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Advertorial: Need a wellness booster? Discover Tai Chi and Qi Gong

A tai chi class takes place in the open air

Embrace the calm and energise your life. Feel the flow with Dao Lu, a local community group offering Tai Chi and Qi Gong exercise sessions across Waltham Forest.

  • Dao Lu’s unique membership gives unlimited access to classes, pick-and-mix style, in local venues, daytime, evenings and weekends
  • Free trial session, £7 drop-in sessions or £25 monthly membership gives access to over 10 classes a week, concession rates available
  • Open to absolute beginners and enthusiasts looking to extend their practice in Chen and Yang styles, hand and weapon forms
  • Book your FREE trial session today: Contact us
A group of people take part in a Tai Chi class

Tai Chi (太极拳, meaning Supreme Ultimate Fist) and Qi Gong are mind-body-breath exercises deeply embedded in Chinese culture, medicine, and martial arts. Their flowing movements are gentle, but studies show they are effective in building strength, flexibility, toning the body, improving balance and cultivating energy (Qi) flow in the body.

Good for the brain too, a moving meditation. And one that prompts the brain to develop new pathways and improve proprioception, our inner body awareness. Michael Mosley enthused about Tai Chi on Radio 4’s ‘Just One Thing’. Or read online Huston/McFarlane: Health Benefits of Tai Chi: What is the evidence? to discover growing evidence of benefits: reducing falls in older adults, supporting rehabilitation for osteoarthritis, Parkinson’s, COPD, cognitive functioning/flexibility, depression, dementia and cardiac arrests and stroke. Also, for pain management from fibromyalgia and arthritis.

An open air men's Tai Chi class taking place in Lloyd Park

Tai Chi and Qi Gong can be practiced by young and old, at all levels of fitness. Often promoted as a low impact activity suitable for older adults, it is an internal martial art, with movements for combat and self-defence done slowly, gracefully and with intention, at a level to suit you.

You always learn something new in our classes, whether that’s a deeper understanding of a movement, progression to a longer form or ‘weapons’ forms using wooden swords and fans. Many students stay with us for over 5 years. There is a community feel to the classes, people support each other. We practice, aware of each other and move in synchronized step. It is a deeply relaxing shared experience.

Dao Lu CIC is non-profit making, established in 2013. We promote health and wellbeing through low-cost classes, event performances and projects. Our classes are held in local parks, church halls, GP clinics, care homes, and resource centres.

A QR code for Dao Lu

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