Where and when are the classes? How much does it cost?
What benefits do the students get from doing Tai Chi?
Browse the Sing Ong Tai Chi web site
St. Heliers Community Centre (map)
Johnston Hall, 100 St. Heliers Bay Road
Time: Mondays, 6:30 - 7:30 pm
Next intake: mid-February 2009
Ponsonby All Saints Church (map)
Community Creche, 284 Ponsonby Road
Time: Wednesdays, 6:30 - 7:30 pm
Next intake: mid-February 2009
Fees: Free during February for beginners. Flat rate of $40 per month,
pre-paid on first class of the month via cash, cheque or automatic payment.
Free on-street and off-street parking is available in both venues.
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From participants of beginners courses:
I joined the Tai Chi class for relaxation purposes and for the health benefits I had read that can be gained from these classes. I have found the exercises very gentle and relaxing, also very good for concentration which can be very difficult when you are busy. Our teacher is very good at explaining every exercise properly. I am enjoying Tai Chi and will keep going as it is quite addictive & very kind to your body.
- Raewynn Cowie, 51, Production Co-ordinator.
I've thoroughly enjoyed the class. It's helped me to be more aware of how my body works and how I have control over it. The visualization technique has been useful not only in Tai Chi but across all areas of my life. Thank you - your instructions were clear & concise & your energy calming & quiet - much how I felt by the end of the class!
- Brigitte Knapp, 35, Geologist.
Instructions were very clear and you addressed any issues that arose out of practicing at home.
I felt so relaxed after each lesson, I always sleep soundly after Tai Chi.
The Tai Chi shoes are really good. They help you to sort out your weight distribution, so much easier than training shoes!
Thank you Valera.
- Sally, 43, Project Co-ordinator.
An introduction to a completely different approach to exercising from anything I've ever done before.
I liked the emphasis on relaxation.
I'm sure the benefits will follow with more practice.
Our teacher was patient, understanding and helpful.
- Pat, 76, Retired.
From participants of ongoing classes:
Although I am a reasonably active person, I joined Tai Chi classes in February 2005 with the objective of maintaining flexibility of movement by participating in an activity that both my wife and I could continue into retirement years.
I was also seeking an activity that would help me relax from the stresses of my professional life.
Tai Chi has met my expectations in every respect. So many activities are quite physical (e.g. gym, cycling etc.,) but few concentrate on the “inner self”, correct alignments and balance.
I have found Tai Chi very relaxing and an “escape” from every day life. It gives you the opportunity to meet likeminded people and develop an “awareness of self” that few other exercises do. It can be practiced in almost any location and becomes an enjoyable every day discipline that I would commend to any age group.
- Graham Mathieson, 60, Chartered Accountant.
My name is Beverley and I have been doing Tai Chi now for about 1 year. In that time the benefits I have felt from doing Tai Chi are quite extraordinary in the way of Breathing, which was one of the main reasons of getting interested in Tai Chi, but then I found my balance improved so much that I now have no trouble keeping my balance when walking and doing things like putting shoes on.
I like the exercises in Tai Chi, as it feels like a gentle workout where you learn to relax while going through each exercise. Everything is explained very well, you then get to notice the change in your body as you go through the exercises each week, also concentration and being able to keep you mind on what you are doing without going off thinking about everything else. I find it very satisfying and I think the learning each week keeps you wanting to go on and learn more, that is my goal in Tai Chi.
I enjoy very much going along to the classes, you meet the most wonderful people who are like you trying to achieve the same thing which makes it very enjoyable for someone like me who does office work and sits in front of a computer for most of the day. This is a good way of relaxing and getting all of that stress out through the hectic pace of our everyday workplace.
To sum this up is for health, relaxation and general wellbeing, a good way to keep yourself relaxed, healthy and learn Tai Chi in a most pleasant way.
- Beverley Carmont.
I have been wanting to do Tai Chi for 20 years so when I found a leaflet in my letter box I signed up for the class without doing the trial classes. In Malaysia, where I come from, I used to see an old man in my neighbourhood practising every morning – there was almost complete stillness in his movements. That has been one of the many inspirations for me to learn Tai Chi.
After attending classes since early March 2005 at St Heliers, I am beginning to see the benefits. Tai Chi has given me the foundation to relearn a lot of how I carry my posture, how I breathe, how I walk. I am also beginning to be able to use the principles taught in class to relax after a stressful day at work. Tai Chi has indeed brought subtle but incremental changes to my physical and mental states.
I enjoy the company of my fellow learners at St Heliers and see them as my inspiration to continue pursuing this gentle form of exercise. Our instructor Valera is very patient with us and his instructions are always clear.
I know if I persist, I will have an exercise I can take with me till I am old and grey. That is my greatest motivation to continue doing Tai Chi. I also hope to have a lot of fun in the process!
- Yoke Har, 43.
I am a trained & certified practitioner of Oriental Medicine (USA) and thus understand that Tai Chi (along with Qi Gong) comprises one of the 5 healing branches of the 3000-year-old system of Chinese Medicine. And as part of maintaining my many years of certification with the NCCAOM I am required like most trained professionals in many fields (in NZ, the USA and elsewhere in the world) to continue on-going professional development. For this reason I feel very fortunate to have found Sing Ong Tai Chi in St. Heliers.
Over the past months that I have been attending the Monday evening Tai Chi class with Valera I have found it to be an extremely relaxing and beneficial experience for which I am very grateful. Years ago when I did my Chinese Medicine degree I studied several other forms of Tai Chi as part of the training. However the Sing Ong Tai Chi style seems most therapeutic. During classes I would often loose track of time and could not believe that the hour session was over when apparently we had just started. In addition I have come to appreciate the careful going over of the exact movements and the answering of questions. It has given me a growing sense of how I move, hold and maintain my body and of various places of physical tension so that change can gently occur. I take with me at the close of 2005 a deeper understanding of the value of Tai Chi as taught by the Sing Ong School. In closing I do not hesitate to endorse the many lovely benefits of Sing Ong Tai Chi. Thank you.
- Sarah Plattner-Shaw,
Oriental Medicine Practitioner.
Registered: (NCCAOM) National Commission for the
Certification of Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine (USA).
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I was born in Irkutsk, Russia and came to Auckland, New Zealand in 1996. During the next several years I've joined Sing Ong Tai Chi, completed a degree in Management at The University of Auckland, and gained New Zealand citizenship. Aside from Tai Chi and University I completed a variety of courses in ontology and communication, and explored the technical and meditative aspects of dance. My other hobbies are practical spirituality, reading, gardening, maintaining a computer gaming website, and learning to play a musical keyboard.
I've joined the first Newmarket Sing Ong Tai Chi class taught by Michael Yek in 1999. I found out about the class from picking up the very last leaflet while waiting in the swimming pool lobby. I didn't know anything about Tai Chi, just liked the idea of non-agressive martial art that is good for health and talks about internal energy.
I liked the authentic depth of the art, the internal aspects of it, and the extent of Michael Yek's skill and knowledge. I noticed improvements in my balance, flexibility, coordination and awareness of my body and movement. I also liked the feeling of being relaxed and energised during and after the Tai Chi class. A few years later I've began assisting at the Avondale branch of Sing Ong Tai Chi, attending 4 classes per week.
We've all have difficult times in life, and there was a period when other problems had me lose motivation - I couldn't concentrate in class and stopped assisting for a while, contemplating quitting completely. Fortunately I've stayed on and as the hard times passed I was able to concentrate on Tai Chi again and began gaining even more out of it. There was a visible improvement in my posture (I'm tall and like computers) and I was able to relax more and more of the habitual muscular tension that I previously was not even aware of.
Soon Michael Yek entrusted me with teaching the beginners group of the Newmarket class and I was invited to join the senior instructors class taught by Michael Yek and Professor Yek himself. Having completed the form and having done a good deal of partner exercise I am now clear that Tai Chi is a martial art of a very high level - that does not involve the use of force and agression and yet can overcome it using relaxation, accuracy and skill. I've also began developing a greater sense of the internal energy and its relationship with relaxation, awareness, breath and movement.
I've decided to start teaching my own classes and was approved to open two branches in 2005. Quite unexpectedly I have found my dream job. It's hard to call it a job really, as sometimes during classes I lose myself in the enjoyment of the movements and catch myself thinking "And I'm getting paid for doing this too!?" It's a fascinating challenge to find the most effective ways of presenting what I've learned, making sure the students find the classes relaxing, fun and interesting as their understanding of Tai Chi deepens.
I worked as a managing director of a family retail business and chose not to pursue that career path after we closed the business in late 2005, instead choosing to teach Tai Chi professionally and to do other things I enjoy. I believe in living in a non-harmful way and walking the talk. I have adopted a vegan diet and undertook research into reducing car emissions (yes, the Tai Chi Mobile now produces 50% less CO and HC!) Of course, one person won't change the world, but there can be a little bit less mess.
We are very lucky that Professor Yek has chosen to live in Auckland and to share the secrets of his art. It's a rare opportunity to learn from a man of such skill who doesn't just talk about softness overcoming strength, but demonstrates how it is done in application. I have years of learning ahead of me, and it's a fascinating journey.
I've noticed that Tai Chi classes attract a special kind of people, it is enjoyable to learn with them. From personal experience and from the feedback I've received from students this year, some of which is on this page, I am confident that excellent benefits can be had from following our method of training, even in a few months' time, and then on - exponentially.
- Valera.
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Q: How old do you have to be to do Tai Chi?
A: Most people - children, teenagers, adults and pensioners can do Tai Chi. The class generally has a mix of all ages.
Children, with some exceptions, find it difficult to concentrate. But some children in their early teens attend the class quite happily. I ask that children under 12 are accompanied by an adult who also participates in the class. As for pensioners, if you can walk, then you can do Tai Chi. Certain movements are done differently by fit and by not so fit people to ensure that everyone gets the benefits and no strain occurs.
Q: Do I need any Tai Chi experience to join your class?
A: No, the classes are designed for people who are new to Tai Chi.
Q: What should I wear to class?
A: For a beginners course, wear loose and comfortable clothing. Flat sole shoes are best. For intermediate/advanced classes we have a uniform.
Q: I have a neck/shoulder/back/knee/elbow/wrist/ankle/hip problem. Can I still do Tai Chi?
A: Yes. Tell me about it when you come to class and I will assist you in doing the exercises in a way that does not put strain on your area of tension or injury.
Q: What will we be learning?
A: We start by learning two sets of excercises that are designed to introduce the basic movements and principles of the Tai Chi form in a way that is easy for beginners to grasp, refine and enjoy. After that, we learn the traditional 42 movements combined form. Partner exercises are introduced at later stages.
Q: How long does it take to learn Tai Chi?
A: To learn some exercises that you can continue practicing at home - 3 to 6 months. To learn the form well and gain basic grasp of the Tai Chi principles - 4 to 6 years. To master Tai Chi Chuan to the highest level of skill - a lifetime of dedicated practice. It really depends on what you are aiming for and what you mean by that question.
Q: Can I do Tai Chi during pregnancy?
A: Yes, Tai Chi is very beneficial during pregnancy as it gently trains and strengthens the hip, pelvic and leg muscles. When the tummy becomes visibly bigger some exercises will be performed differently (no forward bending for example).
Q: Can I attend a speech or a demonstration by Professor Yek?
A: All Sing Ong Tai Chi students are invited to attend an annual seminar conducted by Professor Yek. At the seminars, Professor Yek explains in detail and demonstrates the Tai Chi principles most relevant to the attending group of students. In that sense, every Sing Ong Tai Chi student can learn directly from Professor Yek.
Q: How much Tai Chi practice should I do outside of classes?
A: Practice a little every day, for whatever duration you find most enjoyable. Short daily practice brings more benefit than long but irregular practice.
Q: Do you do Tai Chi to music?
A: We do Tai Chi without music, mainly to improve focus and awareness. You can do your home practice to music if you find that it works better for you.
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We've demonstrated at events such as the Visionary Living Show, Seniors Day Out, Takapuna Mardi Gras and The Lantern Festival. We've also demonstrated for TV and Magazine publications and for Air New Zealand travel promotions. If you are interested in a Tai Chi demonstration or feature for your large event or publication, please contact us.
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