Frequently Asked Questions

What is Qigong?

Qigong pre-dates tai chi by several thousand years, and is essentially more to do with health and the healing effects of what is known in China as ‘Qi’ (pronounced Chi) which is sometimes translated as ‘life force’. The idea of Qi and the flow of Qi along invisible ‘meridians’ is central to various forms of Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), for example acupuncture and acupressure. Qigong consists of a series of gentle stretching and bending movements, each one repeated several times, combined with regular and effective breathing.

Will I have to get down on the floor?

No. All the movements are done standing, and mostly moving the arms and body with much less moving of legs than tai chi. Qigong can also be adapted to be practice sitting on a chair.

Do I have to stand on one leg?

No. Most moves are practised with feet shoulder-width apart and on odd occasions when one leg is raised, an unsteady student can simply replace that bit of the move with a ‘heel or toe touch’ instead.

How physically demanding is it?

It’s very gentle. The emphasis is on working within your capabilities and not stressing any muscles, ligaments or joints in any way. Breathing and posture are also very important.

Is there an age limit?

Not at all. Age is no barrier to learning Qigong.

How do I pay?

Per half term, by a single cash, cheque or BACS payment when enrolling.

Can I pay for each lesson as I go along?

No. Most of the costs of the classes have to be met at the beginning, so lesson-by-lesson payments, being erratic and unreliable, mean higher charges. Therefore a half full-term fee at the start actually keeps costs down.

If I sign up for the whole term but decide I don’t like it after only a couple of lessons, what then?

Qigong is very different to most other forms of exercise, and it will probably feel rather strange at first – perhaps even a little off-putting. And it can take a while before the benefits start to be felt, as improvements tend to be gradual. We strongly advise new students to give themselves plenty of time to settle in, and so gain a bit of confidence, before giving it up – at least a term or preferably two.

I have a pre-booked holiday that means I shall miss several lessons – can I have a refund for those sessions?

We run classes in a number of different places so unlike most weekly courses, missed lessons can be made up at the other classes at your convenience, in any of the weeks before or after your absence, but within that half term. Think of the term fee as more of a ‘membership’, rather than a number of lesson charges added up and secures your spot at your chosen class. For people who cannot take another class ie. going away then you can revert to PAYG at the higher rate for that half term only.  

What if I’m not around for the first week or two of the first term?

Not a problem. Students can join at any time of the year.

What should I wear?

Comfortable clothing – something roomy or stretchy, perhaps track suit or leggings and a loose top, plus trainers or soft shoes with a bit of grip, or just bare feet.

How long does it take to learn Qigong?

Qigong is easier to learn than tai chi. The time it takes to commit a sequence of moves to memory and learn to execute those moves in a reasonably competent manner will vary from person to person. The rate of progress will be directly influenced by the amount of practice done between lessons, but speed of learning is really beside the point. Masters of the art would say that it is a life-long endeavour as with learning a musical instrument, quality counts, and whilst it looks very simple, its grace and elegance belie its complexity and new students should not expect too much of themselves too quickly.

      Who can do Tai Chi?

Tai chi can be performed throughout life to maintain and improve flexibility, mobility and vitality, but without the risk of injury associated with some other forms of exercise. No special equipment is needed, just loose clothing and flat, comfortable shoes.

At Tai Chi Connection Uk we have a vast age range some people are fit and healthy; others have illness, or are recovering from illness, we aim to make the exercises accessible for everyone.

Tai chi involves moving more than qigong and remembering sequences of moves depending on what level one reaches. If you cannot stand for long, then if necessary your practice can be adapted to sitting for all or part of the practice.

         Regular practice of Tai Chi can:

Improve balance, co-ordination and memory,

Strengthen joints,

Develop and maintain flexibility,

 Enhance circulation and digestion,

 Boost the immune system function to help prevent illness,

Help achieve and maintain correct body weight,

 Improve physical, mental and emotional health,

 Increase general vitality,

Heighten awareness,

Help reduce stress by promoting a sense of calm and well being,

Slow the ageing process and helps prolong life

Tai Chi work with a subtle current of life energy, flowing through every living thing and when that flow gets blocked; our health systems begins to break down. The symptoms of blocked energy are first felt as tension and stress. The practice of Tai Chi help release physical blocks as well as emotional and mental ones, opening us up to the spiritual element of the practices. This eventually becomes the core of our training and we aim to practice Tai Chi to heal ourselves in order to open up to a maximum flow of life energy.

Breathing is the key to releasing the ‘world we all carry on our shoulders’, and so we encourage learners to come to sessions for no other reason than to ‘breathe’ and to ‘let go of their grip on the rat race from today’s frantic life style’ and then one day they will discover that they have grasped Tai Chi naturally at deeper and deeper levels without any struggle