People often tell me they have wanted to try Tai Chi for years but held back, usually for the same reasons. They think they are not fit enough, not flexible enough, or too old to start. I want to take those worries off the table right away. You do not need to be any of those things. You need comfortable clothes and a willingness to go slowly.
Here is what Tai Chi actually is, what a first class looks like, and how to begin here in Vancouver.
What Tai Chi actually is
Tai Chi, or Taijiquan, is an internal martial art from China, practiced as a series of slow, connected movements. What you have probably seen in a park is the visible part: unhurried, flowing, quiet. Underneath that calm surface is real structure and depth, which is why it rewards a lifetime of practice rather than wearing out its welcome after a few weeks.
I teach the Chen style, the original family style from which the others grew. Alongside it I teach Qigong, the breathing and gentle movement practice that is the best place for newcomers to begin. I learned all of this directly from Master Liu Ming, and I teach it the way it was taught to me: patiently, precisely, and without shortcuts.
What people come for
Students come to class for different reasons, and all of them are valid.
Some come for health and mobility. Tai Chi is gentle on the joints and well known for improving balance, which matters more with every passing decade. Some come for stress and stillness, for the simple relief of doing one slow, absorbing thing after a demanding week. Some come for the martial art underneath, which is real and deep. And some come simply for the discipline of practicing one thing well over time.
Older students find it kind to the body. Younger students often discover there is far more here than it first appears.
What your first class is like
The classes are outdoors and year round, which is part of what makes them good. Rain does not cancel class. Within reason we train anyway, and only extreme weather stops us.
There are two weekly sessions:
- Robson Square, downtown, on Saturdays from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm. This is the main weekly session.
- Kitsilano Beach on Wednesdays from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm, an evening practice by the water where all levels train together.
You do not need to register or commit to anything. Just come. Wear comfortable clothes and flat shoes, arrive any time during the session, and I will start you with the foundations. Beginners begin with Qigong and basic principles, then build from there at their own pace. You can stay for an hour or for all three, whatever suits you that day.
How to begin
The honest answer to whether this is for you is almost always yes. I teach complete beginners in the same class as students who have trained with me for years, and the practice meets each person where they are.
If you would rather start privately, or you want to progress faster or work around an injury, private lessons are also an option. But most people simply show up to a group class, and that is the easiest way in.
Drop in for a single class, or come regularly if it takes root. There is no membership and no contract, just the practice and whether it suits you.
Classes run every Saturday at Robson Square and every Wednesday at Kitsilano Beach. No registration, no experience needed — just come.