by Jocelyn Watkin | May 17, 2019 | Information |
Your brain while meditating – calm, clear and confident. Your brain doing tai chi – calm, clear, and confident. This is no coincidence. Even my newer students notice how the more experienced students ‘get in the zone’ when doing tai chi. They want that, too. Don’t we all??
Ah, mawhitiwhiti iti (little grasshoppers), the key is in the breathing. With tai chi you learn how to match your breath with your movements.
I’ve dug out a great article to help you understand how it works:
“… Both tai chi and mindfulness meditation focus your attention on the breath. That single focus may help your brain make lasting changes that impact the way you see (and cope) with things.
Research has found that both tai chi and meditation have a powerful effect on the mind, cultivating a stillness that serves to increase focus, reduce stress, and boost cognitive skills.” Read on
Wait there’s more! This research has also shown that tai chi can train your brain and improve your life in three ways. This is because tai chi:
- grows the size of your brain, even when you are no longer a child (or even young)
- improves your memory and ability to stay focussed
- shakes off stress.
Keep practising and you too will enter the zone. Click here to discover more about this research into tai chi.
by Jocelyn Watkin | Feb 19, 2019 | Information |
Note: This workshop has taken place. Contact Kia Ora Tai Chi to find out when the next workshop will be.
Worried about stress or your health? Struggling to find time to keep fit? Sign up for a tai chi workshop which will help you.
In just three hours, you’ll learn how you can reduce stress and increase your strength and fitness. Tai chi can be done at work, at home and almost anywhere. You won’t need fancy shoes, special clothes or any equipment.
At the workshop, you’ll be taught a very special form of tai chi called: Tai Chi for Arthritis (TCA). It is safer and easier to learn than other tai chi programmes. Clinical and medical studies confirm that TCA helps to relieve stress and pain, reduce falls, increase strength and improve the quality of life.
You don’t have to have arthritis to feel the health benefits of this amazing programme. But, if you do have arthritis, it is more likely you can do this type of tai chi than any other. Dr Paul Lam, of the Tai Chi for Health Institute, developed this programme with the help of a team of medical and tai chi experts. Come along to have a go for yourself.
Your instructor will be Jocelyn Watkin.
This workshop is open to anyone, even if you’ve never tried tai chi before and is ideal for high school students and adults of any age, who are any of the following:
- First time beginners.
- Need to get fitter and/or stronger.
- Feel stressed or worried about their general health.
- Curious about tai chi.
- Are missing Jocelyn’s Summer Tai Chi in Cornwall Park session and are keen to learn more tai chi.
- Jocelyn’s current students (those who attend her evening classes at Clayton Park School), who want to incorporate more depth into their practice of TCA.
You won’t be on your feet for the whole 3-hour workshop. There will be the chance to rest and sit down several times to listen and learn about the medical background to TCA, why it works and also to watch a demonstration. You can also do tai chi while seated at any stage.
When: Sunday 3 March, 2019: 9.30am – 12.30pm
Venue: The Mercy Spirituality Centre, 104 The Drive, Epsom, which has free parking on site. Refer to map.
Price: $40 per person, payable before the workshop.
Please register/RSVP by Tuesday 26 February, 2019: send a text or phone text or phone the instructor, Jocelyn Watkin on 027 493 9851 or use the Contact Form
Places are limited to no more than 14 participants
Cancellation policy: Full refund if you cancel by 26 February 2019. 50% refund if you cancel between 27 Feb to 1st March. No refunds after 1st March.
This workshop is for you if you want to learn how to reduce stress and to improve your flexibility and balance and to increase muscular strength and fitness with tai chi.
Find out more
by Jocelyn Watkin | Oct 8, 2018 | Information |
This is a post from October 2018.
Free tai chi classes for beginners will happen on Monday 15 October and Wednesday 17 October 2018, 6.30 – 7.15pm in Manurewa.
After the free classes, a new beginners class will start on the following week. Same time, same days, same place (but not on Labour Day).
Tai chi is enjoyable, easy on your joints, flowing and will help you increase your fitness, reduce stress, improve your balance and stay stronger for longer. It is ideal for complete beginners. Seated tai chi is also available.
Come along and give it a try with a friendly bunch of people at a great venue. There is lots of free parking.
Classes are taught by Jocelyn Watkin, a fully-qualified, premier instructor with the Tai Chi for Health Institute.
Find out more on what to wear and what to expect at the classes.
To RSVP please text or phone the instructor, Jocelyn Watkin on 027 493 9851 or use the Contact Form
All of these Tai Chi for Health classes are approved with the BIG TICK for ACC and Age Concerns’ Community Group Strength and Balance Programme so you can stay “Stronger for Longer”
by Jocelyn Watkin | Aug 30, 2018 | Information |
Note: This event has now passed as has the International Day for the Older Person that was held on Tuesday 1 October, 2019.
Announcing a special tai chi event to celebrate International Day for the Older Person on Monday 1 October, 2018, 10am – 12 noon.
I will give a short talk on tai chi’s fascinating history and why tai chi is so good for health, strength, fitness, balance and flexibility, particularly for anyone over the age of 60.
After the talk and a short break for morning tea, you’ll get the opportunity to try tai chi for yourself. I will teach a brief section of Tai Chi for Arthritis and Fall Prevention. It is ideal for beginners and can be done seated or standing. Of course, you don’t have to have arthritis to benefit from this Tai Chi for Health Programme.
Can anyone attend? Yes, all are welcome and especially anyone who is aged 60+. Places are limited so please RSVP.
When: Monday 1 October 2018, 10am – 12 noon
Where: Te Ngakau Waiora Mercy Spirituality Centre,104 The Drive, Epsom, Auckland 1023. Refer to map.
Cost to attend: $15 per person, which includes morning tea. Please pay on the day. Free, off-road parking on site.
RSVP: Te Ngakau Waiora Mercy Spirituality Centre, Phone: (09) 638 6238; Email: info@mercyspiritualitycentre.org.nz
If you have ever wondered about tai chi or about the questions below, then this event is for you:
- How can something done in slow-motion be good for health, fitness, strength and flexibility?
- I’ve heard that tai chi can help someone to improve their balance and avoid falls. Is this possible?
- What is tai chi, taiji and tai chi chuan?
- Is tai chi a philosophy, an exercise programme or a martial art?
- Tai chi is known to be good for people aged 60+. Why is this?
- Can tai chi be used for self-defence?
- What is the difference between yoga and tai chi?
Click here to find out more about this event.
Click here to find out more about me (Jocelyn Watkin).
I look forward to meeting you on Monday 1 October 2018
by Jocelyn Watkin | Apr 15, 2018 | Information |
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:
