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, a 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 exercise programme and martial art 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 at home, at work and even on a bus or train.
What happens when we don’t breathe properly? Journalist, James Nestor, and a friend decided to try it for just two weeks. He said on Radio NZ National this week, “We knew it wasn’t going to be fun, but we didn’t know it was going to be a bad as it was. Within a few hours my blood pressure shot up about 20 points. That night I start snoring and I had not snored before.”
Check out the RadioNZ broadcast with James Nestor in this link.
I’ve also written about WHY tai chi breathing is so good for you and how it can help you to bust stress in just a few minutes per day. Click here to find out.
What I love about seated tai chi is that enables all to enjoy the health and wellness benefits from tai chi, regardless of ability, age, size, shape or whether you have an illness or injury.
Often described as “moving meditation”, tai chi is an ancient Chinese martial art that combines mental focus with deliberate and relaxed movements that are gentle on your joints.
It is sometimes referred to as “taiji” or “tai chi chuan”. You can find out more about tai chi here.
The term ‘gentle’ does not mean ineffective. Seated tai chi can be an incredibly good fitness routine to strengthen your core muscles and your back.
I am a board-certified and premier instructor for Tai Chi for Health Institute. I am qualified to teach a number of Tai Chi for Health programmes, including Seated Tai Chi for Arthritis (TCA). Click on this link to learn more about me and the Kia Ora Tai Chi team
Give Seated TCA a try for yourself, whether at home or in the office. You’ll be able to learn it in eight easy steps in the video below, which I’ve made just for you.
Cancellation: Park Life event in Cornwall Park on Sunday 29 March. (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)
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 the Clayton Park School hall, Wattle Downs, Manurewa, Auckland 2013. Refer to map. Please note that the entrance to the hall and free parking is off Wattle Farm Road.
To RSVP or to ask questions about the classes, please use theContact 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 are FREE. After that, prices start from $9.50 per class. A discount is available for those who are referredby 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 thehealth 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.
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.
When: Sunday mornings, 9 – 9.45am, starting on Sunday 5 January 2020 and every Sunday morning in January and February (weather permitting).
When: Tuesday evenings, 6 – 6.45pm, starting on Tuesday 7 January 2020 and every Tuesday evening in January and February (weather permitting)
Where:Pohutukawa Drive in Cornwall Park, Auckland 1051. Refer to map: Tai chi will be under the trees to the left of Pohutukawa Drive, about half-way up this road (when entering Cornwall Park from Greenlane Road West). Look for the signs and your instructors in red Kia Ora Tai Chi shirts. Details on how to get to Cornwall Park
What to wear: Loose, comfortable clothing, sun hat, sun block and flat shoes. Please bring insect repellent and a drink bottle of water.
Ideal for beginners. All ages welcome. Just come along. No need to RSVP.
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?
What I love about seated tai chi is that enables all to enjoy the health and wellness benefits from tai chi, regardless of ability, age, size, shape or whether you have an illness or injury.
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.
When: Sunday mornings, 9 – 9.45am, starting on Sunday 5 January 2020 and every Sunday morning in January and February (weather permitting).