No tai chi in Cornwall Park on Sunday 26 January. Enjoy your holiday weekend.

Park Life event cancelled, March 2020

Park life logo, yellow flowers and leaves on a turquoise backgroud

Cancellation: Park Life event in Cornwall Park on Sunday 29 March 2020. (This includes the cancellation of the four free tai chi sessions.)

Due to recent Government initiatives to contain the coronavirus (COVID-19), one of which is cancelling large scale public events and with everyone’s health and safety as utmost priority, the Cornwall Park Trust Board have regrettably cancelled the Park Life event on Sunday 29 March 2020..

We know many of you were looking forward to the day, but please know that the decision wasn’t made lightly and with everyone’s best interests in mind. Thank you for your understanding and we will keep you informed of the status of future events.

At this stage, World Tai Chi & Qigong Day on Saturday 18 April will still go ahead. Any change to this will be advised when necessary.

Here’s to doing tai chi in Cornwall Park next summer (2021)

Group of people doing tai chi under beautiful green trees

 

New beginners class to de-stress and calm your mind, Feb 2020

Please note: This is a post from February 2020.

If the year already feels likes it is passing in a blur, then tai chi could be for you. At Kia Ora Tai Chi, we can teach you techniques that will help slow things down, relieve and release stress, while increasing your fitness and well-being.

If this sounds like something you want then the team at Kia Ora Tai Chi would love to hear from you. We are looking for adults of any age and ability, who are keen to make a regular commitment to learning tai chi.

To find out if tai chi is for you, please come along to one or both of the free sessions on Monday 17th and Wednesday 19th February, 2020, 6.30-7.15pm, in Manurewa.

To RSVP or to ask questions about the classes, please use the Contact Form

Learning these proven tai chi techniques to clear and calm your mind won’t happen overnight. After the free sessions, you’ll need to make a commitment to attend classes once per week.

Cost of classes: The classes on the 17th and 19th February 2020 are FREE. After that, prices start from $9.50 per class. A discount is available for those who are referred by ACC and Age Concern for the Community Group Strength and Balance Exercise programme (“Live Stronger for Longer”). You must be aged 65+ to be referred.

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.

Here at Kia Ora Tai Chi, we are all constantly amazed at the health improvements that our students tell us about once they attend our classes on a regular basis:

  • sleeping better at night
  • feeling better all over and less stressed
  • improved breathing, with less wheezing or feeling like they’ve ‘run out of breath’
  • finding it easier to go up and down stairs
  • playing with their children or grandchildren for longer without getting tired
  • lowering their high blood pressure
  • feeling more flexible and moving better with less aches and pains
  • better balance/less falls
  • toned muscles.

Zebra with stripes falling off. The zebra is saying "I think it is stress"

Learn how to reduce stress with tai chi

There have been hundreds of clinical studies over many years that confirm the health benefits of tai chi, especially for the Tai Chi for Health programmes that we teach at Kia Ora Tai Chi. You can read more about these clinical studies here.

One aspect consistent across all studies and trials is that none of these benefits happen overnight or after just one class. The trials take place over several weeks, sometimes several months, and the people being studied do tai chi at least 2 -3 times per week. 

Most of our students attend at least one class per week, often two, and several practice between each class.

We are now looking for a group of new beginners who accept that their health and well-being is worth a regular commitment to tai chi.

Find out more about Kia Ora Tai Chi classes, how to get to the venue, and what to expect.

Discover more health benefits from tai chi.

Want to know even more about tai chi? Click here

Please RSVP for the free classes on the 17th and 19th February 2020 by using the Contact Form. You are welcome to attend one one or both of these classes.

Come along and say kia ora. We’d love to see you. We’re a friendly bunch at a great venue that has lots of free parking.

Group of people doing tai chi. Some are seated while doing tai chi.

A Kia Ora Tai Chi class

Free World Tai Chi & Qigong Day, 2019

Please note: This event has now passed.

April 2019: Come along to the FREE World Tai Chi & Qigong Day in Cornwall park. You’ll learn easy, flowing steps of tai chi and the deep, healthy breathing of qigong (pronounced chee – gong).

Free, fun, family-friendly and ideal for all age groups. Complete beginners welcome.

When: Saturday 27 April 2019, 9.30 – 11.30am (The tai chi starts at 10am). (Rain date: Saturday 4 May)

Where: Cornwall Park, on the Big Lawn (Native Arboretum), near the large stone steps (called the Memorial Steps, which face Greenlane Road). There is free parking in the park.

A big, green grassy area in a park surrounded by trees

The Big Lawn (Native Arboretum),

How to get to Cornwall Park: Click on this link: http://cornwallpark.co.nz/visitor-info The main entrance to the park is from Greenlane Road West, Epsom, Auckland. Alternatively, you can get to Cornwall Park from Manukau Road, Epsom, by passing through Maungakiekie/One Tree Hill Domain.

Tens of thousands of people in 100’s of cities across the planet celebrate the wonder that is tai chi on the last Saturday in April at 10am local time. It is a world-wide wave of goodwill – a global tai chi whānau, breathing together as one. The event’s motto is, “One World – One Breath”

Join in with Kia Ora Tai Chi to be the first country in the world to start this celebration. All welcome, especially those who have never done tai chi before.

What to expect: At 10am, Jocelyn Watkin (founder and director of Kia Ora Tai Chi) and her team of instructors will begin with a sequence of easy, flowing, warm-up exercises which are low impact and gentle on your joints.

Then, they will guide you through a Tai Chi for Health form – a series of linked postures and steps, accompanied by deep breathing that will energise and give you a lift. In just under one hour you’ll be doing REAL tai chi. It’s easy, fun and really great exercise.

Gather from 9:30 am onwards and be ready to say Kia ora to tai chi at 10am.

Find out more:

People doint tai chi on green grass with lots of trees around them

Summer tai chi with Kia Ora Tai Chi in Cornwall Park   (January 2019)

Free tai chi in Cornwall Park 2018 & 2019

This is a post from November 2018.

The last summer tai chi session for 2019 in Cornwall Park was on Tuesday 29 January, 2019, 6 – 7pm.

If you’re looking for more free tai chi sessions with Kia Ora Tai Chi then check out this link.

Contact us, to find out whether there’ll be summer tai chi sessions in January and February 2022.

The Summer Tai Chi in Cornwall Park sessions began on Sunday mornings (9-10am) on the  2nd, 9th and 16th of December 2018 and Tuesday evenings (6-7pm) on 4th, 11th and 18th December 2018. With the exception of New Year’s Day, the lessons continued on every Sunday morning and Tuesday evening in January 2019. Classes were approximately 45 mins. Fun for all of the family, from children to grandparents. Ideal for beginners.

All of these sessions were led by Jocelyn Watkin, of Kia Ora Tai Chi. Jocelyn is a qualified and premier instructor for Tai Chi for Health Institute, who has over 20 years martial arts experience.  All of Jocelyn’s tai chi classes are also approved with the BIG TICK for the Community Group Strength and Balance Programme: “Live Stronger for Longer”.

Location: Under the big trees on the left-hand-side of Pohutukawa Drive (as you come up from Greenlane Road). Keep an eye out for the tai chi signs. Jocelyn and her fellow instructors will be wearing red Kia Ora Tai Chi polo shirts.

Summer tai chi in Cornwall Park is fun, free and suitable for all ages. You don’t need special clothes or equipment. A big thank you to the Cornwall Park Trust Board for funding these sessions so everyone can enjoy learning tai chi for free.

Please bring a bottle of water and insect repellent.

What to wear:

  • Comfy clothes and shoes
  • A sun hat and sun block
  • Bring a jersey/sweatshirt in case there is a breeze.

If wet, please check the Kia Ora Tai Chi facebook page for cancellation notices: https://www.facebook.com/kiaorataichi/

If fine, just come along to any session. There’s no need to RSVP as all will be welcome. Ideal for complete beginners.

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.

Find out more:

All of Jocelyn’s tai chi classes are approved for ACC’s Strength and Balance Programme.

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