Club of the Week: Rotorua Taoist Tai Chi

The Rotorua Taoist Tai Chi have been moving gracefully since 1991 when their particular tai chi style was introduced to New Zealand.

Branch president Erik Westra said their form was introduced via Canada and Hong Kong by Master Moy Lin-shin, the leading teacher.

He was originally from mainland China and his style was designed specifically to promote health and well-being for people of all ages and in all health conditions.

"In Master Moy's hands, this art became a very special and effective form of holistic health training, one that can work on the physical, mental and spiritual dimensions of our being."

The form consisted of a gentle set of 108 movements and Mr Westra said the Tai Chi set they practised "was distinguished at the physical level by a significant degree of turning and stretching in each of the movements, in order to exercise the whole physiology."

"At the mental and spiritual level, these arts offer a method of "taming the heart" and developing an attitude of calm, compassion and reduced self-centredness during practice and in daily life. This aspect is cultivated in particular through the International Taoist Tai Chi Society's volunteer ethos." The society is a volunteer, non-profit and charitable organisation and belongs to both a national body and the International Taoist Tai Chi Society. There are branches in Tauranga, Tokoroa, Te Puke, Matamata, Rotorua, Taupo, Wellington and Nelson.

Mr Westra said the beginner classes offered a friendly environment to learn the art of health. "You do not have to be in great physical shape to start learning. People of almost all ages and conditions can do tai chi."

Mr Westra said he had taught people in wheelchairs and those with limited vision and hearing.

"At a beginners' class in tai chi you will be progressively shown the moves of the tai chi set. One of our accredited volunteer instructors will demonstrate each move and give you guidance on how to perform them. Within about four or five months of weekly or bi-weekly classes, you will learn all the 108 moves of the set."