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Saturday 11am once a month on the first Saturday, Space to Move, Plymouth. Somatics

Monthly workshops on the first saturday of the month.

Theme include "red light reflex", "green light reflex", "trauma", "walking."

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Saturday 12.15pm once a month on the first Saturday, Space to Move, Plymouth, Qigong​

Warming up with gentle Qigong exercises that combine breath and movement. Practising some of the dragon sequences from Bagua to open the joints. Practising different types of Tai chi walking. Focussing on one of the "Singing Dragon" series of Qigong, incluing Five Animals Qigong, Ba Duan Jin, Yi Jin Jing, Da Wu and Daoyin.

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