Balgownie TaiChi

03/02/2026

Thank you to everyone who came to our Balgonie class today, it was a delight to share our Tai Chi with you.
To our more experienced students, thank you for your patience as we covered the basics, and thank you for being so welcoming to our new students. You are wonderful humans.
To our new students today, well done for trying something new, we hope you enjoyed it and we see you again next week!
Kara and Jen.

02/02/2026

In our classes we do not chase perfection in our movements.
Instead, we encourage students to connect with their body so that their movements feel safe and grounded.
While technique is important and we do explain it, we feel what is most important is each person's connection to their body and its specific abilities and their breath.
Calm, gentle movements done while feeling safe allow your nervous system to fully relax and this is where the real learning happens and the Chi is felt.

01/02/2026

Classes start this week, and we are so excited to see you all again. We have missed sharing Tai Chi with you.
First class for the week is Balgownie on Tuesday @ 10am. You don't need to prebook for this class, attendance is casual, just turn up.
The class is suitable for both beginners and those with some experience.
You will find us in Balgownie Hall, 113 Balgownie Road.
A*o a final reminder, if you wanted to book into one of the classes being hosted the WEA, The Community College, you will need to book in by tonight!
See you soon, Kara and Jen.

29/01/2026

Welcome! If you were wondering who would be teaching you Tai Chi class....let us introduce ourselves..Kara and Jen. Two very dear friends who have done a LOT of Tai Chi together over the years and are now lucky enough to teach together also. Our classes are relaxed, calm, fun and instructive!

28/01/2026

If you have been thinking about trying Tai Chi, and a Thursday evening class would suit you, or a Wednesday at 10am sounds good, consider joining us at The Community College (formerly WEA) in Wollongong.
These classes are by the term, and you need to enrol by Sunday evening to be part of the class this term.
Classes start next week!
Follow the link to enrol.
https://communitycollege.com.au/courses/leisure-skills/
If you have any queries, please feel free to message us and we are happy to chat.
Kara and Jen.

27/01/2026

Formerly known as the WEA, now known as The Community College. Jen and I start teaching Tai Chi and Qigong next week. Classes will be held on Wednesdays at 10am, and Thursdays @ 6pm for beginners and 7pm for ongoers. Message us if you have any questions and click on the link to book. We'd love to see you there.

Looking for a gentle way to move, unwind and reconnect with your body?

Our Beginners Tai Chi classes offer a calm, supportive space to build strength through soft, flowing movements. Suitable for all ages and abilities, Tai Chi helps reduce pain, improve flexibility and promote overall wellbeing, all while lifting your spirits.

Whether you're new to movement or simply looking for a slower, more mindful form of exercise, Tai Chi is a beautiful way to support your health and longevity within a welcoming community.

27/01/2026

Jen and I spent some time yesterday filming ourselves doing Shibashi set 1 in detail, as well as the Tai Chi for arthritis form 1 and 2. We are going to add some voice overs before we put them on this page for our students to practise with. We had a lot of fun filming but have realised we are not about to be Tai Chi influencers any time soon, and videos are hard!

22/01/2026

What should you wear to class? Well, the good news is you don't need to wear the Tai Chi pyjamas you may have seen online! Simply wear comfortable clothing with sneakers and bring along your drink bottle.

21/01/2026

I often meet people who say they would like to come to a Tai Chi class, but they feel a little apprehensive as they are not sure what will happen or if they will be able to manage the class, so I thought I'd let everyone know what they could expect.
Firstly, we want you to know our classes are friendly. You will be welcome! We don't expect anyone to come with any expertise, and our classes are adjusted on an individual basis for those with physical differences.
We warm our body up a little and then we do some Qigong. Qigong is standing exercises that are similar to Tai Chi that encourage physical health and energy.
We then move into doing our Tai Chi. We tend to concentrate on a single Tai Chi form for each class, and we explain the movements slowly and clearly so everyone can move forward together. It is completely normal to feel lost in this part of the class for a little while as your start to learn to combine movement with breath.
Finally, we do the Lotus Qigong together, which is a lovey flowing form that leaves us all feeling very relaxed.
Our classes are relaxed; we encourage questions and want each of our students to feel comfortable.
We hope reading this helps you feel able to come along and try it out!

19/01/2026

I was speaking with someone today who was interested in possibly coming to a class, but his question was, how would joining the class be better than learning from u tube?
My answer was this.....while you can watch a video and learn the moves needed to perform a Tai Chi form, unless you understand why you are doing it, it is more like choreography than knowing a Tai Chi with depth. The guidance you receive from a teacher will allow you to learn in the way that is best for you, and safe for your body and they are able to answer any questions you may have as you learn.
Joining a class has other additional benefits, the people you learn with will support you in your learning, they often become friends, and shared growth creates a sense of camaraderie that is joyous.

16/01/2026

https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/the-health-benefits-of-tai-chi

This is such a fabulous and well researched article released by Harvard Health. It explains what Tai Chi is as well as the benefits clearly.
If you have been considering adding Tai Chi into your healthy habits, perhaps this article will motivate you.

Tai chi is gentle and not strenuous. Benefits have been shown to include a positive effect on muscle strength, flexibility, and balance, and it can be practiced by people in nearly any state of hea...

16/01/2026

If you are one of the lovely people who has asked us for a class at a different time, particularly a nighttime option...then we have good news! Jen and I have partnered with the Wollongong Community College to offer three new class times.
Bookings for these classes are made through the WEA website, and payment is made by the term. Here is the link: https://communitycollege.com.au/courses/leisure-skills/ Type Tai Chi into the search bar and the classes will appear as options.
If you are unsure which class might suit you best, please don't hesitate to contact us to discuss it.
Kara and Jen.