FAQ

There is no uniform. Wear comfortable loose-fitting clothes. T shirts with the CTCA logo are available for purchase.

The first resource you should check with is your family doctor. Your doctor can advise you based on your medical history In general, if you can manage a brisk walk then you should be able to do the Tai Chi set. If you need to take a break to rest during the class, we encourage you to do so. If you have any other concerns please speak with your instructor and together you can find a way to adapt the Tai Chi to your needs.

Comfortable shoes preferably with no or low heels should be worn. Bare feet are not recommended.

Pay by cheque, cash or online through the website.

Please refer to the link for a list of membership fees. Three-month introductory course can be paid in a lump sum or monthly. Annual memberships are also available.
https://londontaichi.ca/membership-dues/

Like any form of exercise regular practice is encouraged. Playing Tai Chi as often as you can fit into your personal schedule is highly recommended.

Practicing at home is recommended but not mandatory. Practicing what you learned in the previous class will help reinforce your learning.

In each class, we review the previous class’s lesson. So, it will be possible to get up to speed on what was missed. Review is an important part of learning. Also, there may be introduction classes at other locations that you can attend. The other classes may or may not be at the same place in the sequence as your class. Attending other classes will help your learning progress.

Only extreme weather conditions will cause a class cancellation. If the city buses are not running, we will cancel classes. You will be contacted if a cancellation is necessary.

In a sense, all Tai Chi classes can be considered health recovery classes. Official Health Recovery classes are not offered at this time but may be offered in the future.

There are no specific instructions for breathing other than to not focus or concentrate on your breathing. Relax and let the Tai Chi movements allow breathing to happen naturally.

Please see note about how Master Moy modified the Yang Style Tai Chi 108-move set to emphasize turning, stretching, rising and falling, expanding and contracting, borrowing principles from the internal martial arts and Chi Kung.  The continuing classes introduce exercises that incorporate Chi Kung principles.
https://londontaichi.ca/about/

There is no sparring. Martial arts and the martial origin of moves may be referred to in order to improve or expand understanding.

Members can attend any CTCA class. Please note that some special event classes are held as fund raisers with a nominal participation fee. The participation fee is published with the event poster.

There are no belts and all members have the same rank. Members that are new to Tai Chi will attend an introduction to Tai Chi class before moving on to continuing classes. Members who express an interest are invited to train to become instructors.

The training of instructors is a continuous process. One of the principle goals of the Canadian Tai Chi Academy is to provide training for members who are interested in learning and sharing with others their understanding of Tai Chi and related arts.

Yes, CTCA members can attend any class or special event but please note that some events may be fundraisers and some events may have a prerequisite of having learned the art.

Members are welcome to attend any class. There may be a class concurrent to yours that will give you the additional instruction you seek. In general, personal/private instruction is not available. All instructors are willing to answer questions and provide feedback on request. The Introduction to Tai Chi class is structured as a group class. Instruction is not personalized but offered to the entire group. The Continuing Class is intended for both group and personalized instruction.

Your instructor will provide you with feedback that will help you progress relative to your experience, age, flexibility and understanding.

Having completed the introduction to Tai Chi course you are encouraged to attend as many classes as you like. Members are encouraged to attend continuing classes but attending more introduction to Tai Chi classes is also an option.

Continuing members receive a deeper understanding of the Tai Chi set including revisiting movements to discover additional details. Also, two jong exercises as well as three foundation exercises will be learned: the don yu, the tor yu and the snake.

The Tai Chi developed by Moy Lin-shin is fundamentally structured with a focus on improving health, learning and practicing Tai Chi.

Stress is a common complaint for many people who are attracted to Tai Chi. The physical work of doing the Tai Chi movements simultaneously works on the mind and the emotions. Movement alleviates tightness while strengthening the body.

The goal of the introduction to Tai Chi class is to teach the 108 moves of the Tai Chi set. The expectation of the course is that the student will be able to complete the 108 moves surrounded by experienced members who know the set. There is no expectation for a new person to have memorized the entire sequence while taking the Introduction course. Becoming familiar with the moves to the point that you can do the sequence by yourself, is a long process. The more you do the set, the more familiar you become with the sequence.

You are welcome to come and observe a class. New students should look for an introduction to Tai Chi class. Students that already know the Tai Chi set should look for a Continuing Tai Chi class. It is recommended that you introduce yourself to the instructor so that your questions can be answered.

If you are a member of the Canadian Tai Chi Academy from another community, you can participate in any of the London classes for no charge. Non-members are asked to pay a guest fee of $5 per class.