New beginners class starts in Sept 2022

by Jocelyn Watkin | Aug 29, 2022 | Information | 0 comments

Please note: From 4 June 2024, the beginners tai chi class will only be held on Wednesday evenings.

Kia ora and thank you for your interest in Kia Ora Tai Chi and in learning tai chi and qigong. 

What others say about Kia Ora Tai Chi classes:

“Calming”, “Keeps the body moving”, “Inspiring”, “Encouraging”, “Feel centred”, “Sleep better”, “Feel in control”, “Wonderful”, “Fabulous”, “Loved it” and “A gift”.

A new beginners’ tai chi and qigong class will start In Manurewa on the evenings of Monday 12th and Wednesday 14th September 2022, 6.30 – 7.15pm.

Jocelyn Watkin and the Kia Ora Tai Chi team welcome adults of any age and ability as new beginners. 

The venue will be the Manurewa South School hall, which is located at 18 Totara Road, Manurewa. (Please refer to the map below.) The classes will be held every Monday and Wednesday evening (except for public holidays and during a break over Christmas and New Year).

If you’d like more information or to RSVP, please text or phone Jocelyn on 027 493 9851 or please use the Contact Form.

What to wear: Please wear loose comfortable clothing and bring a something warm like a hoodie, jumper, cardigan, etc. Please also wear flat-soled shoes (such as sneakers, trainers or tennis shoes). Please also wear a facemask on arrival and when talking with others. You can remove your facemask during tai chi if you wish, as long as we can all physically distance ourselves. Please also bring a bottle of drinking water.

What to expect: All of the classes begin with a sequence of easy, flowing, warm-up exercises which are low impact and gentle on your joints. These exercises are designed to improve your balance and core strength. You can do tai chi while seated, if you wish.

Then, Jocelyn and her team of instructors will guide you through a tai chi form – a series of linked postures and steps, which are also designed to strengthen your leg and core muscles and improve balance. The steps are performed in a slow, focussed manner and accompanied by deep breathing (known as qigong, which means ‘breath work’ and ‘energy work’).

Price:

• Come along for a free class on Monday 12th and/or Wednesday 14th September 2022. You are welcome to attend both for free.
• After 14th: Prices start from $10 to $15 per class (depending on how many classes are purchased in advance). 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+ AND be referred to qualify for this discount.

Covid-19 protection requirements to attend classes:

• High-quality face masks must be worn on arrival and when chatting to others before the class starts/after the class finishes. Some students are immuno-compromised. Everyone made a unanimous decision to continue to wear masks when coming to class to support and help those who are less fortunate with their health. This is regardless of any lesser requirements recommended by the NZ Government. If you wish, you can remove your mask during the class, as long as we can all physically distance ourselves. Please do not wear home-made fabric masks.
• Anyone who wants to keep wearing a mask throughout the class is welcome to do so and their views/wishes are respected by others.
• The hall will be well-ventilated as we have the doors open in ALL weathers, so please wear layered clothing to keep warm. Fortunately, warmer weather is on the way. There is a lovely outdoor deck off the hall and we do tai chi on that in the summer months.
• Please stay at home if you have a cold or flu-like symptoms or if you or someone in your household has Covid. You are not charged for missed classes under these circumstances.
• All instructors are vaccinated, including with two boosters.

If you’d like more information or to RSVP, please text or phone Jocelyn on 027 493 9851 or please use the Contact Form.

Participants in the evening classes are encouraged to attend on both Monday and Wednesday evenings. However, if you are committed to practicing at home then it is OK to attend just one class per week.

The above map shows the location of the evening classes in the Manurewa South School hall. The entrance to the hall and the parking is at 18 Totara Road (please don’t go to the main entrance to the school, which is on another street).

Please text or phone Jocelyn Watkin for more information about any of her classes, courses, workshops or retreats: 027 493 9851. Alternatively, please use the Contact Form to get in touch.

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 for very long, Jocelyn and several of her assistant instructors can also teach seated tai chi, which you can do alongside the rest of the class.

All of our tai chi classes are approved with the BIG TICK  for the Community Group Strength and Balance Programme so you can “Live Stronger for Longer”.

What is tai chi? Described as “moving meditation”, tai chi is an ancient Chinese martial art that combines mental focus with deliberate and relaxed movements. Regular practice of tai chi can help improve strength, health and balance, reduce stress and lower blood pressure.  Read more about the health benefits of tai chi.

Please text or phone Jocelyn to RSVP or for more information: 027 493 9851. Alternatively, please use the Contact Form to get in touch.