Tai Chi Course for Beginners

Learn Tai Chi and how to be active with our sport & fitness short courses in Sydney!

Practising Tai Chi helps with balance, coordination and develops core and leg strength. Tai Chi challenges us to learn through direct experience, harnessing and balance the mind-body connection and enhancing mental function and flexibility. By learning new movements, which are often counter-intuitive to our habitual way of moving, we begin an inner journey towards self-knowledge when learning the practice, an inner harmony, stillness and unity.

In this introductory class in Sydney, students will explore how to release stress, relax the mind and body, to breathe from the abdomen, to open the joints for a greater range of motion, and to develop postural and body awareness through the ancient practice of Tai Chi.

The Chen style of Tai Chi taught in this class is known for its twisting and silk-reeling movements. Our Western understanding of Tai Chi is often limited to it being a form of gentle slow physical exercise with music practised by groups of people in parks. Students are sometimes surprised to discover that it is both a healing and martial art as well.

Learning outcomes

By the end of this Tai Chi course, you should be able to understand the:

• Basic Tai Chi movements of balance, coordination, strength & breathing
• Practice of Tai Chi as a healing art
• Practice of Tai Chi as a martial art
• Potential physical, emotional and health benefits possible when practicing the art form.

Course content

What will be covered in this Tai Chi course?

In this beginners class, students will discover various introductory practices and principles of Tai Chi including grounding, centring, weight differentiation, axis shifting, yin and yang philosophy, soft focus, partner work and weaponry.

The first moves of the 38 Chen form will be taught to give students a feel of "flow" and present the journey of refining our understanding of principles and movement.

Tai Chi as a Healing Art: The philosophy underpinning Tai Chi proposes a mind-body-emotion-spirit connection. Tai Chi is a way to balance and harmonise the different levels of this all-encompassing connection.

Tai Chi as a Martial Art: This means that its primary focus is to learn about the process (the student’s own physical and energetic structure, body mechanics and set-up) rather than an outcome (how to deal with an opponent). Tai Chi is a journey of discovery commences from the inside outwards. In contrast, hard or external martial arts focus on an outcome rather than the process and so the journey begins from the outside inwards.

Once relaxed, students can then discover and enjoy a new way of moving or “flow” where their mind, body, emotions and spirit start to balance and work in harmony together. This promotes the flow of energy and blood circulation throughout the body and results in improved health and feelings of well-being when practised regularly.

With the knowledge gained in this introduction class, students can join the intermediate class. Here, the students delve deeper into discovering more about the principles and philosophy of Tai Chi and start to experience the health benefits that regular practice offers.

Intended audience

Who is this Tai Chi course for?

Tai Chi is low impact and puts minimal stress on muscles and joints, making it generally safe for all ages and fitness levels. In fact, because Tai Chi is a low-impact exercise, it may be especially suitable if you're an older adult who otherwise may not exercise.

Course venue

Rozelle Campus

2A Gordon Street, Rozelle NSW 2039 (corner of Gordon St & Victoria Rd in the grounds of St. Joseph's Church)

Course materials

What to bring to class

• Comfortable, exercise clothing
• A bottle of water
• Small towel (optional)