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.

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:

 

 

 

 

Tai chi workshop for Breast Cancer Support, 2017

Breast Cancer Support logo, looks like swan made of a pink ribbonPlease note: This event has now passed.

I am delighted and honoured to be working with Breast Cancer Support to teach a very special 3-hour Tai Chi for Rehabilitation workshop.

Whether newly diagnosed, in recovery, or some years down the track, this workshop is for anyone experiencing breast cancer who wants to have a go at tai chi or wonders if this type of exercise will aid with recovery and enhance general well-being? Ideal for tai chi beginners.

 

The details of the workshop are:

Just two places left. Please book ASAP. (The workshop is limited to ten participants.)

Those who have visited the Mercy Spirituality Centre will know that the surroundings are perfect for a peaceful, calm, and relaxing morning of tai chi.

Tai chi Yin Yang symbol made of fern fronds

Tai chi for rejuvenation and rehabilitation workshop, 2017

Yin and Yang symbol on the beach at sunset

Look forward to better health and wellbeing

There are no more places available for this workshop (on 30 September 2017).  Please contact Jocelyn to register your interest for the next workshop. Ph 027 493 9851 or use the Contact Form

Workshop: Saturday 30 September 2017, 9.30am – 12.45pm        

Venue: Clayton Park School hall, Wattle Downs, Manurewa, Auckland

Ideal for beginners as well as advanced tai chi students. Adults of any age and high school students are all welcome.

Stressed or tired? Recovering from illness, grief or an injury? Worried about exams or pressure at work? If so, this rejuvenating tai chi for rehabilitation workshop will help you to:

  • Boost your energy and strength
  • Relieve stress
  • Refresh your body, loosen your joints and ease your tensions
  • Get a good night’s sleep
  • Improve your blood circulation
  • Increase your mental clarity and inner peace
  • Improve your balance
Yin and Yang symbol with night and day

Feel more balanced, anywhere, anytime, night and day

At the end of the workshop, you will have learned:

  • A set of tai chi movements that you can do anytime, anywhere – at work, at home, while travelling – that will help to you to reduce stress, feel stronger and more balanced.
  • A breathing technique to help calm and clear your mind and improve your overall health.
  • A unique mantra to say to yourself while doing your tai chi to help you move smoothly and integrate your mind and body so you can feel more at peace and sleep better.

Adults of any age and high school students are all welcome. Bookings are essential.

Almost anyone can learn Tai Chi for Rehabilitation and Rejuvenation (TCR) as it can be done while standing, seated or lying down. TCR is a low impact exercise, gentle on your joints and is suitable for all adults and fitness levels. You do not need special shoes, clothing or equipment.

More details about the workshop:

  • When: Saturday 30 September, 9.30am – 12.45pm. Please arrive between 9.15 – 9.25am
  • Where: Clayton Park School hall, Cr Coxhead and Wattle Farm Roads, Wattle Downs, Manurewa, Map
  • What to wear: Loose, comfortable clothing and flat shoes like sneakers. Bring a bottle of water and a snack. If you’d like to try TCR while lying down please bring your own yoga mat or similar.
  • Parking: Plenty of free parking. Please note: the car park entrance for the school hall is off Wattle Farm Road
  • Price: $67 per person. Current Kia Ora Tai Chi students @ $47 per person
  • Optional extra: Buy the TCR practice DVD @ $30 to further assist you after the workshop.
Modern building surrounded by trees and blue skies

Venue for the workshop: Clayton Park School hall

Ideal for beginners as well as advanced tai chi students.  Places are limited to a maximum of 12.

TCR has been especially designed by a medical doctor (Dr Paul Lam) to improve health and wellness, especially when recovering from exhaustion and stressful situations, including illness, grief and accidents. The instructor for this workshop, Jocelyn Watkin, has been trained by Dr Lam and is qualified to teach TCR by the Tai Chi for Health Institute.

This workshop will help you to invest in your future health. Bookings are essential.

A drawing of two hands holding the Yin/Yang symbol. One half of the symbol is a fern frond, the other is black

Your future health is in your hands