Kia Ora to World Tai Chi Day 2018 – It’s FREE

Note: This event has now passed.

Celebrate World Tai Chi & Qi Gong Day on Saturday 28 April, 2018, in Wattle Downs, Manurewa, Auckland. FREE, fun and family-friendly. If you’ve ever wanted to give tai chi a go, then this event is for you. All welcome.

What to expect: We will begin with a sequence of easy, flowing, warm-up exercises which are low impact and gentle on your joints. Then, the tai chi instructor, Jocelyn Watkin, will guide you through a Tai Chi for Health form – a series of linked steps, which are performed in a slow, mindful manner and accompanied by deep breathing.

Tai chi is easy, fun and a really great exercise, which is good for your body and helpful at reducing stress. If you are unable to stand or stand for very long, Jocelyn is also qualified to teach seated tai chi, which you can do alongside of everyone.

When: Saturday 28 April 2018, 9.45 – 11am. The tai chi starts promptly at 10am.

Where: Manurewa, Auckland, 2103.

Tai chi in Clayton Park School hall

What to wear: Loose, comfortable clothing and flat shoes like sneakers or trainers.

Bring: A bottle of water to drink.

Who is the instructor? Jocelyn Watkin is a premier, board-certified instructor for the Tai Chi for Health Institute. All of Jocelyn’s Tai Chi for Health classes are approved with the BIG TICK for the Community Group Strength and Balance Programme.

RSVP: If you wish, just arrive before 10am on Saturday 28 April 2018. However, RSVPs would also be welcome via the Contact Form or you can text Jocelyn on 027 493 9851.

What is tai chi? Tai chi is an ancient Chinese martial art that combines mindfulness with a series of linked postures and steps.

Strength and peace

What is World Tai Chi & Qi Gong DayEach year, on the last Saturday of April, tens of thousands of people come together in many cities across the world to do tai chi at 10am (their own local time). People of any age, ability, gender, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity or religion gather as one for the sole purpose of advancing personal and global health & healing. The event’s motto is “One World… One Breath”.

What is Qi Gong? (Qi is pronounced ‘chee’): Qi gong breathing is an integrated part of tai chi and is especially beneficial for health and mental relaxation. Qi can mean air (oxygen), life, energy or breath. The word ‘gong’ means ‘way of’ or ‘skill’. Qi Gong means: way of getting more air, life or energy. The concept of Qi is known in other cultures by different names. Star Wars fans know it as ‘The Force’.

Almost anyone can learn tai chi as it is suitable for nearly all adults (of any age) and children. You do not need special shoes, expensive clothing or any fancy equipment. And, you won’t get all sweaty or puffed out.  However, if you have a medical condition that may be affected by tai chi please talk to your medical/health professional before taking part in World Tai Chi & Qi Gong Day.

Find out more:

World Tai Chi & Qi Gong Day will be held in peaceful Wattle Downs in 2018

Keep well this winter

Thanks for your interest in this workshop.  Registrations are now closed.

Want to feel great this winter? Join in on a fun and relaxing tai chi workshop on Sunday 10 June to increase your winter wellness and boost your immunity.

Tai chi is an ancient Chinese martial art that combines mindfulness with a series of linked postures and steps, These steps are performed in a slow, focussed manner and accompanied by deep breathing.

At this one-day workshop you will learn specially designed tai chi movements that are easy to learn and will help you to:

  • ward off winter’s bugs and improve your overall health.
  • keep warm by improving your blood circulation.
  • calm and clear your mind, which will help you to re-boot your immune system.
  • get a good night’s sleep to further boost your immunity.
  • ramp up your energy and strength – anytime, anywhere.
  • relieve stress to give yourself a fighting chance for continuing good health.

When: Sunday 10 June, 9.45am to 4pm.

Where: Te Ngakau Waiora – Mercy Spirituality Centre, 104 The Drive, Epsom, Auckland 1023. View map

Price: $95 per person (including GST). A refund is available up to 30 days before the event. Plenty of free parking on site.

Instructor: Jocelyn Watkin, who is a  premier instructor with the Tai Chi for Health Institute.

Places are limited to a maximum of 10 people.

Almost anyone can learn tai chi, which can be done while standing, seated or even lying down. It is a low impact exercise and is suitable for adults of any age, high school students and all fitness levels. You do not need special shoes, expensive clothing or any fancy equipment. And, you won’t get all sweaty or puffed out.

What to wear: Loose, comfortable clothing and flat shoes like sneakers or trainers.

Bring: a bottle of water and your lunch. If you’d like to try tai chi while lying down please bring your own yoga mat or similar.

Tea (including green tea) and coffee provided.

 

This tai chi workshop is for you if you:.

  • Want to improve your overall health and fitness.
  • Want to boost your immunity this winter.
  • Are worried whether the flu shot will be enough for all strains of that virus heading our way this year.
  • Want to find a better way to manage stress.
  • Have always wanted to try tai chi.

All welcome.

Tai chi aims to achieve harmony with nature and the balance of mental serenity and physical strength. It is the natural and peaceful way to help you to prepare for winter and sustain you over the winter months.

 

 

 

Find out more:

Breathe your way to better health

There’s an old tai chi joke and it goes like this: A new student approaches his tai chi teacher to ask, “Master, how do I live as long as possible?” The master, a woman of many decades experience, replies: “Keep breathing as long as you can“.

Breathing – we all do it automatically: approximately 18 times per minute, 1,080 times per hour and nearly 26,000 times in a 24-hour day. You would have thought we’d got it down to a fine art?

But, what if I told you that most of us could do this breathing thing a lot better? And, by better I mean having more more energy, less anxiety, better sleep, less stress, better posture (with less back ache), and that it was a way you could quickly calm your mind when it is revved up. Of course, you don’t have to do this type of breathing for all of those 26,000 breaths. Instead, you can try it for just for a minute or two and for 2-3 times per day – it could make a huge difference in your life and health.

Tai chi is an ancient, Chinese martial art and exercise that involves a series of movements performed in a mindful, focussed manner and accompanied by deep breathing.

You don’t have to know tai chi to learn tai chi breathing. I can show you how to do this so you can breathe your way to better health. You will be able do this anywhere, anytime, while seated or standing.

Let me show you how in this short, 3-minute video.

Click on this link to find out WHY tai chi breathing is so good for you and why it can help you to bust stress in just a few minutes per day.

Find out more about a winter wellness workshop in June, where you will learn breathing exercises to wallop winter colds and boost your immunity.

Striped, tabby cat sleeping happily on the back of a red sofa

Better breathing keeps you warmer in winter and more relaxed. Purr-fect.

Last chance for summer tai chi 2018

Fun, free and family-friendly

Please note: This event has now passed.

The last two sessions for FREE summer tai chi in 2018 in Cornwall Park were on Sunday 25th, 9-10am and Tuesday 27 February, 6-7pm.

Location: Under the oak trees or on the Rangitoto Steps (stone steps) between the new café and Pohutukawa Drive (look out for the signs).

Described as “moving meditation”, tai chi is an ancient Chinese martial art that combines mental focus and mindfulness with deliberate and relaxed movements that are gentle on the joints.

Summer tai chi in Cornwall Park is fun, free and suitable for all ages. You don’t need special clothes or equipment. Bring comfortable shoes, a sun hat and a water bottle.

Find out more:

 

Kia ora to free tai chi lessons 2018

Women and men as silhouettes doing tai chi.Please note: This is a post from 2018. 

Kia Ora Tai Chi lessons have now moved to the Manurewa South School hall on Totara Road, Manurewa. Please contact us to ask about current classes and venues.

Do you want to get fitter and healthier? Do you feel stressed or have trouble sleeping? Maybe you’d love to wave goodbye to aches and pains at the gym? If so, then say hello to Kia Ora Tai Chi.

Come along for FREE 45-minute tai chi lessons on Monday 12th and Wednesday 14th February 2018, 6.30 – 7.15pm, with Jocelyn Watkin, a qualified tai chi instructor, who has been practising tai chi for over 15 years. Adults of any age and high school students are all welcome. Scroll down for more information. To RSVP for the free lessons, contact Jocelyn: 027 493 9851 or use the Contact Form to get in touch.

After the free lessons, a beginners’ class will start at the same venue on Monday 19th and Wednesday 21st February, 6.30 – 7.15pm. Prices start from $9.50 per class. If you want to be fitter and healthier or reduce stress then tai chi is for you. It is suitable for adults of any age and fitness levels.

What to wear: Please wear loose comfortable clothing and flat-soled shoes (such as sneakers, trainers or tennis shoes). Please also bring a drinking bottle of water.

Big red heart with stethoscope

Love your heart and health with tai chi

What to expect: The class will begin with a sequence of easy, flowing exercises which are low impact and gentle on your joints. Jocelyn and some of her students will then demonstrate the tai chi form so you can see what it looks like. After that, you can have a go for yourself and learn the first few steps. In just one class, you’ll be doing real tai chi.

Longer term, tai chi can help you to improve your fitness, health and balance, reduce stress and lower blood pressure. Your heart will love you for it. Tai chi is an ancient, Chinese martial art that involves mindful movements performed in a slow, focussed manner and accompanied by deep breathing.

Tai chi is suitable for adults of all ages and fitness levels. If you are unable to stand for very long, Jocelyn is also qualified to teach seated tai chi, which you can do alongside the rest of the class.

Dates/times/pricing: Monday and Wednesday evenings, 6.30 – 7.15pm, from $9.50 per class. Please get in touch with Jocelyn: 027 493 9851 or use the Contact Form to ask about current classes and venues..

 

For more information:

Free summer tai chi in Cornwall Park, 2017 – 2018

Please note: These sessions finished in February 2018.

Contact us to find out about sessions in summer 2022.

Always wanted to give tai chi a go? Come along to Cornwall Park for my FREE tai chi sessions over January and February 2018 and enjoy doing tai chi under the cool of the trees. Or,  just sit and watch if you’d prefer.

Starting Sunday 7 January at 9-10am, the sessions will be every Tuesday (6-7pm) and Sunday (9-10am) in January and February (including Auckland Anniversary Weekend, Waitangi Weekend and Waitangi Day). Classes are approximately 45 mins. Fun for all of the family, from children to grandparents.

Location: Under the trees or on the Rangitoto Steps (stone steps) between the new café and Pohutukawa Drive (look out for the signs). If wet, in the big gazebo near to the new café.

Described as “moving meditation”, tai chi is an ancient Chinese martial art that combines mental focus and mindfulness with deliberate and relaxed movements that are gentle on the joints.

Summer tai chi in Cornwall Park is fun, free and suitable for all ages. You don’t need special clothes, shoes or equipment. Bring a water bottle, a sun hat and come as you are.

Find out more: