Kia Ora Tai Chi

16/12/2025

Our final tai chi class for 2025 will be held on Wednesday evening, 17th December. A lovely chance to move, breathe, and close the year together.

11/12/2025

What a fantastic tai chi class last night!
Everyone — even our newest beginners — had a go at the tai chi cane form. There were plenty of laughs, lots of concentration, and some truly impressive moves. Along the way, we explored key tai chi principles such as mindful weight transference and setting clear intention in every movement.

As some can't be with us for our last class for the year on 17 Dec, we had a group photo in front of the Christmas tree. We'll take another photo on the 17th with those who couldn't attend class last night.

26/11/2025

A friend and I spent time over the weekend creating earth art together — gathering leaves, swapping stories, and enjoying twice the fun in the making. There’s something special about creating alongside someone else; every leaf, twig, and moment felt richer for being shared.

22/11/2025

Such a beautiful early-summer day today — but so very hot. The heat meant that I couldn't linger long while making today’s earth art, but I’m glad I paused for a moment of creativity. The symmetry of the rows of red and green (and yellow-green) leaves is uncomplicated and this really resonated with me. In this design, the leaves are like little balloons drifting upwards, light and cheerful. Somehow, this simple piece feels so uplifting.

18/11/2025

A huge thank you to Kia Ora Tai Chi instructor, Grant Williams, and warmest wishes as he begins an exciting new chapter of his life in the Bay of Plenty.

Grant first began learning tai chi with me in 2016 and loved it so much that he stepped forward to become an instructor in 2020. Since then, he has inspired so many with his calm teaching style, big heart, and genuine care for every student. I know that, like me, they will miss him heaps.

Grant has been part of so many special moments with Kia Ora Tai Chi — from every annual weekend in Raglan, to our Matariki sessions in Wattle Downs, and those very early-morning tai chi demos at Acacia when we were featured on TV3’s Breakfast show. He was always there, always supportive, always ready to help, especially in our weekly evening classes.

And for those who may not know, Grant and his wife, Lorraine, have also been Ken's and my wonderful neighbours for over 35 years. Christmas Day parades in Wattle Downs won’t be the same without Grant’s amazing collection of classic and vintage cars — and the three of us (Grant, Ken and I) in hilarious costumes and having way too much fun.

Grant, you’ve contributed so much to our tai chi whānau and to our neighbourhood. On behalf of all of us at Kia Ora Tai Chi, we send our heartfelt thanks and our very best wishes to you and Lorraine for your new life in the Bay of Plenty. You will be deeply missed — but never forgotten. Come back for a visit, anytime!

08/11/2025

When I finish creating an earth art piece, I love to pause and explore it from different angles. Each shift in perspective reveals something new — just like the many ways we can view life.

Here’s a recent creation.
From one direction, it feels like a leafy landscape, gently inviting us to open up to the bounty of nature.
Turn it, and it becomes a cascading waterfall of leaves — calming, flowing, and helping us feel centred and connected.

I’m fascinated by how nature invites us to re-imagine, re-frame, and rediscover.

05/11/2025

Yes, it’s happening and for the 9th year in a row!! The free summer tai chi and qigong sessions with me in Cornwall Park are back for summer 2026. The kick-off will be on Sunday 11 January at 9am. More info: https://www.kiaorataichi.nz/free-tai-chi/

02/11/2025

What an amazing day at the Auckland Botanic Gardens! Our 5-Element Qigong retreat today was a journey into energy, harmony, and balance — within ourselves and with nature. Towards the end of the day, the participants made their own nature mandalas (earth art). I was delighted with how each mandala evolved to become a reflection on what that person had learned about the five elements – unity, inter-connectedness, symmetry, the circle of life, being centred, heart/love/peacefulness, life’s journey, and energy. Check out the photos. A big thank you to everyone for being part of this very special day.

17/10/2025

Woot! My annual registration has been approved for 2026 as a New Zealand Registered Exercise Professional (REPS), including for teaching group exercise classes using my own choreography.

09/10/2025

What a fabulous fan club!
Teaching tai chi at Acacia Cove Retirement Village is always a highlight of my week. The group's energy, humour, and dedication to learning is inspiring. Together, we’ve been exploring the tai chi fan form — a colourful blend of movement, focus, and fun.
Great photo, Pat, and thanks.

26/09/2025

Wobbles now, wisdom later — to be able to confidently stand on one leg, every would-be golden rooster has to start somewhere. Ah, little grasshoppers (or should I say 'owlets'), the more you practice tai chi, the easier it gets.

☯️ It’s normal for things to feel difficult at first, but everything gets easier with time.

14/09/2025

I'm excited to announce that there's a wonderful new documentary coming out soon called Quantum Qi. It features qigong (pronounced chee-gong) and tai chi practitioners from all over the world talking about qi (life force/mauri, energy) and the health benefits of doing qigong (energy work to enhance your qi). Link to the trailer for Episode 1 is below. May the Qi Be With You. (Note: YouTube might insert an annoying advertisement at the start of the clip.)

https://quantumqimovie.com, https://facebook.com/quantumqi What is Qi? How does the practice of Qi Gong help to reset the body’s entire healing system bringi...