I’m really happy to be doing the Tai Chi workshops again at this lovely festival at Radford Mill organic farm. The line up is looking so good this year.
Come and join me on Friday June 5th for a Tai Chi session at 5.30pm and Sunday June 7th at 12.30pm.
Discover tradition, history and philosophy behind the practice of Tai Chi in an interactive talk. This will give you a sense of what Tai Chi is, and how regular practice has numerous benefits on health and well-being. You will learn and practice a short sequence of flowing Tai Chi movements as well as relaxing Chi Kung breathing exercises.
Spaces are limited. £15 BOOKING
Join this session to move, stretch and breathe in the fresh air!
You will learn and practise a short sequence of flowing Tai Chi movements, along with relaxing Chi Kung breathing exercises.No special equipment is required – just comfortable clothes and flat shoes. £8 BOOKING
See Wednesday 17th for full details. £8 BOOKING
For venue details see @core_stives
We had a really lovely time in the Tai Chi workshops at the Tangled Roots festival in June. On the first session on the Friday, we did the first and second movements and on the Sunday grasped the bird by the tail and moved the clouds!
It’s hard to believe that time has gone by so quickly, but now it’s nearly time for Tangled up in Blues (August 8 to 10) , and I’m delighted to be doing the workshops again for this festival.
Welcome to the Year of the Snake!
I took some time out and spent the new year at Stonehenge – the entire area is perfect for practising Tai Chi, especially in silence and stillness of the early morning light. 
While in some traditions (Christianity for example) the snake tends to be feared as the embodiment of evil and temptation, there is also the dichotomy of its healing and beneficial nature. In many cultures the snake is often linked with female deities and the Earth Mother. In Hinduism the snake is the guardian of the threshold and of treasures (both material and spiritual).
The snake is one of the 12 animals in the Chinese zodiac. It shares many similarities with the dragon, which symbolises wisdom and strength. While snake movements are smooth and flowing, with an emphasis on softness and adaptability, dragon movements are more dynamic and embody a sense of spirit and power.
The movements in Tai Chi, which all help with balance and harmony, are inspired by nature (grasp the bird’s tail, moving clouds), and it is this – the tradition of being a part of nature through the practice of Tai Chi, that I like to focus on in my workshops.
The Snake Creeps Down is often considered to be one of the most challenging movements in the Yang sequence but practice can help increase vitality and longevity.
I’ll be running workshops at a few festivals later in the year, and I hope we can try a few of the snake related movements!
The first Tai Chi workshops to be held at the Somerset Jazz festival in September this year were really enjoyable. It’s a wonderful mix!
Even though the weather was damp and dismal on the Friday evening, about 15 people attended the session under the cover of the marquee. We began with stretching and 
loosening up, then some Qigong exercises and also managed to practise the first movements in Yang short-form sequence.We ended with White Crane Spreads its Wings.
Sunday’s session was also well-attended and we completed the first movement and were able to move on to the second – up to Playing the Lute. I feel that this was a positive accomplishment as the participants had no previous experience of Tai Chi, but were able to join in and enjoy the session. I look forward to next year!
I came across photographs from 2003 -2005, when I had the idea of organising World Tai Chi Day in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. I know that it’s along time ago, but it is lovely, even now, to see so many people together, learning about and practising Tai Chi.
World Tai Chi and Qigong Day (WTCQD), is an annual event, held since 1999 in around 80 countries all over the world on the last Saturday of April. The aim is that everyone, everywhere, is doing Tai Chi at the same time, to promote the practice of Tai Chi and Qigong and also the principles of harmony, balance and peace.
When I first proposed doing this on the island, I was told that it would be impossible to find people from different schools who practised different styles, willing to get together and provide workshops and demonstrations for the general public.
It worked, and I even managed to obtain sponsorship and funding (a little!) for the event.
Sadly some of my students in the photographs are no longer with us. But I hope that everyone else, like myself, in spite of ups and downs, continues to promote the development of wellbeing and physical and mental health in the community, through the practice of Tai Chi.
It was lovely to lead the first ever Tai Chi workshops at the Tangled Roots Festival earlier in June.
It is a perfect setting, and although there was still a slight chill in the air, the soothing background sounds from the rippling stream just added to the relaxed atmosphere. We spent well over an hour under the marquee, doing breathing exercises (from the Eight Pieces of Brocade QiGong routine) and learning and practising the first movements of the simple Yang form sequence. 
The session on Sunday morning was on the grass in the sunshine. There was a mix of people among the group, and we warmed up, stretched, breathed and practised the “Grasp the Sparrow’s Tail” sequence.
The feedback was very positive and a few participants were keen to find somewhere to continue learning on a regular basis.
“What a lovely way to start a Sunday!”
“This is so relaxing. I’m really happy I can do this here!”
There was a photographer – if I do get any photographs I’ll share them here.
But there’s also the next festival in the same place, Tangled up in Blues, in August. Perhaps I’ll see you there….?
Feel the fresh air, move, loosen up and breathe!
Workshops, courses, sessions and events to experience what it feels like to practise the gentle, yet powerful movements of Tai Chi.
Half-Day Workshop Sessions
Why not have a workshop session with Kokoro-Arte as an event in your venue?
Availability from September 2024 for one off or monthly half-day workshop sessions for small groups.
Pre-booked participants would learn a short sequence of flowing Tai Chi movements, combined with relaxing breathing techniques of QiGong.
The half-day workshop would begin with one hour of Tai Chi movement (with QiGong and warm up). After light refreshments, this would be followed by a 45 minute talk on the history, cultural tradition and philosophy behind the practice of Internal Martial Arts. There would be a further practice time (50 minutes), before a light lunch or snacks.
For more information, send me an email at: KokoroCultura@gmail.com