Why it suits beginners
Tai chi is built from a small number of basic principles, weight shifting, relaxed posture, coordinated breathing, that are taught first and then combined into sequences. Nothing is fast or forced. Qi gong is simpler still, often a set of standing or seated movements repeated with the breath. A good teacher expects that beginners will not remember the form and builds classes around repetition.
What you need
Comfortable clothes, flat shoes or bare feet, and about an hour. No equipment, no fitness level, no flexibility. If you have a health condition or injury, tell the teacher; movements are adapted rather than skipped.
What the first classes feel like
Slow, a little awkward while your body learns to move in an unfamiliar way, and surprisingly calming. Many people notice their breathing slow and their mind settle within the first session. Balance and leg strength are worked more than you expect, and mild leg tiredness after early classes is normal.
Seated and adapted practice
Tai chi and qi gong can be done seated, which makes them accessible for people with limited mobility, balance concerns, chronic pain or fatigue. The breathing, upper body and mental components are fully retained.
At Omnia
Tai chi and qi gong at our Chiswick clinic are taught by a sixth-generation lineage holder and a senior practitioner in small groups, with a seated option available. One-to-one sessions are £50 and group sessions £15. Beginners are welcome at any point; there is no term to wait for.