Course Overview
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This course offers an in-depth exploration of the foundations of Tai Chi, Qigong & related practices. Foundations are the heart of the practice – without establishing a good foundation, more complex or advanced practices may still remain at a superficial level. Developing good foundation practice can be more challenging than learning the external choreography of movement forms, as it requires deeper awareness and applied effort over time (gung fu) – and requires us to change fundamental body-mind habits and cultivate new ones.
The approach taken on this course is to work from the inside out, to develop a deeper body-mind connection and embodied understanding of posture and movement, providing a foundation from which to learn and develop the external forms.
Course Contents
- Foundation Principles, Explorations & Exercises
- Tai Chi 37 Form (Simplified Yang Style Tai Chi)
- Qigong Practices & Forms
- Tai Chi & Qigong Partnerwork
- Bagua Basics – Baguazhang For Beginners
- Scaravelli-Inspired Yoga & Meditation.
The course includes weekly in-person classes, themed weekend workshops plus online class recordings and detailed notes.
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Weekly Course Schedule
Week 1
- Course Introduction
- Foundation 1 – Qigong & Body-Mind Foundations – Yi Leads Qi
- Tai Chi 37 Form – Preparation, Beginning
- Workshop – Qigong Principles & Forms
Week 2
- Foundation 2 – Physical Foundations – Mobilising, Opening & Releasing
- Partnerwork – Loosening, Yielding & Listening
- Tai Chi 37 Form – Ward Off Left
- Workshop – Tai Chi 37 Form
Week 3
- Foundation 3 – Posture, Shapes & Functional Structure
- Partnerwork – Structure, Shape & ‘Peng’
- Tai Chi 37 Form – Ward Off Right
- Workshop – Tai Chi Partnerwork
Week 4
- Foundation 4 – Yi & Internal Structure
- Partnerwork – Single ‘Push Hands’ – Peng & Lu (Ward Off, Roll Back)
- Tai Chi 37 Form – Ward Off, Roll Back, Press, Push
- Workshop – Bagua Basics – Baguazhang for Beginners
Week 5
- Foundation 5 – Opening & Closing
- Partnerwork – Open, Close, Push, Pull
- Tai Chi 37 Forms – Ward Off, Roll Back, Press, Push
- Workshop – Qigong Principles & Forms
Week 6
- Foundation 6 – Horizontal
- Partnerwork – Horizontal Dynamics
- Tai Chi 37 Form – Single Whip
- Workshop – Tai Chi 37 Form
Week 7
- Foundation 7 – Vertical
- Partnerwork – Vertical Dynamics
- Tai Chi 37 Form – Raise Hands, Shoulder Stroke
- Workshop – Tai Chi Partnerwork
Week 8
- Foundation 8 – Rotation & Spiral I (Parallel Stance)
- Partnerwork – Rotational Dynamics
- Tai Chi 37 Form – White Crane Spreads Wings
- Workshop – Bagua Basics – Baguazhang for Beginners
Week 9
- Foundation 9 – Rotation & Spiral II (Bow Stance)
- Partnerwork – Horizontal & Vertical Circles & 4-Directions
- Tai Chi 37 Form – Brush Knee & Twist Step, Play Guitar
- Workshop – Qigong Principles & Forms
Week 10
- Foundation 10 – Balance, Stepping, Walking, Forms
- Partnerwork – Moving Step Practice
- Tai Chi 37 Form – Step Forward, Deflect Downward, Parry & Punch
- Workshop – Tai Chi 37 Form
Week 11
- Foundation 11 – Developing Foundation Practice (Gong Fu)
- Tai Chi 37 Form – Apparent Close Up (Withdraw & Push)
- Workshop – Tai Chi Partnerwork
Week 12
- Foundation 12 – Developing Form Practice
- Tai Chi 37 Form – Cross Hands, First Section Revision (Forms 1 to 18)
- Workshop – Bagua Basics – Baguazhang for Beginners
Plus – Additional Monthly Yoga & Meditation Workshops
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Weekend Workshops Content
i) Qigong Principles & Forms
- Qigong Foundations
- Cheng Man ch’ing’s 8 Methods
- Shibashi Tai Chi Qigong (18 Movements & Variations)
- Huang Sheng Shyan’s 5 Loosening Exercises
- Liu Xiheng’s Tai Chi Exercises
- Zhan Zhuang and Yiquan Basics
ii) Tai Chi 37 Form
- 37 Tai Chi Form (Cheng Man-ch’ing’s Simplified Yang Style Tai Chi Chuan)
iii) Tai Chi Partnerwork
- Foundation Partnerwork
- Tai Chi Partnerwork – Tui Shou (‘Pushing Hands’)
- Tai Chi & Bagua Applications
iv) Bagua Basics – Baguazhang for Beginners
- Circle Walking & ‘Mother Palms’ (hand / arm shapes)
- Hand techniques & linear stepping drills
- Partnerwork
v) Yoga & Meditation
- Scaravelli-inspired yoga – asana & pranayama
- Meditation practice