Tai Chi and Chi Gong Sessions with Dean

Tai Chi (or Tai Chi Chuan), in its more modern styles, dates back several hundred years, but in its original forms goes back over 1500 years. Chi Gong loosely translates as ‘use your energy (or chi) well’, with roots in Taoism, Buddhism and yoga from India. Along with yoga, Tai Chi and Chi Gong are some of the most popular and widespread exercise systems in the world, practiced in every country for its health benefits, especially popular among older people, but offers so much for all age groups.

Tai Chi and Chi Gong involve gentle stretching and balancing movements, breathing exercises, and movements to strengthen and nourish our ‘chi’ (internal energy). Tai Chi is described as moving meditation. It has evolved and endured because it works and is now recognised in many countries by mainstream medicine and health insurance companies as a reputable exercise and healing system, offering proven stress and anxiety management, nervous system regulation, improving blood pressure, cardiovascular, bone density and blood sugar disorders, mental health challenges, and highly beneficial for mobility, balance, leg and hip strengthening, and recovery after many injuries and accidents.

Tai Chi and Chi Gong can be practiced anywhere, if you have a little space and fresh air, loose comfortable clothing, in shoes or barefoot, inside or outside in nature, at any age, in almost any condition. Relaxing music often accompanies Tai Chi and Chi Gong sessions, to help with relaxation. People report feeling the benefits of Tai Chi and Chi Gong during and after their first session, because it calms the nervous system, increases oxygen, relaxes the mind, gently warms the muscles and integrates mind and body.

I started martial arts training when I was in my early teens, over 30 years ago, and discovered Tai Chi in my mid teens, attending a weekend workshop through my original karate teacher, and fell in love with it. From that time on, I practiced both hard (external styles) like karate, ninjutsu and others, as well as soft (internal) styles like Tai Chi, Chi Gong and Yoga, having several amazing teachers over the years. These pursuits also introduced me to Buddhism, Taoism and Eastern spiritual traditions, and eventually led to me studying naturopathy and Eastern healing systems like TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine), Ayurveda and more.

I love teaching Tai Chi and Chi Gong, and sharing the benefits of traditional Eastern movement systems. If you are interested in learning more about these systems, I offer an initial session, which explores the origins and inter-workings of Tai Chi and Chi Gong, how it relates to Traditional Chinese Medicine and Taoism, through a full session of stretching, breathing, chi exercises and meditation, followed by a relaxing discussion with green tea. Ongoing sessions or classes can then be negotiated at a lesser cost if you decide to continue learning Tai Chi.

1.5 hour session: $125 in person at my location (a travel fee applies if at your location). I’m available 7 days.

Ongoing sessions or classes can then be negotiated at a lesser cost if you decide to continue learning Tai Chi.

Contact Dean to book or for more info.