This class is suitable for beginners and other adults of all ages and mixed abilities.
Time: Tuesdays 6-7pm
Venue: Dance Studio, Leyton Sixth Form College
Essex Road
Leyton E10 6EQ
In the warmer and summer months the class takes place outdoors, the grass area behind Orient House. Enter by going through the Orient House reception area and to the rear door leading to the outside.
Learn basic Tai Chi movements, footwork and stances. Putting these basics together, gradually learn a Chen Style Form for beginners (Chen 18 Form, 陈氏十八式). Progress to Chen Style Lao Jia Er Lu (Cannon Fists, second form) and Chen Style Lao Jia Yi Lu (third form).
Chen Style Tai Chi is the oldest and parent form of the five main Tai Chi styles, characterised by lower stances, more explicit Silk Reeling (Chan Si Jin, 缠丝劲), and bursts of power (Fa Jin, 发劲). Our focus is always on basic principles of Tai Chi across all styles, rootedness, balance and relaxation, just to name a few.
In each class, we will also introduce and repeat some basic Qi Gong movements in both warm up and wind down sections. Qi Gong (气功), means hard work/ practice/cultivation (Gong) of life force or energy (Qi). It is a health system of coordinated body posture and movement, breathing and meditation, to help enhance the circulation of Qi, and ultimately to help improve our overall health and wellbeing.
Tai Chi and Qi Gong are closely related and integrated. Both are “internal” in contrast to “external” such as Kung Fu and Karate which focuses on physical strength and agility.
Qi Gong is very old (thousands of years) and like a big umbrella covering different systems or sets. Tai Chi (hundreds of years) was developed from it, sitting under this umbrella, with a focus on martial application.
Both are suitable for people of all ages and abilities including sitting position. We will work with your ability and access needs.
Instructor Aileen (Ai Ling, 爱玲) trained Chen Style Tai Chi for 12 years with Shaolin Master, Shifu Mark Browne (Shi Hei Long, 释黑龙), a 34th generation disciple of Shaolin Temple, China. She attends regular training workshops with visiting Chen Village masters from China in London. She had the BCCMA (British Council for Chinese Martial Arts, a national governing body) Level 3 coaching qualification. She has been teaching for over 10 years.
Aileen was one of the founders in 2013 to set up Dao Lu CIC – the place you are looking up the information right now – a community group training Tai Chi and promoting healthy lifestyle in local green space and nature reserve. Aileen taught in a wide range settings to people of all walks and abilities, such as in the Kew Gardens from 2022 to date, Natural History Museum London in 2023, young people with learning disabilities near Padding from 2016 to date, blind people, South Asian women etc.
The first session is free. The cost is £25 per month, which gives access to all Dao Lu classes, or £7 drop-in. For full details, please see join Dao Lu.
Clothing – flexible and weather-appropriate. T-shirt, and black jogging trousers (or similar). Footwear – plimsolls or lightweight trainers.