Workshops: Reduce stress and rebalance with 5-Element Qigong, April 2023

Wouldn’t it be amazing if there was a way to rebalance yourself when you felt ‘out of kilter’. Absolutely and I’ll show you the pathway! Through the ancient, restorative art of 5-Element Qigong you can learn how to harmonise and rejuvenate your body, mind and soul.

Workshop 1, Part 1: Saturday 15 April 2023, 10am – 1pm in Manurewa

Workshop 2, Part 2: Saturday 29 April 2023, 10am – 1pm, in Manurewa

According ancient Chinese philosophy, everything in the cosmos and the world (including humans) is composed of five elements – Earth, Metal, Water, Wood and Fire. When these five are in balance, all is well. When they are not, you feel ‘out of sorts’, tired and often stressed.

As a qualified qigong instructor, I offer two very special and in-depth workshops to learn 5-Element Qigong, which synchronises your movements and breathing with the five essential elements of the universe.

In the 1st workshop (Part 1) on Saturday 15 April 2023, you’ll learn:

  • Gentle, restorative Yin movements in 5-Element Qigong for the spleen (earth), lung (metal), kidney (water), liver (wood), and heart (fire).
  • How to rebalance yourself when you feel ‘out of kilter’ with the curative power of 5-Element Qigong.
  • About the fascinating five elements: Earth, Metal, Water, Wood and Fire, how they are inter-connected, including to the seasons, emotions, colours, and the sensory and body organs.
  • The ancient history of how these elements combine Yin with Yang to improve strength and balance.
  • How to self-care and nurture yourself with healing qigong to release tension and stiffness.

To RSVP, or if you have questions, please text Jocelyn on 027 493 9851 or used the contact form on the website: https://www.kiaorataichi.nz/contact-us/

In the 2nd workshop (Part 2) on Saturday 29 April 2023, you’ll learn:

  • Gentle, yet powerful Yang movements in 5-Element Qigong for the stomach (earth), large intestine (metal), bladder (water), gallbladder (wood), small intestine (fire).
  • How to combine Yin with the Yang movements in 5-Element Qigong to help fully rebalance your overall health and wellbeing, reduce stress, and let go of tension. 
  • More about the fascinating five elements: Earth, Metal, Water, Wood and Fire
  • Restorative journaling to calm and settle your mind so you can create your own tranquil and centred inner-universe to avoid the build-up of unnecessary stress and tension.
  • A free journal will be provided.

Cost: $75 per person, per workshop.  $120 per person for both workshops.  (Payable by online banking). The account number will be provided once you RSVP. Please refer to the cancellation policy below.

To RSVP, or if you have questions, please text Jocelyn on 027 493 9851 or used the contact form on the website: https://www.kiaorataichi.nz/contact-us/

When:

  • Workshop 1: Saturday 15 April 2023, 10am to 1pm (please arrive no later than 9.55am)
  • Workshop 2: Saturday 29 April 2023, 10am to 1pm (please arrive no later than 9.55am)
  • Attend just one or attend both.

Where: Reremoana School hall, 15 Scotsmoor Drive, Wattle Downs, Manurewa, Auckland 2103 Refer to map: https://goo.gl/maps/QXmMTrs5hdcbwscb7

Parking: Plenty of free parking on the half-circle shaped driveway in front of the school.

Ideal for beginners.

Open to anyone aged 18+, who is seeking to rebalance and rejuvenate their body, soul and strength.

What to wear:  Comfortable, loose clothing that is easy to move in, and flat-soled shoes. Please also bring a jersey or hoodie to keep warm when we are sitting still for some of the time.

Please bring: Note pad and paper, water bottle and a snack.  A free journal will be provided for Workshop 2.

Places are limited to just 12 people.

 Who is the instructor?

Jocelyn Watkin has helped people of all ages and abilities to reduce stress and improve their overall health, fitness, balance and well-being with qigong and tai chi since 2003.

She is the founder and director of Kia Ora Tai Chi with extensive experience in teaching qigong and tai chi face-to-face or online for regular weekly classes, workshops and retreats, at schools, a medical centre and a retirement village.

She is registered as a group exercise contractor (with own choreography) with the New Zealand Register of Exercise Professionals (REPs), which is the recognised quality mark throughout Aotearoa/New Zealand. 

She is approved as a strength and balance group exercise provider with the Accident Compensation Commission and has numerous tai chi and qigong instructor qualifications. She also has a New Zealand Diploma of Teaching.

Jocelyn also teaches restorative and mindful journaling to help people manage and relieve stress. When combined with calming, meditative breathing (qigong and reiki) and the mind/body connection of tai chi, journaling becomes even more restorative. The tai chi and qigong releases tension in both mind and body enabling people to focus more easily and more clearly on the changes they can make to reduce and better manage stress in their lives.

Testimonial: “I really enjoyed your style, Jocelyn. Friendly, caring, informative and non-judgemental. You made me feel relaxed and welcome. Thank you.” (Participant in the Stardome mini-retreat, March 2022)

What is qigong?

For thousands of years the Chinese have had a secret. A secret that helps to increase longevity, a secret that assists the body to heal from injury, illness and trauma.

That secret is qigong, a deep meditative breathing exercise that connects the mind to the body.

One of the main reasons people want to learn qigong is that it helps with overall well-being and healing.

 Qigong is about releasing stress, not suppressing it. Through special qigong breathing you can learn how to let go of stress.

What is restorative journaling?

Writing or drawing in a journal (also known as journaling) can help you to process and understand what is happening in your life, to accept what you can and can’t control, and to focus what you want for your future.

You don’t need to write in sentences if you don’t want to. You can also draw, mind map or doodle, if you wish.

Journaling can reduce frustration and anxiety, free yourself from uncertainty and indecision and take back the control of your thoughts and your life.

It can help you to overcome the overwhelm and create a plan for lasting change and freedom.

Jocelyn learned about the power of journaling when recovering from post-traumatic stress nearly 25 years ago. It enabled her to break the power stress had on her and also freed her thoughts to plan for a better and different life.

Testimonial: “Jocelyn was very relatable because quite often what was being taught had been used by her in real life.” (Participant in the Stardome mini-retreat, March 2022)

Cancellation policy

The workshop(s) must be paid for in full to reserve your place.

All payments are non-refundable but, if you can’t attend, you can nominate a friend, colleague or family member to take your place.

In the unlikely event that Kia Ora Tai Chi cancels the workshop, you will be refunded in full.

COVID-19 policy

Please do not attend this workshop if you are sick or have cold or ‘flu-like symptoms. In this instance and if you can’t find someone else to take your place, you will be provided with a credit towards another Kia Ora Tai Chi workshop, retreat or class.

All participants will need to respect the need for social distancing at all times during the workshop. The venue is big and there’ll be plenty of room for everyone to spread out. There will not be any paired exercises or touching by others.

The venue will be well-ventilated and hand sanitiser will be provided.

We will abide by the NZ Government’s health advice and regulations as they apply at the time of the workshop.

Jocelyn (the instructor) has been fully vaccinated for Covid-19.

To RSVP, or if you have questions, please text Jocelyn on 027 493 9851 or used the contact form on the website: https://www.kiaorataichi.nz/contact-us/

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 tai chi for beginners on 11 & 13 February 2019

Please note: This is a post from February 2019:

Free tai chi classes for beginners on Monday 11 February and Wednesday 13 February 2019, 6.30 – 7.15pm in Manurewa.

There is lots of free parkingClick here for more information and a map.

After the free classes, a new beginners class will start on Monday 18 and Wednesday 20 February 2019. Same time and same place.

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 and suitable for adults of any age and high school students. Seated tai chi is also available.

Photo of a group of people doing tai chi in a big sunny hall.

Come along and give it a try with a friendly bunch of people at a great venue.

Classes are taught by Jocelyn Watkina fully-qualified, premier instructor with the Tai Chi for Health Institute. She is supported by a team of assistant instructors, who are also qualified.

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”

Tai chi is the perfect fit for fitness

Love tai chi for fun and fitness

People often ask whether tai chi can help with fitness. When I say “YES” they ask how is this possible when you don’t ‘huff and puff’ while doing tai chi?

Puffing and the ‘blood, sweat and tears’ approach to exercise is mainly propaganda from the gyms touting for business. Fortunately, there is better news for those who don’t fancy working up a sweat or can’t?

The team at “Trust Me I’m a Doctor” (BBC TV) set off to the University of Birmingham to answer the question on whether something so slow and graceful as tai chi could really give you the benefits of a more vigorous workout.

For this clinical trial, they worked with volunteers aged 65 – 75 to compare tai chi with Zumba Gold. The results (released in October 2018) surprised them: The tai chi group showed similar benefits to those in the Zumba group, with improvements in blood pressure and vessel flexibility.

You can find out more and WHY in this link: https://www.bbc.com/news/health-45799473

Numerous other studies and clinical trials have shown that tai chi improves muscular strength, flexibility, fitness, immunity, relieves pain and improves the quality of life. If you’d like to know more about this and how/why tai chi works then chick out this information from Dr Paul Lam and the Tai Chi for Health Institute: https://taichiforhealthinstitute.org/articles/life-style/

Dr Lam says that, “Hour for hour, practising a Tai Chi for Health programme is probably the most effective exercise to improve health and well-being“. To find more about the Tai Chi for Health programmes that I teach click here.

Find out more about Kia Ora Tai Chi classes.

Kia Ora Tai Chi for fitness and for health. Fun, too.

Free tai chi for beginners on 15 & 17 Oct 2018

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 Watkina 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”