Tai Chi
at Home:
health, mind & body
This website was originally created in response to the COVID-19 outbreak as a way for my student to keep training with my guidance.
My way of coping was by training in Tai Chi and I want to share this with you.
Welcome to Tai Chi at Home
Thank you for taking the time to visit my website. I really hope that it will be able to help you in both mind and body and that we can have some fun along the way.
Make sure you keep visiting here regularly because I will be uploading videos for both beginners of Tai Chi and advanced students.
If you want to make sure you dont miss a single thing, feel free to visit my youtube channel and make sure to subscribe.
Ohh yeah, keep an eye out for guest appearances in my videos by Fritz (schnautzer) the Tai Chi at Home mascot.
Tai Chi for everyone
What is Tai Chi?
Originating in China, Tai Chi is the beautiful practice of slow meditative physical exercise designed for relaxation, balance and health. It is an ancient tradition treasured by the Chinese for its gift of long life and harmony and this gift is freely shared with the rest of the world.
My students
Faced with cancelling my Tai Chi classes, I didn’t want my students to miss out on their regular sessions. So, I decided to take my lessons online to help support them. Living in a small rural town, some of the people who attend my sessions either live alone or are isolated on farms. These are the people I first wanted to help.
Collateral damage
Like all of you reading this, at one time or another I’m sure you’ve asked yourself, what about the collateral damage? jobs, business shutting down, economic hardship, the list goes on.
But what about depression?
I was recently contacted by a close friend who lives over 2-thousand kilometres away, the brother of her former partner had just committed suicide. There was no note and the family is heartbroken. But this tragedy so soon after people began being confined to their homes made me wonder if this is just the beginning.
I asked myself a simple question..
Could the daily practise of Tai Chi reduce depression and anxiety?
The answer to that is a resounding YES!
Tai Chi for health, mind & body:
Studies have resoundingly shown that Tai Chi has amazing health benefits:
- Live longer
- Improve muscle strength, balance and flexibility
- Boost cognitive function
- Improve COPD symptoms
- Get better night-time sleep quality
- Improve symptoms of fibromyalgia
- See improvements in cardiovascular fitness
- Reduce risk of falls… and even more!
Tai Chi instructor Patrick Bonello
Photo with thanks to Mick Davson Photography
About Me
My Tai Chi journey approaching three decades
I began my Tai Chi journey in Geelong in 1993 when I took up a short course to learn the basic Yang 8 form. My instructor was an elderly man who had taken up Tai Chi when he developed crippling arthritis, the regular exercise helped to such a great extent that he regained movement and began to teach the form himself. Unfortunately, he wasn’t able to offer more advanced classes so I began looking for a new teacher.
A brief stint at another school helped me understand that some teachers are not the right fit, technical skills don’t mean one can teach. I thought my journey was over, but something kept nagging at me to persist and not to let go of Tai Chi.
It took me 12 years to take up Tai Chi again, this time in Melbourne where I learned the Yang 10, 24 and the 32 Sword form. My wonderful teacher had a large class of enthusiastic students and trainers and the next two years rekindled my passion for this wonderful martial art.
When I moved away from the big city to the rural township of Ballan I discovered Patrica Kent and the Lilac Moon Tai Chi school. I was and continue to be awed by her skill, compassion and enthusiasm. Patricia has become more than a teacher, she is my Tai Chi master (Lǎoshī).
I have been honoured to spend eleven years training with Patricia, we have visited China together three time to train with her master and grand master. She constantly inspires me to greater things and convinced me in 2016 to use my training skills to teach Tai Chi.
I am very humbled to share Tai Chi with my students and forever appreciate being part of the Lilac Moon Tai Chi family… It is this humbling journey I want to share with you, the visitor to my website.
What no charge?
During these uncertain times any of us are stuck at home, forced for health and safety reasons to distance ourselves from one another.
My reason for setting up this website is to share tai chi with m students to keep them active and healthy and to gift these lessons to anyone who wants to take part.
I ask no fee, but like many people, my livelihood as a small business owner is not guaranteed. If you feel that these lessons benefit you and you are in a position to contribute to me by way of a donation, that would be greatly appreciated.