ARE ONLINE TAI CHI CLASSES ANY GOOD?
My name is Paul Read (the teapotmonk). I've been teaching tai Chi for over 25 years and the last 6 years I've been teaching online. But are online classes any good? Well, there is more to it than going live on Zoom or Youtube during a pandemic. It's another way of learning altogether. I asked my students why they chose to learn online. These are their Top 5 Reasons for Learning Tai Ch Online.
For all the Questions and answers - get the full Beginners Guide PDF
For all the Questions and answers - get the full Beginners Guide PDF
5 REASONS TO LEARN TAI CHI ONLINE
WE ALL LEARN AS INDIVIDUALS
1: EVERYONE LEARNS TAI CHI IN DIFFERENT WAYS
We all learn in different ways. When a teacher shows a new move, some people learn it straight away, others need to have it repeated 20 times. Some people learn by watching, others by doing and yet others by having it explained in detail. Some people have had experiences with other martial arts, or sports and they will learn the moves quickly. Others have difficulty with walking or co-ordination and need much more time. It's difficult to balance all these needs in the same class. We are all different. We all need to work according to our own strengths.
Learning online means you get to play back the move as often as you need. If you need to see it 30 times or just the once - no problem. You won't be holding the class up as you are working at your own pace, according to your own abilities. Close up photography, views form multiple angles and repetitive learning with GIFS make the online experience so much easier.
We all learn in different ways. When a teacher shows a new move, some people learn it straight away, others need to have it repeated 20 times. Some people learn by watching, others by doing and yet others by having it explained in detail. Some people have had experiences with other martial arts, or sports and they will learn the moves quickly. Others have difficulty with walking or co-ordination and need much more time. It's difficult to balance all these needs in the same class. We are all different. We all need to work according to our own strengths.
Learning online means you get to play back the move as often as you need. If you need to see it 30 times or just the once - no problem. You won't be holding the class up as you are working at your own pace, according to your own abilities. Close up photography, views form multiple angles and repetitive learning with GIFS make the online experience so much easier.
CHOOSE WHEN AND WHERE YOU TAKE A CLASS
2: IF I HAVE TO MISS A TAI CHI CLASS - NO PROBLEM
If you can attend a regular class every week at the same time and on the same day, that is great. However, if work or family pressures prevent you from committing yourself to a regular time, the same day each week, then finding a class is much more difficult. Nurses, taxi-drivers, shift workers, doctors and teachers work when they are most needed, so what other choice do these people have?
Online classes mean that you fit the class into your schedule and not the other way round. If you want to practice a class at 3am or 3pm thats up to you. Want to practice 2 classes back to back? That's up to you. Want to practice once a day or once a month - it's all down to you.
And what about when you get sick or decide to take that holiday? Missing one or two classes may mean you begin to fall behind and might have to struggle to catch up. The class may even have moved on to new postures by the time you get back.
With online classes you never feel you are lagging behind or waiting for others to catch up. You move at your own pace. Take a class with you on holiday if you wish. They are there on your portable device, for you to pick up whenever and wherever it's right for you.
If you can attend a regular class every week at the same time and on the same day, that is great. However, if work or family pressures prevent you from committing yourself to a regular time, the same day each week, then finding a class is much more difficult. Nurses, taxi-drivers, shift workers, doctors and teachers work when they are most needed, so what other choice do these people have?
Online classes mean that you fit the class into your schedule and not the other way round. If you want to practice a class at 3am or 3pm thats up to you. Want to practice 2 classes back to back? That's up to you. Want to practice once a day or once a month - it's all down to you.
And what about when you get sick or decide to take that holiday? Missing one or two classes may mean you begin to fall behind and might have to struggle to catch up. The class may even have moved on to new postures by the time you get back.
With online classes you never feel you are lagging behind or waiting for others to catch up. You move at your own pace. Take a class with you on holiday if you wish. They are there on your portable device, for you to pick up whenever and wherever it's right for you.
PICK YOUR TEACHER FROM ANYWHERE
3: I HAVE A HUGE CHOICE OF TAI CHI TEACHERS & STYLES
There are many varieties of Tai Chi out there, all with different content and all offering different approaches to the art: some emphasize the martial aspect, others the health, spiritual or philosophical aspects. So you need to decide which you are looking for, and what sort of teacher you want? Someone who has won medals, trophies and has certificates on their wall or someone who can explain in simple terms how to do the moves? A teacher that frowns and growls or one that laughs a lot? Someone who listens or someone who speaks?
With Online classes you have a world of classes to choose from. It pays to look around and evaluate: the teacher, the style and the content. Try a session online - such as these Basic Sessions. And don't confine yourself to just a locality. The world, literally, is your oyster.
There are many varieties of Tai Chi out there, all with different content and all offering different approaches to the art: some emphasize the martial aspect, others the health, spiritual or philosophical aspects. So you need to decide which you are looking for, and what sort of teacher you want? Someone who has won medals, trophies and has certificates on their wall or someone who can explain in simple terms how to do the moves? A teacher that frowns and growls or one that laughs a lot? Someone who listens or someone who speaks?
With Online classes you have a world of classes to choose from. It pays to look around and evaluate: the teacher, the style and the content. Try a session online - such as these Basic Sessions. And don't confine yourself to just a locality. The world, literally, is your oyster.
LEAVE ONLY FOOTPRINTS
4: LEARNING ONLINE IS A GREENER OPTION AND RIGHT NOW, SAFER TOO.
Leave only a minimal footprint! A truly Taoist approach to learning. No travel time, no travel costs and no parking issues.
Content: When I was teaching locally, I just did not have the time to teach anything more than the basic moves each week. There was pressure to complete the "form" and little time for all the interesting history, partner work, culture, ideas, and associated studies. Online teachers are not caught in the same time trap. They don't need to keep repeating things, so they get to offer more than just exercises - history, poetry, art and philosophy.
With online classes, you get to choose which aspects interest you. Prefer to work more on balance and coordination? No problem. Less on martial applications and more on breathing? No problem. Like to learn something of the history of Tai Chi? The culture? The philosophy? No problem. Check out the 30-Day Courses on Energy or Health or Tai Chi Form. If you are looking for something specific, check out the Complete Course or the 37 Step Short Form or the easy to learn Beginners Tai Chi Sword.
Leave only a minimal footprint! A truly Taoist approach to learning. No travel time, no travel costs and no parking issues.
Content: When I was teaching locally, I just did not have the time to teach anything more than the basic moves each week. There was pressure to complete the "form" and little time for all the interesting history, partner work, culture, ideas, and associated studies. Online teachers are not caught in the same time trap. They don't need to keep repeating things, so they get to offer more than just exercises - history, poetry, art and philosophy.
With online classes, you get to choose which aspects interest you. Prefer to work more on balance and coordination? No problem. Less on martial applications and more on breathing? No problem. Like to learn something of the history of Tai Chi? The culture? The philosophy? No problem. Check out the 30-Day Courses on Energy or Health or Tai Chi Form. If you are looking for something specific, check out the Complete Course or the 37 Step Short Form or the easy to learn Beginners Tai Chi Sword.
COMPARE THE PRICES OF CLASSES
5: LEARNING TAI CHI ONLINE IS BETTER VALUE
Here in the UK, classes vary from around £8 an hour to £15 or more. Attending just ONE class a week, over the course of a month you will pay between £30-70 per month. This doesn't take into account time and money to travel to and from each class.
Online classes vary in price, according to quality and the content they offer. Some offer just the moves, others offer background, training manuals and support. For example - Take a look at my Complete Tai Chi Course for example: it contains 12 months of workshops with over a 100 training videos, 12 workbooks and lots of materials - and costs . approximately between £14 and £17 per month. And that includes workbooks, classes on Breathing, Posture, warm up exercises, Tai Chi Form, applications, history and culture - every month!
Here in the UK, classes vary from around £8 an hour to £15 or more. Attending just ONE class a week, over the course of a month you will pay between £30-70 per month. This doesn't take into account time and money to travel to and from each class.
Online classes vary in price, according to quality and the content they offer. Some offer just the moves, others offer background, training manuals and support. For example - Take a look at my Complete Tai Chi Course for example: it contains 12 months of workshops with over a 100 training videos, 12 workbooks and lots of materials - and costs . approximately between £14 and £17 per month. And that includes workbooks, classes on Breathing, Posture, warm up exercises, Tai Chi Form, applications, history and culture - every month!
Questions to ask yourself
FINAL ADVICE
My final words of advice are the same for everything in life: find out for yourself and make up your own mind. If you have a local class running, go check it out. See what you think of the teacher, the students and the atmosphere. Ask yourself the 5 Questions above and then check out the online offers, there are no plenty of good schools online that offer free introductions, breathing courses, Form courses, Complete Tai Chi course and even Tai Chi Sword for beginners. Every year there is a better choice online. Good luck with your search and let me know if I can help. You can always email me here.
My final words of advice are the same for everything in life: find out for yourself and make up your own mind. If you have a local class running, go check it out. See what you think of the teacher, the students and the atmosphere. Ask yourself the 5 Questions above and then check out the online offers, there are no plenty of good schools online that offer free introductions, breathing courses, Form courses, Complete Tai Chi course and even Tai Chi Sword for beginners. Every year there is a better choice online. Good luck with your search and let me know if I can help. You can always email me here.
