Tai Chi/QiGong with Balance Bar

Tai Chi, the moving meditation, is the most approachable of the martial arts and emphasises relaxation, breathing and balance. QiGong, or energy cultivation, allow us to improve our form through relaxing and repetitive routines.

All activities are done from a standing position, for some exercises the Balance Bar helps maintain balance and body alignment. Focussed breathing increases the strength of movements and helps control the pace.

Participants should wear loose fitting casual clothes and firm footwear or, since we’ll be practising among the current collection in the main Gallery, socks/bare feet.

You will be encouraged to learn your own bodily limits, and modify exercises or stop before reaching your limits. Relax and flow with the exercises, avoiding sudden movements or overextending yourself. Coordinate your breathing with the movements.

Classes always start with exercises to warm-up all parts of the body, followed by a Shabishi routine. The activities that follow vary from week to week and include adaptations of traditional tai chi/QiGong routines — the Five Elements, Lohan, Tao Yin, Tai Chi Walking, Chinese Yoga with Staff, etc.

Useful handout materials and links to online resources are at https://www.zelmeroz.com/taichi/

Price: Free Event for Engaging through Arting Members

Where: Rockhampton Art Gallery (entry via the front entry of the Gallery, directly off Victoria Parade)

Who: All welcome! This program is aimed at our ageing audience and has been funded through the Queensland State Government initiative: Advancing Queensland: An age-friendly community.

Parking: Victoria Parade or Bolsover Car Park behind the Gallery.

About the Tutor

Lynn Zelmer started doing tai chi almost 25 years ago to help with back and RSI problems. He has taught for 18 years as a Special Needs instructor, mostly seniors but also younger aged classes and special events. Tai Chi with Lynn are a mix of the tai chi form and QiGong (energy cultivation) routines. Several years ago Lynn started doing yoga as another way of dealing with my back and neck issues. About the same time I adapted a ‘Chinese Yoga with Staff’ routine as an alternative to normal tai chi weapons concepts. Lynn is a 76 year old retired academic who has lived in several different countries, and worked at every level from pre-school to university and adult education.