Tai Chi and Qigong Online

Where can I learn tai chi online?

Start your Tai Chi journey: HERE  OPENS IN A NEW WINDOW 

Hit the pause button, slow down, and find some breathing space.

"Really enjoying the sessions you have created - they are informative and just the right length, with that bit more to think about than in class."

"Love the mirroring teaching method and I also love the text prompts not too many, just right!"

"I really like the text support that flashes up - always exactly when I need it, so I know that somehow you’re working with me. Thanks."

Looking for evidence based tai chi and qigong online taught by a professional educator and a healthcare professional?

Join Phil & Helen with their award winning tai chi and qigong for health and wellness classes. Between them they have over 46 years of indepth experience and teaching practice.

Helen & Phil - Discover Tai Chi

We aim to inspire, teach and empower you to enjoy our evidence based programmes from the comfort of your own home, or anywhere you like.

We have an online portal at our Patreon Page where members gain dedicated access to our exclusive content.

We'll showcase our new evidence based tai chi programme Tai Chi Foundations with a selection of movements from Yang taijiquan based on the most recent research.

Before you know you'll have access to a library of videos and downloads of our favourite qigong/daoyin movements to get you moving anytime.

Helen & Phil - Online Tai Chi

In addition, we'll feature coffee table conversations on the culture and philosophy of tai chi and the associated exercises of daoyin or qigong and their origins in ancient China.

We'll take you on some rather special guided meditations in the great outdoors as a positive approach to help you slow-down, relax and breathe.

You can also join us for our live streams at our Facebook Group @discovertaichi

11:00am every Tuesday and
7:00pm on a Thursday.



If you have any questions please don't hestitate to get in touch. Please do share this post with a family member, a friend or colleague, who you think like this blog post.

We look forward to seeing you online.
Phil & Helen 😊

Wave Hands in Clouds - Yang Tai Chi

We've had a bit of a deep dive over the last few weeks into Wave Hands in Clouds (云手 Yún Shǒu) from Yang style taijiquan.

Yang Chengfu

Inspired by a recent research paper based on this one sequence we've explored some of the components that make this particular Tai Chi sequence the 'mother' movement of all Tai Chi. Within this one movement we encounter the challenge of maintaining postural stability, relaxation, rootedness, balance and coordination.

"During Tai Chi Yunshou exercise, head-and-eye movements, the trunk and limbs movement are synchronous and frequent changes of head-and-body orientation are required. This may result in a better combination of the visual and vestibular systems for balance control."

Xie, G., Rao, T., Lin, L., Lin, Z., Xiao, T., Yang, M., Xu, Y., Fan, J., Lin, S., Wu, J., Feng, X., Li, L., Tao, J. and Chen, L. (2018). Effects of Tai Chi Yunshou exercise on community-based stroke patients: a cluster randomized controlled trial. European Review of Aging and Physical Activity, 15(1).

We have a number of people who expressed an interest in the paper so please do follow the link to read the full text here.

Let us know your thoughts and comments.

Thanks Phil & Helen

Tai Chi - Components of Fitness Part 1

The martial arts of China have a fascinating centuries long history from which modern day Tai Chi for Health springs. Some instructors find it tempting to stick with old ways of teaching without asking, 'Could I teach in a better way?'

Tai Chi Chuan at Kung Fu Corner, Kowloon Park, Hong Kong

Image by Jakub Hałun [CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)]

One of the ways Helen and I think about describing Tai Chi and Qigong to modern audiences stems from the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) the industry standard for health and fitness instruction.

The ACSM uses evidence from research to constantly update and revise best practice when teaching activities to groups or individuals for their health and enjoyment. They describe health and exercise in terms of components. Different types of activity and exercise tend to emphasise particular components.

Let's take a look at those components. They break down into five health-related components and six skills-related components:

Health-Related Components of Physical Fitness 

1. Cardiovascular Endurance
2. Muscular Strength
3. Muscular Endurance
4. Flexibility
5. Body Composition 

Skills-Related Components of Fitness 

1. Speed
2. Power
3. Agility
4. Balance
5. Coordination
6. Reaction Time

So, how do the ACSM's fitness components fit with regular Tai Chi practise?

Research suggests the following health-related fitness components for Tai Chi include:

cardiovascular endurance,
muscular strength,
muscular endurance,
and flexibility; 

and the following skills components of

balance,
coordination,
agility,
and power.

The slow continuous movements of Tai Chi load the hips and legs constantly with the transfer of body weight from stance to stance. This continuous shifting load of body weight from one leg to the other builds strength and muscular endurance and improves agility, balance, and power.

In a similar way to the legs and hips, the shoulder girdle and arms benefit from the slow continuous load and coordinated movements of the extended arms and hands.

With a little regular practise Tai Chi improves range of motion (flexibility) in both the upper and lower limbs. We find participants start to report their increased confidence in their ability to enjoy activities of daily living as they begin to master the movements of their leg and arms along with carrying themselves with improved posture.

Tai Chi in Haikou Peoples Park

Image by Anna Frodesiak [CC0]

Surprisingly, evidence appears to show a marked improvement in cardiovascular endurance with regular practice of Tai Chi as seen on an episode of the BBC series, Trust Me I'm a Doctor.

We can say with some confidence that regular practise of Tai Chi has no reported adverse consequences, and research supports the claim that regular practise of Tai Chi will support people to continue to enjoy a high quality of life into older age.

As instructors and practitioners in the 21st century Helen and I constantly reflect and ask the question of ourselves, 'How can we facilitate the learning and enjoyment of Tai Chi as an accessible activity that inspires confidence in our participants from their very first class?'

As we move into 2020 we continue in our journey to offer people Tai Chi for Health from an evidence based perspective.

We look forward to the New Year and sharing our journey with you.

All the best

Phil & Helen : )

Tai Chi for Health Class - Crossflatts

Pleased to announce our new Tai Chi for Health class at St Aidan's Church Hall, Crossflatts, BD16 2AR. Opening on the 9th December 2019.

Our thirteenth class in the Aire Valley. We aim to offer people in Bingley and Keighley more choice to enjoy their favourite Tai Chi and Qigong classes with us.

Tai Chi for Health - Crossflatts, Bingley.

On Monday 23rd December we will have food and beverages for anyone from any class to join us for a celebration before the Christmas Holidays - starting at 1:30pm to 3:30pm.

Class Details:

Monday's from: 9th December - 1:30pm to 2:30pm.

All classes run on an open and ongoing basis.

First session £3, then £6 per class.

All welcome.

If you think someone you know might like this new class or any of our other classes please do share this blog post with them or on your social media channels.

Phil :)


Photography by Paula Solloway Photography

Tai Chi CPD Workshop for Health Professionals

Image by Paula Solloway

We ran our first full day Continuing Professional Development (CPD) workshop for health professionals on the 8th November at Bingley Community Health Centre.

We felt a little nervous as we had a lot of information and practise to get across in one day. We spent a couple of months reviewing research papers, discussing, writing, and editing lesson plans, and just thinking it through.

We finalised our plan to cover the most recent systematic reviews on the benefits of regular  Tai Chi, recent UK guidelines on best practice with regard to physical activity - that also recommend regular Tai Chi practise, a brief history on the origins Tai Chi, and most importantly, plenty of practise.

We wanted to make sure that the attendees would get the chance to paraphrase Bruce Lee, to not just think about Tai Chi but feel it also.

Phil, Dr. Paul Lam, & Helen

We introduced the twelve attendees to the core movements of the Tai Chi for Arthritis programme created by Dr. Paul Lam, founder of the Tai Chi for Health Institute.

This short program proved perfect for our purposes as it has a good evidence base for its efficacy for improving health and well-being, and as a primary preventative exercise for falls prevention.


At the end of the day, feeling exhausted and elated at the same time, we gathered in the anonymous feedback forms from all the attendees. We felt a little more than blown away faced with the positive reviews.

We'll let the attendees words speak for themselves:

UK Physical Activity Guidelines 2019

Would you recommend this workshop, if so what would you say about it when talking with a colleague?

• "Good evidence base which is important for evidence-based practice. Practical workshop really good." 
• "I would say that this course was not only useful for my patients but useful for myself too."
• "Well presented, friendly atmosphere created Highly enjoyable and worthwhile.  Thanks."
• "Good passionate presenters; good amount of practical elements, thanks!"
• "Informative useful, well-paced, excellent."
• "Very useful techniques/ideas. Interesting new concepts."
• "Evidence-based - Engaging articulate hosts."
• "Very informative good instruction."
• "Enjoyable, learning a new experience. Anybody can do it."
• "Fantastic Knowledge very engaging teaching."
• "Good foundations for something bound to be more popular and relevant in the future of physiotherapy."

What did you find most beneficial?

• "Link of evidence to practice - the scientific basis."
• "Examples that were given of the conditions or presentations that may benefit."
• "Practical element very enjoyable and good pace."
• "Useful techniques/approaches to use in practice and to identify individuals to refer on."
• "Lead by medically framed/evidence-based professionals and constantly related to MSK conditions and biopsychosocial model."
• "Clear concise instructions, good info on background/history. 
• "Really enjoyed the practise and learning the sequences."
• "Practical and scientifically evidence-based." 
• "Measured clear instruction."
• "Ideas for falls patients! The ways moves can be applied to complex needs patients."

Image by Kate Bamber Photography

Anything you would have liked covered that wasn't in the workshop?

• "No."
• "Very thorough content."

We would like to express our appreciation to all the attendees on the day who got into the spirit of things right from the start and remained enthused to the very end.

• "You exceeded expectations!"

Based on the overwhelming feedback we feel inspired to run more CPD workshops for health professionals in the future.

If you would like us to run a dedicated evidence based CPD workshop for you and your colleagues, or you would like to find out more about Dr. Paul Lam's Tai Chi for Health programmes please do get in touch.



T: 07528 959091
E: huntunwellbeing@gmail.com

We look forward to talking with you.

Helen & Philip

Tai Chi - Five Ways to Wellbeing

Tai Chi for Health and the Five Ways to Wellbeing.

Research on Tai Chi and Qigong appears to demonstrate the potential benefits these slow, meditative movements can offer adults and older adults looking to remain active into later life. Participants in our classes and at our workshops regularly report, anecdotally and via our evaluation forms, the benefits they feel after joining one of our classes.

We have found these benefits tend to fall in three themes or groups:

1. Functional Benefits
Being more active, improved balance, better coordination and mobility, feeling stronger, deep sense of relaxation, reduced stress, enjoying higher quality of sleep.

2. Emotional Benefits
Feeling more connected, more confident, sense of authenticity, more resilient, feeling of mastery, a sense of calm, humility, grace and ease, a willingness to take on other activies, a sense of Mindfulness throughout the day.

3. Social Benefits
Becoming more engaged in with others, within their community, as a volunteer, or expressing an interest in assisting or even leading a class, and becoming an accredited instructor too.

Image by Michael Hren

This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license.

Dr. Peter M. Wayne, at Harvard Medical School, talks about the benefits of Tai Chi as being cohesive and integrative. In his book, The Harvard Medical School Guide to Tai Chi, Dr. Wayne describes Tai Chi as having a number of active ingredients beyond the common therapeutic factors normally associated with public health programmes:

'Perhaps what makes Tai Chi so special is that this holistic, multicomponent exercise affects us at physical, psychological, social and philosophical levels. Its multilevel effects are especially important for complex chronic diseases that involve many systems throughout the body…' P. 29

Wayne Peter M. PhD. with Fuerst Mark L. The Harvard Medical School Guide to Tai Chi. Boston: Shambala, Harvard Health Publications; 2013.

We think the active ingredients described by Dr. Wayne fit within the evidence based model for wellbeing by the New Economics Foundation (NEF) called the Five Ways to Wellbeing.

The Five Ways offers people a simple way to take an active role in their health and wellbeing. They include:

Five Ways to Wellbeing

Image source: https://www.mentalhealth.org.nz/home/ways-to-wellbeing/five-ways-to-wellbeing-downloads/

Within our classes and workshops we see the Five Ways to Wellbeing in the following ways:

1. Connect – Joining one of our classes can prove a big step for some people. Our relaxed and warm atmosphere encourages people to form new friendships and develop informal social networks of support. 

2. Be Active – Tai Chi fits perfectly as rewarding activity that people enjoy and keep doing. Participants like to know that good evidence supports the reported benefits. 

3. Take Notice – We introduce people to a key Tai Chi principle called Jing, meaning mental serenity or mindfulness. Fostering a sense of Jing helps people listen to their bodies, listen to others, and take notice of the world around them. 

4. Keep Learning – We use a progressive teaching approach in all our classes and workshops. We offer people just the right amount of challenge to foster a sense of growing mastery as they continue to learn and practise their movement skills. 

5. Give – Within our classes we see people connect with others to offer support both within the class and in ways outside of the classroom too.

Whatever reason you have for joining one of our Tai Chi classes we introduce you to the principles and benefits from your very first class. The Tai Chi for Health programmes and Qigong we teach have many depths for you to explore.

Bring an open mind, a willingness to practise a little at home, and you will soon feel the benefits too.

Please do share this blog post with friends, family, and colleagues if you think they may like to find out more about our evidence based Tai Chi and Qigong programmes.

Why Tai Chi Improves Your Balance?

We have received many reports from our participants - 85% aged 70 and over - saying how their balance has improved after joining one of our classes.

For some time now Helen and I have speculated that the eight core movements of the Tai Chi of Arthritis/Falls Prevention (TCA/FP) programme target some particular muscle groups seen as important in maintaining our balance, especially as we get older.


The eight core movements from Tai Chi for Arthritis/Falls Prevention - Part 1.

Research has shown the TCA/FP programme developed by Australian GP Dr. Paul Lam has proven beneficial in falls prevention as well as promoting improvement in general health and wellbeing:

“The Sydney Central Area Health Promotion study is community based and the world’s largest fall prevention study with 700 subjects. After 16 weeks of Tai Chi (80% doing Tai Chi for Arthritis), the incident of multiple falls was reduced by an incredible 70%.”

Alexander Voukelatos et all, Journal American Geriatrics Society, AUGUST 2007–VOL. 55, NO. 8, A Randomized, Controlled Trial of tai chi for the Prevention of Falls: The Central Sydney tai chi Trial. (NB: 80% of subjects were taught Tai Chi for Arthritis).

We think the benefits of the TCA/FP programme stems from the emphasis on the weight bearing movement from side to side found in the eight core movements. From an anatomical and movement science point of view we describe this side to side movement as happening medio-laterally and in the frontal plane.

Exercise physiologist and exercise scientist, Sean Wilson, in a recent article at his blog Fit Grey Strong has speculated, like us, that the muscles on the outside of the hip (the abductors) and inside leg (adductors) play a significant role in maintaining our balance as we get older. He references some very interesting research into the important role these muscle groups play in maintaining our balance. See below for the references mentioned.

The research suggests that exercise programmes aimed at improving balance and preventing falls could benefit from more emphasis on movements that strengthen these particular muscle groups.

The sequences found within the eight core movements called, Single Whip (to the right and left) and Wave Hands (to the right and left) target these muscles. Both sequences emphasize controlled transfer of weight from side to side, from one leg to the other and back again.

Many of our participants say they can feel how hard their hips muscles work when we practise these movements in our classes.

We aim to support all the programmes we teach with evidence from research, especially in relation to balance and strength in older adults. It seems we may now know a little more about why the TCA/FP programme has performed so well in falls prevention.

If you enjoyed this blog you may like our previous blog post on Keeping strong. As we get older we begin to lose muscle mass, strength and power. Staying strong can help us enjoy a high quality of life and have a positive impact on preventing falls as we get older.

Please do share this blog post with family, friends and colleagues who you think might like to read it.

Research referenced by Sean Wilson at Fit Grey Strong with three bonus papers on Tai Chi and its influence on our gait - 2. 8. & 9.

1.

Daun F, Kibele A. Different strength declines in leg primary movers versus stabilizers across age—Implications for the risk of falls in older adults? PLoS One [Internet]. 2019 Mar 7 [cited 2019 Aug 29];14(3). Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6405087/

2.

Tseng S-C, Liu W, Finley M, McQuade K. Muscle activation profiles about the knee during Tai-Chi stepping movement compared to the normal gait step. Journal of Electromyography and Kinesiology [Internet]. 2007 Jun 1 [cited 2019 Aug 23];17(3):372–80. Available from: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1050641106000083

3.

Inacio M, Creath R, Rogers MW. Low-dose hip abductor-adductor power training improves neuromechanical weight-transfer control during lateral balance recovery in older adults. Clinical Biomechanics [Internet]. 2018 Dec 1 [cited 2019 Aug 19];60:127–33. Available from: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0268003318305199

4.

Inacio M, Creath R, Rogers MW. Effects of aging on hip abductor-adductor neuromuscular and mechanical performance during the weight transfer phase of lateral protective stepping. J Biomech. 2019 03;82:244–50.

5.

Porto JM, Freire Júnior RC, Bocarde L, Fernandes JA, Marques NR, Rodrigues NC, et al. Contribution of hip abductor-adductor muscles on static and dynamic balance of community-dwelling older adults. Aging Clin Exp Res. 2019 May;31(5):621–7.

6.

Takizawa M, Suzuki Y, Kobayashi Y. Adductor magnus is just as much an antigravity muscle around hip joint as gluteus maximus. Annals of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine [Internet]. 2018 Jul 1 [cited 2019 Aug 19];61:e536–7. Available from: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1877065718313241

7.

Mille M-L, Johnson-Hilliard M, Martinez KM, Zhang Y, Edwards BJ, Rogers MW. One step, two steps, three steps more ... Directional vulnerability to falls in community-dwelling older people. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2013 Dec;68(12):1540–8.

8.

Zhu Q, Huang L, Wu X, Wang L, Zhang Y, Fang M, et al. Effects of Tai Ji Quan training on gait kinematics in older Chinese women with knee osteoarthritis: A randomized controlled trial. Journal of Sport and Health Science [Internet]. 2016 Sep 1 [cited 2019 Jul 7];5(3):297–303. Available from: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2095254616000272

9.

Hong Y, Li JX. Biomechanics of Tai Chi: A review. Sports Biomechanics [Internet]. 2007 Sep 1 [cited 2019 Jul 7];6(3):453–64. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1080/14763140701491674

Tai Chi and Qigong Class Silsden

New Tai Chi and Qigong Class Silsden Town Hall

We look forward to starting our newest Tai Chi and Qigong class on 22nd August 2019 at Silsden Town Hall.

Classes will run every Thursday 1:30 pm - 2:30 pm

Your first class is half price and then £6 per week on a pay as you go basis with no need to book.

We offer a warm welcome to everyone, especially those just starting. No special clothing or equipment needed. Just wear comfortable clothing, flat-soled shoes and a smile! Please bring a drink in warm weather.

Silsden Town Hall offers a fantastic accessible venue with a large ground floor room with lots of natural light. It has easily accessible toilets and the Community Library in the room next door. You will find a car park across the road which is only 60p an hour.

Why Try Tai Chi and Qigong?

Our regular participants tell us how they feel at the end of our classes. They say they have better balance and feel stronger, meaning they can do jobs in the garden more easily, enjoy walks with family and friends, and feel more independent.

Tai Chi and Qigong offer people an ideal exercise that goes easy on joints while strengthening muscles and improving balance. Many of our participants tell us how much better they sleep after a class and how it has helped reduce blood pressure.

As an accessible exercise for everyone tai chi and qigong has featured in research (including a recent feature in the BBC TV series, Trust Me I’m a Doctor) demonstrating its benefits for improved health and wellbeing.

If you have a serious health condition you may wish to contact your G.P or specialist first to check if you are ready to start an exercise class.

If you think a family member, friend or colleague would like to know more about us and our classes please do share this blog page with them.

Helen and Philip look forward to seeing you.

For more details phone 07528 959091, or

Message us on Facebook at: m.me/Huntun.taichi

Tai Chi at Cliffe Castle, Keighley

Such a pleasure to announce our new outdoor Tai Chi for Health class at Cliffe Castle Park, Keighley.

Classes start from Monday 20th May 2019 - 1:30 pm to 2:30 pm.
First two classes only £2.50. Then £5.50 on a pay as you go basis.
Meet outside the cafe adjacent to the restored conservatory at 1:15pm.

Set in the beautiful Cliffe Castle Park that surrounds Cliffe Castle Museum.
The park has some fine specimen trees, a newly restored water garden, conservatory, an aviary, and cafe.

Tai Chi & Qigong at Cliffe Castle Park, Keighley.

Wear suitable clothing for the British weather. A windproof top, warm breathable layers, and good flat soled outdoor footwear. If you use walking aids please bring them with you. You'll find plenty of tables and seating available at the lawn area where we will to hold the class.

Led by Board Accredited instructor Helen Parsons and assisted by Val Preston. They teach Tai Chi for Health programmes created by Australian family physician Dr. Paul Lam. Dr Lam founded the Tai Chi for Health Institute in 2010.

Helen and Val look forward to welcoming new starters who'd like to give Tai Chi ago as well as participants from our other classes in Airedale and Craven.

Helen says, "Originally created as a martial art, Tai Chi today is practised for its health benefits as series of slow, continuous movements that build strength, improve balance, and promote deep relaxation."

Val says, "The great thing about Tai Chi is that age and ability is no barrier and more importantly, Tai Chi is a daily activity that I enjoy doing and would like other people to feel the same benefits I have."

Helen is an Occupational Therapist and has practised Tai Chi and Qigong over 10 years.

Val Preston runs her own business, Truly Essential Holistic & Beauty Therapist. She started learning Tai Chi for Health in 2017 and aims to become a certified instructor this year.

For more details phone 07528 959091

Visit www.huntuntaichi.uk / Facebook: @Huntun.taichi

Tai Chi for Arthritis Playlist

Over the past few months, Helen and I have filmed a series of short YouTube videos documenting each sequence of the Tai Chi for Arthritis Part 1 program (Sun Style Tai Chi - 21 Forms).

We have collated the series in a Playlist called Tai Chi for Arthritis Sequences for ease of viewing which you can find on our YouTube channel Huntun Tai Chi.

Feedback from our classes has proved very positive with people reporting how useful they have found the videos in supporting their Tai Chi practice.



Each video acts as a study of each sequence that you can replay from the comfort of your own device (computer, tablet, or smartphone). Every video has a Top Tip in the description accompanying it.

How to get the best from YouTube.

We appreciate some people know very well how to delve into the various options and features YouTube offers viewers. We also know people who would appreciate a little guidance. So, to help you navigate some of those useful options read this very short guide. We hope it helps you enjoy our videos even more? Let us know if you found this helpful?

How to get the best from YouTube

In the image above you can see a screen capture of our lastest video for the sequence -  Apparent Closing.

You'll notice three coloured arrows in the bottom right of the image - yellow, blue, and green.

• Yellow Arrow - click on the 'gear' icon (it can often have a small red box with the letters HD) and the dark grey box shown will open with three options available:

• Speed (Green Arrow) - click on the little arrow and a second box opens with the options to speed up or slow down the video - a really useful option to help you see exactly what's going on

• Quality (Blue Arrow) - click on the little arrow and select 1080pHD at the very top of the list to watch the video in the very best quality - again well worth doing if you have sufficient broadband speed to support it
   
• Autoplay - click on this if you don't wish to see videos selected by YouTube to automatically play after viewing the video you did wish to watch

We hope you find this series of videos helpful. If you have a family member or friend you think might like this post please do share it with them or post it on your social media channels too.

All the best
Philip

Tai Chi for Health Class - Skipton

We're very pleased to announce that we will open our 10th awarding winning Tai Chi for Health class at the lovely Fire House Studios, Skipton. As you can see it's a rather beautiful space. Situated beside the canal basin on the Leeds and Liverpool Canal, in the centre of Skipton with the bus and train stations a short walk away.



Our first class starts on Wednesday 13th February 1:30 pm to 2:30 pm, with a free taster session for all new participants. The classes will run as follows:

    • Every Wednesday 1:30 pm to 2:30 pm

    • Open and ongoing - no need to book, just pay as you go

    • First Class Free to any new starter

    • Price per session: £6

    • Wear comfortable clothing, flat soled footwear, and bring a smile

Many people may recognise the slow, mindful movements of Tai Chi from the British comedy film, Calendar Girls, starring Helen Mirren and Julie Walters. If you watched the BBC TV programme Trust Me, I'm a Doctor recently you will have seen how regular practice of Tai Chi can offer a personal workout the equal of a more outwardly vigorous aerobic exercise such as Zumba, but without the sweat or need to wear sports clothing.

Tai Chi for Health - Skipton

As the only Board Certified Tai Chi for Health Institute instructors active in the area we offer people the opportunity to learn accredited Tai Chi for Health programs in a safe and inclusive space, with a warm welcome for everyone. The Tai Chi for Health Institute, founded by Dr Paul Lam, an Australian GP in 2010, works as a non-profit organisation to promote evidence based medical research into the benefits of Tai Chi and develop the professional role of Tai Chi instructors around the world.

We especially welcome people who live with long term health conditions, a disability, or people recovering from injury or a surgical procedure. We do recommend you speak with your GP or trusted healthcare professional if you have any doubts about joining our class.

Tai Chi for Health - Fire House Studios, Skipton

We accept referrals from healthcare professionals, run workshops and presentations on Tai Chi as an excellent primary exercise to a range of groups, organisations and corporate teams.

If you think a friend or relative would like to read this blog or would like to try one of our classes please do share it with them. Please note that there's a short series of steps up to the studio when you enter the building. Lift access is available, if you need assistance please do get in touch.

You can find us on Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, and Instagram - say hello and give us a 'like' 😊

We look forward to seeing you.

Philip and Helen

Tai Chi for Arthritis - YouTube

Tai Chi for Arthritis - Parts 1 & 2 - 41 Sequences with audio commentary of each sequence to guide you in your enjoyment and practice.

The Tai Chi for Arthritis or TCA program, is part of the Tai Chi for Health Institute's series of programmes for health and wellbeing, founded by Dr Paul Lam.

Based upon the Sun 73 Tai Chi Form, TCA presents a simplified form for people to enjoy and master. It has many of the repetitions and some of the more challenging competition sequences modified or removed to allow a wide range of people to learn and master this lovely form of Tai Chi.



Dr Paul Lam and the team at the Tai Chi for Health Institute developed Tai Chi for Arthritis to promote health and wellbeing, especially for people living with a long term health condition. It went on to become a successful program for falls prevention with older adults.

That doesn't mean you can't enjoy this Tai Chi program for its own sake. It still maintains the unique characteristics of the original style developed by Sun Lu-Tang in the early 20th century.

You can learn this program as well as others in one of our Tai Chi for Health classes and workshops. If you'd like to learn a Tai Chi (Taijiquan) form such as the Yang 24 or Sun 73 or Chen Tai Chi , then we teach these also.

We run Tai Chi for Health Classes covering: Baildon, Bingley, Bradford, Carleton, Glusburn, Keighley, Saltaire, Shipley and Skipton.

Music by Dr Paul Lam – Gentle Wind

If you think someone you know might like this post and the video please do share it with them.

We look forward to seeing you in one of our classes.

Helen & Philip

Tai Chi Tips to Enjoy Your Practice

Top Tai Chi Tips to Enjoy Your Practice

Tai Chi Tips for Your Practice

We run regular classes across Airedale and Craven covering Baildon, Bingley, Bradford, Carleton, Glusburn, Keighley, Saltaire, Shipley, and Skipton.

If you think some you know would like this post please do share it with them.

Helen and I look forward to seeing you.

Tai Chi - Yin and Yang

You may have heard of Yin & Yang but what do they really mean and what do they have to do with our practice of Tai Chi.

Firstly, we should say that the philosophy and cultural influence of Yin & Yang go back a long way in Chinese history, well over 2000 years to around 400 BCE, and probably a good way beyond that.

Yin 阴 means the “shady side” of a hill and Yang 阳 means the “sunny side” of a hill. A simple observation of a nature, the earth and the sun. Something we can all relate to. We often try to buy a house or plot of land with a south facing aspect to benefit from the year round sunshine.

When Yin & Yang combine we get Tàijí 太极 - literally meaning “great polarity or supreme ultimate.”

Nowadays Tàijí often gets simplified to ‘Tai Chi’ in the west and has become commonly used as a short hand for the martial art Tàijíquán  太极拳 - meaning Supreme Ultimate Boxing Art.

Tàijítú 无极 - The interplay of Yin & Yang

As a concept Tàijí decribes Yin & Yang as ever moving and changing, one into the other, like day into night, in a dynamic and evolving creative process.

Tàijí springs forth from Wújí 无极 - meaning without polarity or, more simply, voidness, nothingness, without limits or bounds.

The ubiquitous symbol of Tàijí the Tàijítú 无极 diagram represents, simultaneously, both Wújí (monism) and Tàijí (dualism). Stillness with movement or, of a constant issuing forth before eventually returning back to beginnings. So, we have this very paradoxical concept of Dual-Monism.

In modern terms we could think of Wújí, such as that state which came before the 'Big Bang' and Tàijí as the ever evolving and expanding universe. This of course includes all the rich diversity of life evolving on earth, including human beings.

What has this to do with the health exercises we practice in our classes such as the Tai Chi for Health programs of Dr Paul Lam and the Tai Chi for Health Institute?

We explain and demonstrate how the principles of Yin & Yang and the philosophical underpinnings of Wújí & Tàijí play out as one practices the sequences, we teach you how to balance the opposing yet complementary forces of the Yin Yang principles within ourselves, via our posture, our balance and the work of our muscles.

The more we practice, the more we can positively influence this interplay of Yin & Yang to refine our ‘form’ and enjoy the deeper health benefits of this wonderful exercise system from China.

If you think someone you know, a friend or member of your family, might like to read this short blog post, then please do share.

Helen and I look forward to seeing you in one of our classes or workshops.

Tai Chi Class Carleton Primary School

Very pleased to announce that we will open our next awarding winning Tai Chi for Health class at Carleton Endowed CE Primary School, in the lovely village of Carleton, near Skipton.

We open on Tuesday 25th September with a free taster session for everybody starting at 7:30 pm to 8:30 pm.

Tai Chi for Health - Carleton Primary School

Many people recognise the slow, mindful movements of Tai Chi from the British comedy film, Calendar Girls, starring Helen Mirren and Julie Walters.

You may have heard of the health benefits from regular practice of Tai Chi and its associated exercise Qigong (chee-gong) in the news recently. The four Chief Medical officers for the United Kingdom recommend Tai Chi as a low impact activity that builds strength, improves balance and promotes relaxation. 

As the only Board Certified Tai Chi for Health Institute instructors in Leeds and Bradford we offer people the opportunity to learn Tai Chi for Health programmes in a safe and inclusive space, with a warm welcome for everyone. Dr Paul Lam, an Australian GP, founded the Tai Chi for Health Institute as a non-profit organisation in 2010 to promote evidence based medical research into the benefits of Tai Chi and develop the professional role of Tai Chi instructors around the world.

We especially welcome people who live with long term health conditions, a disability, or people recovering from injury or a surgical procedure. We accept referrals from healthcare professionals and run workshops and presentations to a range of groups, organisations and professional teams.

After our opening on the 25th September the classes will run as follows:

• Tuesday 7:30 pm to 8:30 pm
• Open and ongoing - no need to book or pay in advance
• First Class Free to any new starter
• Price per session: £6
• Wear comfortable clothing, flat soled footwear, and a smile

If you think a friend or relative would like to read this blog or would like to try one of our classes please do share it with them.

We look forward to seeing you.

Philip and Helen

Awarding Winning Tai Chi for Health Classes in Yorkshire

Our social enterprise, Huntun Tai Chi™, offering accredited Tai Chi for Health programmes in Airedale, West Yorkshire, has won an Outstanding Achievement Award as part of the Get Out Get Active (GOGA) Programme 2016-2019 from Bradford Disability Sport & Leisure.

Helen & Philip - Outstanding Achievement Award

Helen and I attended a fund raising dinner for local athletes representing Great Britain in the 2019 Special Olympics in Dubai, on Wednesday 28th June 2018. The award came as a surprise, and both Helen and Philip felt incredibily privileged to receive it. Our thanks go to Karla Burton, the GOGA Programme lead for Bradford, who nominated us.

Helen & Philip - Receive their Outstanding Achievement Award

The award not only recognises our work but our inclusive ethos that aligns with the GOGA Programme's key aim that -

“Anyone can attend, Anyone can smile and Anyone can enjoy their time in the activity.”

As we say,

“Everyone receives a warm welcome.” 

 Karla Burton said,

“I just wanted to say a big thankyou for working alongside GOGA… The work you is inspirational and you have really opened my eyes to the great benefits of Tai Chi.”

It goes without saying that this award should really go to all our participants who attend our classes. Many live with their own health challenges and disabilities. Both Helen and I recognise the huge amount of dedication and energy you put into the classes. Without you we wouldn't have won this award.

Huntun Tai Chi™ - Certificate and Plaque for Outstanding Achievement Award

If you would like to come and try one of our Tai Chi for Health classes just drop by, your first class is free. We have classes covering Airedale from Baildon, Bingley, Glusburn, Keighley, Saltaire, Shipley, and Skipton.

To find out more just give us a call and we'll happily answer your questions.

We look forward to seeing you.

Philip & Helen

Tai Chi Principles Postcards™

Helen and I produced this unique set of postcards to inspire and support people in the enjoyment of their practice of Tai Chi. We first introduced them to participants at our Tai Chi for Health Workshop to celebrate World Tai Chi Day on 28th April 2018.

Tai Chi Principles Postcards™

We're pleased to announce that we can now make them available to everyone, near or far,  no matter what style of Tai Chi you practice and enjoy.

Each card features a beautiful image, a short poem by Philip Sheridan, and a description, that offers a window into a Tai Chi Principle for you to focus on when you practice.

Principles:

• 松 Sōng – meaning to loosen and relax the muscles, and open the joints
• 沉 Chén - meaning to sink or down, describes a feeling of rooted to the earth
• 静 Jìng – meaning quiet, still, motionless, or mindfulness, in movement
• 篷 Péng – meaning literally awning, tent, or cover but in the context of tai chi meaning to extend strength or support in all directions

Tai Chi Principles Postcards™

As you embark on learning Tai Chi you'll find your journey begins to spiral outward yet keeps returning again and again to these fundamental principles. As your practice grows so your integration of these principles will deepen at each turn.

We chose these particular principles because they run as a thread beneath all styles of Tai Chi Chuan.

Tai Chi Principles Postcard™ - Sōng

How to get hold of your own pack of Tai Chi Principles Postcards™.

£4.95 per pack

If you enjoy coming to one of our classes then you can buy a pack from us in person.

If you'd like to have a pack posted to you, wherever you live in the world, contact us by phone (call or WhatsApp), or drop us a short email. We can arrange payment and postage details with you.

T: +44 07528 959091
E: huntunwellbeing@gmail.com

We hope you enjoy them as much we did creating them.

Helen and Philip

Tai Chi for Health Class Opening in Glusburn

Very pleased to announce that we plan to open our new Tai Chi for Health class based at Glusburn Institute Community & Arts Centre. We gets things off with a good start on Thursday 15th March with a free taster session open to new starters and anyone who enjoys our other Tai Chi for Health classes in Keighley, Bingley and Baildon.

Tai Chi for Health - Glusburn Arts Centre

Unlike other forms of tai chi we emphasize the health benefits from an evidence and research based perspective. Our social enterprise, Huntun Tai Chi™, has the aim to offer people the opportunity to learn accredited Tai Chi for Health programmes in a safe and inclusive space, with a warm welcome for everyone.

We especially welcome people who live with long term health conditions, a disability, or people recovering from injury or a surgical procedure.

After the 15th March taster the classes will run as follows:

• Thursday mornings 10:30am to 11:30am
• Classes open and ongoing - no need to book.
• First Class Free
• Price per session: £6 – Over 65 concession £5
• Do wear comfortable clothing and flat soled footwear. Bring a smile.

As Certified instructors with Dr Paul Lam's Tai Chi for Health Institute (TCHI) we teach carefully designed evidenced based tai chi programmes.

As you begin learning one of our Tai Chi for Health programmes you can expect to learn and put into practise the essential tai chi principles:

• Keeping ones body in a relaxed upright position throughout the tai chi form
• Controlled transfer of your weight from stance to stance
• Continuous flowing movement from start to end
• 松 Sōng meaning to loosen, relax or let go the muscles and joints
• 静 Jìng meaning quiet, still, motionless, or mindfulness, in movement
• 篷 Péng meaning literally awning, tent, or cover but in the context of tai chi meaning to extend strength or support

Regular practice of one of our Tai Chi for Health programmes will improve balance, help build and maintain core strength, and promote a deep sense of relaxation.

If you think a friend or relative would like to read this blog or would like to try one of our classes please do share it with them.

We look forward to seeing you.

Philip and Helen

Tai Chi for Health - Stay Strong, Improve Your Balance

Regular practice of any of the Tai Chi for Health programmes helps people to build and maintain body strength. The slow movements found in Tai Chi for Health offer a low impact way of building muscle tone without putting the joints or muscles under too much repetitive strain.

And why is it so important to maintain all round body strength? Well as we age and or experience long term illness, or if you find yourself in recovery from a significant surgical procedure you'll know just how quickly we can lose muscle strength. You'll remember just how long it can take to get full strength back to the level you enjoyed before.

This article in the New Scientist magazine suggests just how important maintaining muscle strength can be to our long term health and wellbeing. The Tai Chi for Health programmes you learn in our classes emphasise the progressive building of strength for this very reason.

Elderly Lady Enjoys Her Tai Chi Practice

 Image by Tom Thai - licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license.

The UK's four Chief Medical Officers recognise the important role Tai Chi has to play in building strength and maintaining balance. It is your relative muscle strength that affects how well you can maintain your balance. One of the prime reasons for people participating in our classes is to improve their balance. We see more and more people with a recommendation from their GP or physiotherapist for this very reason.

Why should you think about balance as important to your overall health and quality of life? In the UK 30% of people aged 65 and over will experience a fall at least once a year. For people aged 80 and over it rises to over 50 per cent (NICE, 2013). Falls become the number one reason older people get taken to the emergency department in hospitals across the country. Most falls don’t cause serious injury but they can leave you distressed and begin to lose confidence. NHS Choices recommends regular practice of Tai Chi in its guidance on falls prevention.

Make sure you choose a reputable Tai Chi for Health Instructor rather than a tai chi teacher who expects you to learn the martial arts or expects you to perform strenuous movements by yourself or with a partner. Recommendations from the Tai Chi for Health Institute on what to look for when choosing an instructor include:

“All Board certified instructors have attended the workshop, completed prior preparation and fullfilled requirements to be a safe and effective teacher of the respective program, and registered with The Tai Chi for Health Institute. Our training is comprehensive and specific for our programs. All instructors are required to be updated every two years to maintain the certification.”

If you would like to find out more or think a family member or friend might like to read this post please do share.

If you have any questions please don't hesitate to get in touch. We'd love to see you in one of our classes covering Baildon, Bingley, Keighley, Saltaire, Shipley and Skipton.

All the best, Philip and Helen.

Tai Chi for Health Workshop with Dr Paul Lam in Manchester 2018

Dr Paul Lam will be coming to Manchester next summer to teach over 3 days starting on 31st August through to 2nd September 2018. You will have the opportuntiy to meet Dr Paul Lam who founded the Tai Chi for Health Institute in 2010.

You'll also get to meet other members of the Tai Chi for Health community from across the UK. Paul will teach Enhancing Yang 24 and/or Beyond Tai Chi for Rehabilitation over the three days. Find out more about the programme, location details, and how to register from the Tai Chi for Health Institute website.

If you've attended one of our classes you may remember we started with the short Tai Chi for Rehabilitation programme which brings the essential health benefits from the three key Tai Chi styles, the Sun, Yang, and Chen in a simple to learn form.

Helen and I will be going. If you would to join us please do let us know, we'd love to see you.

If you think someone may like this post please do share it with them.