OT Local

02/09/2025

19/08/2025

Today is World Humanitarian Day 💙 – a reminder of the power of compassion, care, and connection.

Tai Chi and meditation may seem small, personal practices… but they ripple outwards. A calmer mind, a steadier body, and a kinder heart help us show up for others in more humane, patient, and supportive ways.

🕊️ Gentle movements, peaceful breaths, stronger communities.

17/08/2025

Just a gentle reminder of this week’s Tai Chi schedule:

Monday 6pm – Grieg Hall, Alcester ✅
Tuesday 10am – Grieg Hall, Alcester ✅
Thursday 10am – Henley Train Station (weather permitting) ✅
Thursday evening – Henley ❌ No class
Friday morning class ❌ Cancelled this week
Advance notice:
Bank Holiday Monday 25th August (Grieg Hall, Alcester) – ❌ Cancelled

Thank you for your continued support and energy in class – it’s wonderful to see the progress and connection growing each week. I’m looking forward to moving with you soon!

11/08/2025

Finding Balance in More Ways Than One – My Tai Chi Journey in Henley-in-Arden & Alcester
If you’d told me a year ago that I’d be teaching five Tai Chi classes a week, indoors and out, to a mix of wonderful people — and making lifelong friends in the process — I might have laughed in disbelief.
When I qualified as a Tai Chi instructor, my plan was simple: teach in a clinical setting as part of a falls prevention programme. But life had other ideas. This April, I stepped into community classes in Henley-in-Arden and Alcester… and I haven’t looked back.
Some of my favourite moments happen at our outdoor Henley classes, held at the train station. We flow through movements to the soundtrack of birdsong, with the occasional train rumbling past — a surprisingly calming background beat. And the weather? Well, in five months we’ve only had one rainy class. Not bad for the British climate!
What I love most is watching people change — not just in skill, but in confidence. I’ve seen balance improve, posture straighten, and smiles grow wider as the weeks go by. The benefits of Tai Chi are both physical and mental: it’s gentle on the joints, improves coordination, reduces stress, and can be adapted for everyone — whether standing or seated. No floor work, no pressure, just movement and connection.
If you’ve never tried Tai Chi before, I’d love for you to join us. You’ll be met with warmth, laughter, and a space where you can move at your own pace. Who knows — you might even find your balance in more ways than one.
Alcester
Monday 6 – 6.45pm The Grieg Hall
Tuesday 10 – 10.45am The Grieg Hall
Henley
Thursday 10 – 10.45am Henley Train Station (weather permitting)
Thursday 5.45 – 6.30pm Henley Baptist Church
Friday 9.45 – 10.30am Henley Train Station (weather permitting)
First class is free, thereafter £9 per session.
Contact me for more information: Alison, 07949 127533/ shaliwellbeing@outlook.com

11/08/2025

Finding Balance in More Ways Than One – My Tai Chi Journey in Henley-in-Arden & Alcester
If you’d told me a year ago that I’d be teaching five Tai Chi classes a week, indoors and out, to a mix of wonderful people — and making lifelong friends in the process — I might have laughed in disbelief.
When I qualified as a Tai Chi instructor, my plan was simple: teach in a clinical setting as part of a falls prevention programme (I'm an occupational therapist). But life had other ideas. This April, I stepped into community classes in Henley-in-Arden and Alcester… and I haven’t looked back.
Some of my favourite moments happen at our outdoor Henley classes, held at the train station. We flow through movements to the soundtrack of birdsong, with the occasional train rumbling past — a surprisingly calming background beat. And the weather? Well, in five months we’ve only had one rainy class. Not bad for the British climate!
What I love most is watching people change — not just in skill, but in confidence. I’ve seen balance improve, posture straighten, and smiles grow wider as the weeks go by. The benefits of Tai Chi are both physical and mental: it’s gentle on the joints, improves coordination, reduces stress, and can be adapted for everyone — whether standing or seated. No floor work, no pressure, just movement and connection.
If you’ve never tried Tai Chi before, I’d love for you to join us. You’ll be met with warmth, laughter, and a space where you can move at your own pace. Who knows — you might even find your balance in more ways than one.
Alcester
Monday 6 – 6.45pm The Grieg Hall
Tuesday 10 – 10.45am The Grieg Hall
Henley
Thursday 10 – 10.45am Henley Train Station (weather permitting)
Thursday 5.45 – 6.30pm Henley Baptist Church
Friday 9.45 – 10.30am Henley Train Station (weather permitting)
First class is free, thereafter £9 per session.
Contact me for more information: Alison, 07949 127533/ shaliwellbeing@outlook.com

08/08/2025

🐾 International Cat Day: What Cats Can Teach Us About Mindfulness, Meditation & Tai Chi
Today is International Cat Day, and what better time to pause, stretch, and learn a few life lessons from our feline friends?
Cats are natural masters of presence. They move with grace, rest without guilt, and are always fully in the moment—qualities that lie at the heart of mindfulness, meditation, and Tai Chi.
✨ Stillness & Meditation
Have you ever watched a cat sunbathe? They settle deeply, eyes half-closed, breathing slow and steady. In that moment, nothing else exists. This quiet attention mirrors meditation practice, where we sit, observe, and return gently to stillness.
🌬️ Breath & Flow
Tai Chi teaches us to move with awareness and breath, like a slow, flowing river. Cats stretch with the same intention—every movement purposeful, every transition seamless. They don’t rush, and neither should we.
🧘 Mindful Living
A cat doesn’t multitask. Whether they’re grooming, hunting a feather, or dozing, their full attention is on the now. That presence is the essence of mindfulness—a state we cultivate in both Tai Chi and meditation.
So on this International Cat Day, take a moment to be more cat. Sit quietly. Stretch slowly. Breathe deeply. Live fully in the now.

26/06/2025

Tai Chi update:

The Kindness of the Henley-in-Arden Community 💛

Due to significant fire damage at the Henley Train Station courtyard, we were sadly unable to hold our tai chi class there today. However, thanks to the generosity of Jubilee Gardens, tomorrow’s 9:45am class will go ahead as planned in their beautiful space!

We’re incredibly grateful to them for stepping in, and also to the other kind venues who offered alternative locations at short notice – your support means so much.

You can access Jubilee Gardens behind the Henley-in-Arden Guild Hall, either via Beaudesert Lane or next to Arden Tandoori.

Let’s gather together, breathe deeply, and enjoy the peaceful surroundings as we put the troubles of the world aside – even for a little while.
So much to be thankful for 🌿✨ Henley-in-Arden Court Leet and Guild Hall

26/06/2025

Let's restore this community space to its glory.

Iʼm raising money to Help rebuild The Station outside area. Support this JustGiving Crowdfunding Page.

26/06/2025

So sad to see that the train station courtyard has been severely fire damaged 😔.

There will be no tai chi session at the station today. There will be a session at the Baptist Church later at 5.45 and I'll have a look for an outdoor venue for tomorrow...any ideas, anyone? Is there a park centrally located that would have space?
Watch this space for updates.

25/06/2025

Congratulations Alcester Maintenance!! What a brilliant service you provide to Alcester and beyond 😍

🎉 Today we’re celebrating 3 amazing years in business! 🎉
We couldn’t have done it without YOU — our incredible customers, supporters, and community. Thank you for every like, share, and kind word. Your support means the world. 💛
Here’s to many more!

22/06/2025

🧘‍♀️ We Need Your Help! 🌿

Have you attended one of our tai chi classes over the past couple of months? If so, we’d love to hear from you!

💬 We’re gathering feedback to help with grant applications, so we can continue offering tai chi and meditation sessions – especially for those in our community who are financially disadvantaged and might not otherwise have access.

✨ Whether your experience has been positive, constructive, or somewhere in between – every comment counts.

👉 Please take 2 minutes to complete our short anonymous survey here:
🔗 https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/5WB75C7

Thank you for helping us grow a more mindful, inclusive and healthy community 🙏