About us

Kia ora to the Kia Ora Tai Chi team

We teach the flow arts of tai chi for well-being, qigong (pronounced chee-gong) and SpinPoi, as well as traditional taiji (tai chi) to help you to:

• • improve your health and well-being
  • reduce stress and anxiety
  • improve your balance and to help prevent falls
  • get fitter without puffing
  • boost your immunity, and
  • live stronger for longer.

Jocelyn Watkin is the founder, director and lead instructor of Kia Ora Tai Chi. She has trained in martial arts for more than 25 years and has focused solely taiji, tai chi and qigong since 2003 (Yang and Sun-styles of tai chi).

She is also a certified SpinPoi for Older Adults instructor and a Reiki Practitioner.

Testimonial: “I really enjoyed your style, Jocelyn. Friendly, caring, informative and non-judgemental. You made me feel relaxed and welcome. Thank you.” (Participant in the “Create your own calm & centred universe” tai chi retreat at Auckland’s Stardome, March 2022) 

 

Professional membership: Jocelyn is a registered group exercise contractor/member (with own choreography) of the New Zealand Register of Exercise Professionals (REPs).

 

Jocelyn’s instructor qualifications and awards:

• Approved/awarded as a Community Group Strength & Balance Programme exercise provider for ACC, Age Concern and Harbour Sport.
• Qualified Qigong Foundation Practices instructor
• Qualified Enter the Flow Qigong instructor
• Certified SpinPoi for Older Adults instructor
• Qualified Reiki Practitioner, Shoden Level 1
• Holder of a current First Aid Certificate of Training, including CPR and use of a defibrillator

Jocelyn has also been awarded instructor certificates in:

• Qigong for Health
• Tai Chi for Arthritis (Stages 1 & 2)
• Seated Tai Chi for Arthritis
• Tai Chi for Arthritis for Falls Prevention
• Tai Chi for Rehabilitation
• Tai Chi for Energy
• Enhancing Yang 24 Forms

Tertiary qualifications:

• Diploma of Teaching
• New Zealand Trained Teacher Certificate
• Master of Business Administration (with Distinction)
• Certificate in Freelance Journalism

Jocelyn also teaches restorative, nature journaling and mindfulness-based art therapy to help people manage and relieve stress. When combined with calming, meditative breathing (qigong and reiki) and the mind/body connection of tai chi, journaling and creativity becomes even more restorative. The tai chi and qigong releases tension in both mind and body enabling people to focus more easily and more clearly during the journaling and creative process.

Jocelyn has organised and taught several tai chi, qigong, journaling and mindfulness-based art workshops and retreats, in person and also online, from 2017 to 2024, including an international retreat in Vanuatu in May 2023.

She was the tour organiser/leader for two other tai chi overseas trips from New Zealand – to Vietnam (in 2012) and China (in 2015). This included arranging tai chi training at the sacred Wudangshan (Wudang Mountain in China), which is the tūrangawaewae of tai chi chuan. (Tūrangawaewae is a Te Reo Māori word meaning spiritual home or a place to stand where you feel especially connected).

Jocelyn has specialist skills in teaching tai chi to adults and young people who are blind or have low-vision, including at the Homai campus of Blind, Low Vision Education Network NZ (BLENNZ) and James Cook High School in Manurewa.

In addition to her evening classes in Manurewa, Jocelyn teaches tai chi and qigong at the Acacia Cove Retirement Village, in Wattle Downs, and in Auckland’s Cornwall Park over the summer months of January to March. She has also taught tai chi to patients at Turuki Health Care in Mangere,

All of Jocelyn’s tai chi and qigong classes are approved with the BIG TICK for the Accident Compensation Commission’s programme: Community Group Strength and Balance Programme.

Jocelyn grew up in New Plymouth, Taranaki, and has lived in Wattle Downs, Manurewa, Auckland since 1990.

Come along to her Kia Ora Tai Chi classes to discover how tai chi and qigong can be enjoyable exercise that also helps you to improve your over all health and fitness.

Kia ora to:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Barry Vodanovich 

Barry has trained in tai chi for 19 years (Yang and Sun-styles), including at the sacred Wudangshan (Wudang Mountain) in China, which is the spiritual home/tūrangawaewae of tai chi chuan. He has been with Kia Ora Tai Chi from the very first day and has the following qualifications:

• Approved Community Group Strength & Balance Programme exercise provider.
• Current MediTrain First Aid Certificate, including CPR and use of a defibrillator
• Certificate of Achievement: Combined 42-step form (Yang style).
• Instructor certificate: Tai Chi for Arthritis
• Instructor certificate: Seated Tai Chi for Arthritis
• Instructor certificate: Tai Chi for Arthritis for Falls Prevention

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jeff Shepherd

Jeff has trained in tai chi for over eight years (Sun and Yang-styles). He is a foundation student of Kia Ora Tai Chi and became an instructor in 2018. He has the following qualifications:

• Approved Community Group Strength & Balance Programme exercise provider for ACC
• Current First Aid Certificate of Training, including CPR and use of a defibrillator.
• Jeff has been awarded instructor certificates in:
• Qigong for Health
• Tai Chi for Arthritis
• Seated Tai Chi for Arthritis
• Tai Chi for Arthritis for Falls Prevention
• Tai Chi for Memory
• Tai Chi for Heart Conditions

 

Grant Williams

Grant has trained in tai chi for over eight years (Sun and Yang-styles).

He is a foundation student of Kia Ora Tai Chi and became an instructor in 2020. He has the following qualifications:

• Approved Community Group Strength & Balance Programme exercise provider for ACC.
• Current First Aid Certificate of Training, including CPR and use of a defibrillator.
• Grant has been awarded instructor certificates in:
• Tai Chi for Arthritis (Stages 1 & 2)
• Seated Tai Chi for Arthritis
• Tai Chi for Arthritis for Falls Prevention

 

 

 

Ned Te Hira

Ned has trained in tai chi for over seven years (Sun and Yang-styles).

He is a foundation student of Kia Ora Tai Chi and became an instructor in 2017. Ned has been awarded instructor certificates in:

• Tai Chi for Arthritis (Stages 1 & 2)
• Tai Chi for Arthritis for Falls Prevention

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pat James (retired instructor)

Pat has trained in tai chi for several years (Sun and Yang-styles), including in the UK.

She is a foundation student of Kia Ora Tai Chi and became an instructor in 2017. She has now retired as a full instructor but still supports and assists Jocelyn and the other instructors when she can. Pat is an approved Community Group Strength & Balance Programme exercise provider and has been awarded instructor certificates in:

• Tai Chi for Arthritis (Stages 1 & 2)
• Tai Chi for Arthritis for Falls Prevention
• Tai Chi for Memory
• Tai Chi for Heart Conditions

Associate instructors with Kia Ora Tai  Chi

Juliana Flaxman-Hendriks

Juliana, known as “J”, collaborates with Kia Ora Tai Chi on various tai chi, qigong and SpinPoi projects, including the summer tai chi sessions at Cornwall Park.

She has the following qualifications, instructor certifications and professional memberships:

• REPs NZ Registered Exercise Provider
• Approved Community Group Strength & Balance Programme exercise provider
• First Aid Certificate, including CPR and use of a defibrillator
• Certified SpinPoi for Older Adults instructor
• Tai Chi for Arthritis (Stages 1 & 2)
• Seated Tai Chi for Arthritis
• Tai Chi for Arthritis for Falls Prevention
• Tai Chi for Heart Conditions
• Tai Chi for Memory

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Aria Tauroa

Aria has many years experience as a tai chi instructor. She collaborates with Kia Ora Tai Chi on various tai chi projects and has previously been a co-instructor with Jocelyn at Turuki Health Care.

• She is an Approved Community Group Strength & Balance Programme exercise provider
• She holds a current First Aid Certificate of Training, including CPR and use of a defibrillator.
• Aria has been awarded the following instructor qualifications:
• Tai Chi for Arthritis (Stages 1 & 2)
• Seated Tai Chi for Arthritis
• Tai Chi for Arthritis for Falls Prevention
• Tai Chi for Rehabilitation
• Tai Chi for Energy
• Tai Chi for Osteoporosis
• Tai Chi for Diabetes

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