Welcome to Tai Chi Andy
Welcome to Tai Chi Andy
Tai Chi Classes across East Devon
Where to start?
Where to start?
Like most things it's best to start at the beginning. There are fundamental principles of movement and posture in Tai Chi which will almost certainly be new to you if you are new to Tai Chi. Along with (and through) learning the Warm-Up exercises, beginning to learn to move in this new way is the focus in the first few lessons. Without awareness of these principles, the moves, and more particularly the way we move, will not make so much sense and learning new movements will be more challenging (than needs be) as a result. So, unless you have previously experienced Tai Chi we strongly recommend you join a Beginners class.
After the first few weeks we are ready to begin the journey of learning the Form (see below).
What to wear?
What to wear?
Loose-fitting clothes you can easily and comfortably move in - 3-piece suits, pencil skirts and jeans are not recommended. Depending on the weather, layers may be a good idea as your temperature may vary throughout the class.
Tai Chi is often done bare-foot or in non-slippy socks or, alternatively, in the flatest of shoes (such as cheap gym or deck shoes), in order to promote a natural posture. Even modern-day trainers tend to have too much cushioning and heel - stilettos and 1970's platforms are definitely out!
Classes
Classes
Indoor classes are 75 minutes long. Summer Outdoor classes for established students are 50 minutes. Please see Fees and Course Dates for more info about these)
A class normally consists of:
Warm-up – Various exercises to relax and loosen. Learning and/or reminding ourselves of the basic fundamentals of Tai Chi movement and posture. Some practice of specific aspects or moves in Tai Chi. (After the first few weeks) practicing and learning more about the previously learned moves of the Form, before an introduction to the next movements to be learned.
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The Form
The Form
There are several different Tai Chi Forms (derived from the family names of the Ancient Chinese Dynasties who had their own styles). There are traditional Long Forms and more recent Short Forms.
Our style is the YANG STYLE LONG FORM
'Yang’ is the name of the founder of our Form and (slightly confusingly) nothing to with Yin and Yang, which we also learn about! The Form is a sequence of movements - like a choreographed dance - designed to test, practice, enjoy and improve our Tai Chi. As well as learning the Warm-Up and first moves of the Form, Beginners and Part 1 students will be introduced to various aspects of Tai Chi (such as the history, principles, applications, etc) with handouts to take away (and study, if you are inclined).
In Beginners classes and Part 1 classes there is always a break part way through the class - to rest feet and minds. As we progress and get stronger and the movements become more natural we tend to spend more time on our feet, keen to practice and learn more or the next thing. Though, sometimes we still decide, as a class, to have a break anyway!
After we have learned all the moves of the 3 Parts of the Form, there will be a period of re-cap and refinement in a Whole Form class. Following which we enter a new stage - increasingly translating what we have learnt to do physically into 'Meditation in Movement' as the deeper mysterious layers to Tai Chi are revealed. What are they? They wouldn't be mysterious if i told you! You'll have to come along and find out!
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