MONDAY EVENINGS | WITNEY, OXFORDSHIRE
Weekly T’ai Chi Chu’uan Yang Long Form Classes
MARY-ELLEN, OXFORDSHIRE“Helen’s welcoming teaching style provides an ideal environment in which to learn the movements and philosophy of T’ai Chi.”
Welcome to the T’ai Chi Room
Helen runs weekly classes in the T’ai Chi Chu’uan Yang Long Form – Monday evenings in Witney, Oxfordshire.
Our Spring 2025 term starts Monday 6 Jan 2025. (Please see Classes tab for schedule of dates).
How is T’ai Chi so good for you?
T’ai Chi is an ancient Chinese martial art. It is a gentle form of exercise, which is performed in a series of slow, graceful, mindful movements. It is sometimes referred to as a moving meditation.
T’ai Chi practice has long been reputed to improve fitness & posture; strengthen and tone the body, whilst relaxing and clearing the mind from everyday stresses.
At the end of classes, students are left feeling calm, yet alert & rejuvenated; they have had a chance to fully relax and “let go.” T’ai Chi is an altogether uplifting experience for mind, body & spirit.
Helen teaches the T’ai Chi Chu’uan Yang Long Form (Helen’s instructor was a student of the late Gerda Geddes). In fact, with a little help from her friends,* Helen’s lineage can now be traced back to Master Chen Chag-Xing who lived in China in the 1700s.
*Thanks & acknowledgments go to Ian Mac, who introduced himself to Helen as the co-ordinator of a group of ex-students of the late Gerda Geddes.
What does the T’ai Chi Room offer?
T’ai Chi classes
T’ai Chi courses run as weekly classes on Monday evenings in Witney, Oxfordshire. Classes are open to complete beginners, with the new intake at the start of the academic year in September. Students join the Intermediates class when they have progressed through Parts I, II & III of the T’ai Chi Form.
New to T’ai Chi?
Complete beginners are welcome to join the Beginners’ Class in the New Year, starting Monday 6 January 2025.
Please visit the Bookings tab to submit your online Booking Form (Googledocs), and for the secure payment link (PayPal).
Sunrise sessions & corporate wellbeing programs
T’ai Chi exercise DVD, filmed at Wittenham Clump, Oxfordshire. T’ai Chi DVD includes warm-up; meditation; demonstration of Parts I, II & III, and “mini teaches” of complex movements. Order yours in the Bookings tab.
Corporate wellness programs are on the rise. Employers are starting to make the connection between corporate performance and the wellbeing of their employees. Helen works with nominated wellbeing champions to organise Sunrise sessions for Away Days and workplace T’ai Chi courses (e.g. as Lunch & Learn) for businesses local to Witney/ Chipping Norton.
Sunrise sessions help teams to get themselves into a creative mindset. Known as a ‘moving meditation,’ T’ai Chi promotes increased awareness and an opening up of the senses. Bringing this mindfulness practice to teams in preparation of their Away Day means that they can set their intentions at Sunrise for a day of productive, inclusive collaboration.
Lunch & Learn sessions run as a short 8-week course and give employees the chance to recalibrate and rejuvenate. Participants return to their desks for an afternoon of focus and increased productivity - whilst knowing that they have shrugged off any negativity, resistance, avoidance or stuckness which may have crept into the day.
Spoiler alert!! We don’t have to press harder or ‘push through’ to become more productive. T’ai Chi offers a mental break from the slog, and brings new perspectives for flow ;)
See what students have said about T’ai Chi sessions with me.
“Holding a lunchtime Tai Chi class for our staff has been great. We had a high uptake and everyone that attended really enjoyed it. It is something we will definitely consider running again as part of our staff wellbeing programme.”
– Alex, Chipping Norton
“Really valuable and enjoyable booster session, which helped me gain confidence and feel a growing connection to the T'ai Chi forms. ”
– Charlotte, Oxfordshire