BANBURY T’AI CHI
HANWELL FIELDS COMMUNITY CENTRE,
BANBURY OX16 1ER
WELLBEING
T’ai Chi Chu’an, better known as simply T’ai Chi is a Chinese exercise system based on a series of slow, gentle movements that promote stretching of the body and channelling of internal energy. Qigong, breathing exercises which help you to breathe properly, relax, gently stretch your body, improve your balance and help to deal with stress. T’ai Chi and Qigong discipline you to focus only on the present moment, freeing your mind to be at ease.
A body under stress does not function optimally and is unable to efficiently perform the job it was designed to do. When practising T’ai Chi, relaxation starts to become a habit, the stress hormones no longer predominate and your body can begin to heal itself.
With continued practice, you will develop a deep and well-balanced understanding of T’ai Chi and the principles behind it. You can achieve a very high standard of T’ai Chi at the same time as enjoying the relaxed and supportive atmosphere that is an important part of practice with the friends you make in class.
T’ai Chi exercises are accessible to all ages, regardless of physical condition. They are relatively easy to perform and to memorize. This is just the tip of the iceberg. Read on to learn about some of the ways T’ai Chi can benefit you.
HOW CAN T’AI CHI HELP ME?
How can moving slowly help me be healthy, calm and in control?
– Lower Stress And Anxiety
– Reinforces The Immune System
– Improves Cardiac Health
– Helps To Reduce Chronic Pain
– Helps With Lower Back Pain
– Improves Arthritic Conditions
– Helps To Lower Blood Pressure
– Improves Everyday Physical Functioning
– Generates a Feeling Of Well-being
– Encourages Better Sleep
Chronic Stress is associated with Heart disease, Cancer, Arthritis and a multitude of other conditions.
The slow focused movements allow your blood circulation to feed all of the cells of your body with life giving oxygen. Your respiration slows and deepens helping to build your immune system.
STRESS, WHAT STRESS…???
T’ai Chi is one of the most effective ways to deal with stress. It is not a short-term fix but quite quickly you will start to feel calmer in situations that used to stress you in the past.
T’ai Chi helps to stimulate and improve flexibility of the upper and lower body, as well as coordination and strength. T’ai Chi moves are performed in various positions, often standing to warm, stretch, and relax tense muscles and joint tissues.
T’ai Chi helps improve balance and strength, while decreasing the risk of falls in older adults.
Increased Muscle Strength
T’ai Chi can improve and increase muscle strength in lower and upper body at the same time. This is comparable to resistance training exercises like yoga or using bands and elastics. It can also help to build strength in lower body, trunk, back and abdominal muscles and even improve knee health.
CARDIOVASCULAR HEALTH
T’ai Chi helps to improve cardiovascular health by reducing blood pressure and reducing the body’s stress response. It improves breathing and reduces inflammation. People who are suffering from osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia, Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s can benefit from it.
The slow and soft movements are closely related to meditation with its focused on seamless calm. The point of these slow but consistent movements is for a short time to turn your mind inwards and promote calm.
T’ai Chi & Qigong can make you feel relaxed and free from daily stress, just like meditation. You learn the importance of being in a relaxed state through it.
Inhaling and exhaling properly activates your abdominal muscles and your energy. T’ai Chi helps you to breathe in the truest sense.
What We Do
T’ai Chi is about enhancing your life and feeling good so it does not matter where you start from, just that you want to come along and have fun. Practitioners of all abilities and fitness levels are welcome. The movements of T’ai Chi are gentle, flowing and smooth. You will learn to treat your body to a relaxing and gentle workout. It is not a workout that make you pant, puff and sweat. After a session you will feel energized, refreshed, cool and calm. Your fitness, health and peace of mind will improve.
Whilst T’ai Chi is relatively easy, we all have to start at the beginning. Our beginner’s class is designed with the absolute novice in mind.
It is gentle exercise and can be adapted to whatever level of fitness you currently have. Although it is ‘only gentle exercise’, it it will work your body and you will be amazed how quickly you notice a difference in your balance and flexibility.
Accessible to all ages and regardless of physical condition, T’ai Chi exercises are relatively easy to memorize and perform. These benefits are just the tip of the iceberg, and there are hundreds of other benefits.
T’ai Chi is “Meditation in Slow Motion”. It is performed in an ultra-calm and slow way. Science tells us that exercise performed consciously multiplies the benefits! These benefits are multiplied for both the body and mind.
Each class begins with Dharma Qigong, which dates back some 3000 years and comprises of gently tapping body parts to “wake up the body”.
We then do a gentle warm-up to loosen and invigorate our body. This is followed by the T’ai Chi Chu’an Yang Style 8 Movements and a selection of Qigong exercises (pronounced Chi Gong) which can be thought of as breathing exercises. We will learn how to breathe properly, relax, gently stretch the body, improve balance and deal with stress.
The class lasts for one hour and you’ll find that “time flies” and you will go home feeling really good!
T’ai Chi is an activity that you can enjoy all year round. Once you are familiar with some of the exercises, you will be able to practise at home, indoor or outdoor, or perhaps at your local park.I practise my t’ai chi forms and qigong in my local park, daily at 7am. I love the new fresh morning air and it is quiet around me. (Except the other day when a blackbird sitting just 2-3 yards away decide to interrupt with loud but beautiful singing. I stopped and just listened – couldn’t be more relaxing).
Classes
Banbury T’ai Chi is open to the public and offer classes for both beginners and intermediate students. T’ai Chi is, as well, called “meditation in slow motion” or “slow gymnastic”. Whatever the name it will create a GREAT FEELING of WELL BEING
We have three classes at Hanwell Fields Community Centre (the Community Centre is temporarily closed for refurbishment. We are using other venues in Banbury). The first session is free of charge. It is for you to try out and hopefully you will enjoy and feel comfortable to continue. It will then be £8:00 per session.
Beginners Classes:
Mondays at 7pm
Wednesdays at 11.30am
Intermediate Class:
Wednesdays at 10am
British Tai Chi Academy have classes Monday to Friday, morning and evening for beginners and intermediate students in the Warwick and Leamington Spa area.
Walton-on-Thames T’ai Chi is running classes for beginners and intermediate students ever Thursday evening, in the Surrey area, . Contact Kevin via his web-site
Mats Wivesson
My first contact with t’ai chi was in 1992 in Ealing, London. Unfortunately, my progress was cut short due to work commitment i.e. international travel. I moved to Walton-on-Thames in 2005 where I started with Master Hine Tai Chi Institute (co-founder of T’ai Chi & Qigong Union for Great Britain). I practised weekly with the excellent instructor Kevin Mullins (Walton-on-Thames T’ai Chi) and attended Master Hines Saturday seminars as well.
At the Walton-on-Thames T’ai Chi, I was practising:
– T’ai Chi Short Form,
– T’ai Chi Long Form (Yang Style),
– Chi Kung (Chi Breathing),
– Kung Ching (Chi Building),
– Chi Circulation,
– Crane Breathing,
– Pushing Hands and Taoist Massage.
At Master Hine’s seminars I was practising:
– Fan form (single and double),
– Gim (straight sword),
– Moving the Centre and Yin /Yang Hands.
In 2018, I moved to Banbury and started at the British Tai Chi Academy with Master Peter Fletcher. I’m practising with Master Peter the Yang style: 8 movements, 24 movements, 48 movements, Qi Gong and Reflexology.
I have the following T’AI CHI INSTRUCTOR CERTIFICATES:
T’ai Chi and Qigong Union for Great Britain; instructors’ certificate at intermediate level
International Taiji & Qigong Federation; Full Taiji & Qigong instructors’ certificate at Intermediate Level 2
British T’ai Chi Academy; Instructor’s certificate for Yang style 8-, 24-, and 48 movements form.
I have a full liability insurance and I’m teaching both beginners and intermediate students in Banbury and I have as well classes in Wardington and Southam.
The Tai Chi & Qigong Union for Great Britain (TCUGB)was founded in 1991 with the aim of representing every recognised style of T’ai Chi Chu’an, to improve and promote the art in all its aspects, health, aesthetic meditation, and self-defence and to provide a source of information on classes, etc. for the general public. In recent years the TCUGB has opened the door to Qigong and other Internal Martial Art styles and has now grown to be probably the largest collective of independent T’ai Chi Chu’an and Qigong teachers in Great Britain with over 1000 instructor members, and 100 ordinary members registered.
What My STUDENTS Say about THE CLASSES
Paul and Sue @ ESH Community: We were introduced to Mats via the British Tai Chi association about 4 years ago. We operate a residential rehab and our residents stay with us for between 4 and 8 weeks, usually coming from chaotic backgrounds. We wanted to introduce Tai Chi as part of our holistic programme of activities to help our residents to gain a sense of peace and calm. When we discussed what we were looking for with Mats, he understood completely and he was exactly the type of person we wanted to work with our residents. He always takes time to understand the physical abilities of each of our residents and manages the sessions to accommodate everyone. Mats is incredibly calm but also enthusiastic and passionate about what he teaches. Feedback from our residents is always positive, they learn so much and it really does help to provide the peace and calm we want to achieve for our residents.
Celia @ Banbury T’ai Chi Group: I started t’ai chi with Mats about a year ago just after lockdown and can honestly say that it has improved my health and mental wellbeing. Mats is a brilliant teacher, very encouraging and positive and every week there is something new to learn. The movements are slow and gentle and have increased my balance and the movement in my joints. I just love the class!
Heather @ Wardington T’ai Chi Group: I generally don’t like group exercise so didn’t expect to enjoy T’ai Chi when it was recommended to me. However, I can honestly say that I love the weekly class.
I enjoy the gentle pace and the fact that I can do as much or as little as I feel capable of. I also appreciate the calm, mindful nature of the classes. Since doing T’ai Chi with Mats I have noticed that my balance has improved and if I miss a class I notice the difference. I have also found it interesting to learn more about the origins and philosophy of T’ai Chi.
The atmosphere in the class is very relaxed and supportive, and I now count my fellow tai chi-ers as friends.
Liz P @ Banbury T’ai Chi Group: As a person with hip and back difficulties, tai chi has improved my mobility and kept me fitter than I ever hoped to be at this stage in my life! It has changed my outlook on life, allowing me to be kinder to myself and those around me.
I love the class I attend – it is so friendly and gentle, and I always leave feeling re-energized.
Mats, you are an excellent teacher, so in touch with the deep principles of t’ai chi, and so patient and kind. I really appreciate the time that you spend with us, I learn something new every week! And not always about t’ai chi! Thank you for being there.
Caroline @ Wardington T’ai Chi Group: T’ai chi has massively improved my life with improved balance and fitness. Mats is an excellent teacher who cares about his students and adapts the sessions to support everyone. At the end of session, I have a great sense of calmness and peace.
Steve D @ Banbury T’ai Chi Group; I had always wanted to try T’ai Chi so when I discovered Mats’s classes so close to home I had to give them a try. They have been a revelation. I always come away feeling energized. They really set up my week physically and mentally.
I find the teaching style really easy to follow and engage with, allowing me to enjoy the class while working on the detail to improve my technique.”
The slow movements are really beneficial in waking up the body and clearing the mind.
Yvonne @ Wardington T’ai Chi Group: Through t’ai chi classes my balance and flexibility have most definitely improved. T’ai chi is relaxing and energising in equal measure and I always leave the class with a smile on my face and a spring in my step. Mats is a fantastic teacher, knowledgeable and with his gentle manner is ever mindful of the group he is teaching.
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