Tai Chi Classes in Basingstoke
About our Tai Chi classes for Adults
- Ages: 16+
- Class length: 60 minutes
- Classes: Monday 7:30-8:30pm, Wednesday 7:10 – 8:10pm and Friday 1:00-2:00pm
- Where: Shin Gi Tai Martial Arts Academy, Unit A, Daneshill Central, Armstrong Road, Basingstoke RG24 8NU
- Sparring: non to light contact depending upon age and experience with safety equipment
- Can I do Tai Chi if I have a health condition or limited mobility?
Yes. Tai Chi’s slow, gentle movements are low impact and easy on the joints, and our coaches adapt them to suit your health, mobility and confidence. Many of our members live with long-term health conditions. If you’re unsure whether exercise is right for you, please speak to your GP before starting. - First step: a free taster class, no obligation – book a free taster here or call 01256 364104
An antidote to combat the stresses and anxieties.
Tai Chi Chuan is a wonderful exercise for you if you are looking for a low impact gentle exercise routine.
Our Tai Chi classes in Basingstoke will help you to relax through a combination of slow smooth graceful movements, its deep relaxing breathing helps with both physical and mental relaxation and as an antidote to combat the stresses and anxieties of our daily lives.
Tai Chi, sometimes called Taiji or Tai Chi Chuan, is a form of exercise and moving meditation that has been practised for centuries in China for its holistic health benefits. As a soft internal Chinese Art, it is suitable for all ages and abilities. The soft gentle movements help with muscle relaxation and combined with flowing movements assist in combating the anxieties and stresses of modern life.
We regularly run a beginners Tai Chi class or beginners course to help people to learn this fascinating art that can provide a complete system for physical and mental health through a combination of movement, mindfulness and meditation.
What is Tai Chi?
Tai Chi or Taiji originated in China and has been practised for hundreds of years by many people around the world. There have been many scientific and academic studies on the efficacy of Tai Chi in providing a comprehensive method of mental and physical well-being through a combination of mindfulness, meditation and relaxing movements.
There are several main styles of Tai Chi worldwide now, each with its own focus and differences. However, all of the major Tai Chi styles have more common ground than differences. All will improve your health, help you to move more mindfully and gracefully and alleviate stress. All of them use slow flowing circular movements.
The main styles, in order of popularity are Yang style Tai Chi, Wu style Tai Chi, Chen style Tai Chi, Wu Hao or Hao style Tai Chi and Sun style Tai Chi. Our Basingstoke Tai Chi classes practice the Yang family Tai Chi style.
BOOK A FREE TASTER CLASS!
Experience a class, meet our professional coaching team and discover whether Shin Gi Tai is right for you. No previous experience is required. There’s absolutely no obligation to join, it’s simply an opportunity to discover whether we’re the right fit for you.
The benefits of learning Tai Chi
Regularly learning Tai Chi has a number of benefits, to our members from the Basingstoke area, including:
- Meditation
- Improved balance
- Relaxation and well-being
- Improved Posture
- Mental Awareness and Concentration
- A low impact form of exercise
- Increased Core Strength
- Gentle exercise that can support recovery (with Doctor’s agreement)
Through skilful and thoughtful Tai Chi practice we develop the skills and mindset to help us to take control and responsibility for our health and the clarity and focus to empower our lives. Consequently, there are numerous studies that have shown how effective Tai Chi is for reducing stress and anxiety in addition to helping people to cope with long term physical conditions through its therapeutic healing properties. There have been studies demonstrating how taking part in a Tai Chi class helps to lessen the risk of falls or tripping over.
Tai Chi classes can help you take control of your life and health!
Medical Studies concerning Tai Chi
There are many medical studies that have demonstrated the efficacy of Tai Chi to help people cope with chronic conditions. Moreover, regular practice of Tai Chi has also been known to alleviate health problems associated with ageing.
Additionally, studies have shown the efficacy of Taiji in helping with the prevention of falls. Because Tai chi integrates low physical impact body movements with deep breathing and mental concentration, relaxation is possible, thus making it an option reducing anxietyS.
The online web definition of Tai Chi from Princeton.edu provides a good outline of some of the major aspects of the art – “A Chinese system of slow meditative physical exercise designed for relaxation and balance and health.”
What our members think
What do we learn in Tai Chi?
You will learn a syllabus that is suitable for anyone of any age or ability and is structured to allow you to progress at a pace that encourages you to develop at your own speed without any pressure.
The teachers that you will meet use the most modern progressive coaching methods to teach this ancient Chinese art ensuring that modern sports science and teaching skills are used to pass on this fascinating soft Chinese Art. Our Tai Chi teachers are Level 2 or Level 3 qualified Tai Chi coaches with the British Council for Chinese Martial Arts (BCCMA,) which is Sport England’s National Governing Body for Chinese Martial Arts in England. Our head coach is also a tutor for the BCCMA, educating their coaches to become qualified teachers.
The curriculum you will study includes:
Neigong
Neigong, which can also be spelt Nei Kung or Neigung is a practice within Tai Chi of breathing and meditation by nurturing the physical stillness of the body and deliberate conscious movement. This is intended to release any tension within the body and to relax body and mind.
Fundamentally Neigong practice in our Basingstoke Tai Chi classes is designed to develop high levels of concentration or focus, co-ordination and fundamental Tai Chi skills.
Qigong
Qigong, also known as Qi Gong or Chi Gung, is a systemised method of harmonising the body’s posture, its movements and breathing.
The practice of Qigong is carried out with very slow yet flowing movements with an emphasis on using the whole body whilst maintaining good body condition and posture. Essentially it can be summarised as the body, breath and mind working together in harmony. This is Tai Chi.
The levels of Tai Chi
Tai Chi for Beginners in Basingstoke
When you start learning Tai Chi with us, you will learn the principles of how to move in a smooth flowing way whilst practising Tai Chi forms.
The first form that you will learn takes around 4 minutes to complete and consists of the Grasp Sparrow’s tail sequence performed in multiple directions .
This sequence is an important part of the Long Form or Yang Chen Fu Form as it is repeated multiple times within the form. This is the next form that we teach beginners to Tai Chi in Basingstoke. We break this form down into three sections to make it easier to learn and to practice. Each section is then further broken down into discrete portions to aid learning, how fast you progress in each is down to the individual with no pressure from the teachers.
Intermediate Tai Chi
At the Intermediate stage of your Tai Chi experience, you will be well on the way to refining the second and third sections of Yang Chen Fu and deepening your knowledge. At this stage we are looking to become much more aware of our own body and how it feels and moves whilst performing the form. We try to feel the correct posture and placement of the arms and legs and how this helps us to do better Tai Chi.
Advanced Tai Chi
It is at this stage that we start to learn new forms and new skills within these forms.
- Long Boxing – Chong Chuan
- Broadsword – Dao
- Double Edge Sword – Jian
- Spear – Qiang
- Fan – Shan
- Two Person Forms – Da Lu and San Shou
At this stage in our training we are now ready to start studying the more advanced technical concepts of Tai Chi and working to harmonise our body and Tai Chi so that the intention of our movement is mindful and that our body and movement supports the intention. At this stage, your Tai Chi practice is your own and we encourage you to explore how to improve it and make it work better for you, so that in fact you are not thinking about doing Tai Chi, you are just doing Tai Chi.
Tai Chi Questions Answered
Thinking about starting Tai Chi? Here are the answers to the questions people most often ask before joining our Tai Chi classes in Basingstoke.
Is Tai Chi suitable for complete beginners?
Yes. Our beginners courses are designed for people who have never done Tai Chi before. You learn the movements step by step, at a gentle pace, with coaches guiding you throughout.
How do I start Tai Chi?
New members join through our Tai Chi beginners courses, which normally run around four times a year. This is the only way to join the classes, so everyone starts together and learns the foundations properly.
Contact us or call 01256 364104 to find out when the next beginners course starts.
When are the Tai Chi classes?
Tai Chi runs on Mondays from 7:30pm to 8:30pm, Wednesdays from 7:10pm to 8:10pm and Fridays from 1:00pm to 2:00pm.
Please check our current Basingstoke timetable, as class times can occasionally change.
Am I too old to start Tai Chi?
No. Most of our Tai Chi members are over 40, and some continue training well into their 90s. The movements are slow and controlled, and you always work at a level that suits you.
What age can join Tai Chi?
Our Tai Chi classes are for adults aged 18 and over. Most members are 40 and above, with members training into their 90s.
Can I do Tai Chi if I have a health condition or limited mobility?
In most cases, yes. Tai Chi is low-impact, and our coaches adapt the movements to suit your mobility, so you can train at your own pace. Please tell us about any health conditions before your first class, and if you are unsure, check with your GP before starting any new exercise.
Can people with Parkinson's do Tai Chi?
Yes. Many people living with Parkinson's find Tai Chi's slow, controlled movements helpful for balance, posture and confidence in moving. Our coaches adapt the movements to suit each person, and you can train at your own pace. We recommend speaking to your GP or Parkinson's nurse before starting any new exercise.
Can Tai Chi be done seated?
Yes. Many Tai Chi movements can be practised sitting in a chair, so people who find standing for long periods difficult can still take part. Talk to us before you start and we will help you adapt the class.
Do GPs recommend Tai Chi?
Yes. GPs still recommend Tai Chi to patients as a gentle form of exercise, and the NHS guide to Tai Chi describes it as suitable for people of all ages and fitness levels.
Can Tai Chi help with balance and preventing falls?
Tai Chi is well known for improving balance, posture and coordination. Regular practice builds leg strength and body awareness, which can help you feel steadier and more confident on your feet.
Can Tai Chi help with stress and anxiety?
Many members tell us Tai Chi helps them relax and feel calmer. The slow movements, focus and steady breathing give your mind a break from everyday pressures. Tai Chi can be a helpful addition to, not a replacement for, any treatment you are receiving.
What style of Tai Chi do you teach?
We teach Yang style Tai Chi, the most widely practised style in the world. Beginners start with the Grasp Sparrow's Tail short form, then progress to the Yang Chen Fu long form.
Advanced students can go on to learn two-person forms and traditional weapons, including sword, broadsword, spear and fan.
What happens in a Tai Chi class?
Classes include Neigong and Qigong exercises to develop focus, breathing and coordination, followed by practice of the Tai Chi forms. Everything is taught at a steady pace, with coaches helping you refine your movements.
Is Tai Chi a martial art?
Yes. Tai Chi is a soft, internal Chinese martial art. In our classes the focus is on health, balance and the forms, and there is no contact or sparring.
What should I wear to Tai Chi?
Wear loose, comfortable clothing. We train barefoot on our specialist martial arts mats. Please bring a drink and remove any jewellery before class.
Who teaches the Tai Chi classes?
Tai Chi is led by Bryan Andrews, a British Council for Chinese Martial Arts (BCCMA) Level 2 coach and one of the BCCMA's Coach Tutors. The BCCMA is Sport England's recognised National Governing Body for Chinese Martial Arts.
All our coaches are DBS checked, first aid trained and insured.
Where is the academy, and is parking available?
Shin Gi Tai Martial Arts Academy is at Unit A, Daneshill Central, Armstrong Road, Basingstoke RG24 8NU. There is free parking on site, and a café and seating area inside the academy.
Ready to Start Tai Chi in Basingstoke?
Our beginners courses start around four times a year and are the only way to join the Tai Chi classes. Get in touch to find out when the next one begins.
Ask About the Next Beginners CourseFind out more about Tai Chi in Basingstoke
Whether you have questions about the classes, your needs or whether Tai Chi is the right fit, we’re here to help. Complete the form below and one of our coaches will be in touch