Classes

Helen runs weekly T’ai Chi classes for beginners and intermediate students in Witney. We meet on Tuesday and Thursday evenings during term time.

New to T’ai Chi?

Bookings are now open for the Autumn Term NEW Beginner’s classes -

Tuesdays, The Corn Exchange, 18.40 - 19.50

Thursdays, Burwell Village Hall, 19.35 - 20.45.

Class details: Tuesdays at The Corn Exchange, Witney, 18.40 - 19.50

Class details: Thursdays at Burwell Village Hall, Witney, 20.45 - 21.35

Bookings are made on a first-come first-served basis.

Have questions? Please get in touch using the CONTACT form, or send me an email or WhatsApp.

NEW BEGINNERS, AUTUMN Term - reserve my space

What to expect?

You will receive a warm welcome to your T’ai Chi class.

Classes are typically run as ten-week courses. This way, students can build on their knowledge week by week.

There will be times for you to introduce yourself to others in the class, and Helen runs the occasional group discussion on a theme. Otherwise, we try and keep distractions to a minimum to allow for full relaxation and mental awareness to develop. For complete beginners the first few weeks can be a challenge – to really “get” what you are supposed to do; what you are supposed to achieve. Helen will encourage you to stick at it – it can feel quite strange at first slowing down and really letting go (let’s face it – we are rarely encouraged to give something LESS effort!)

But in T’ai Chi terms – less is definitely MORE. By the end of the ten weeks, you will notice a difference to:

your balance
your mood
your stress levels
the strength in your legs particularly
your overall sense of wellbeing
your understanding of “letting go” and the benefits this can bring to your everyday life
the quality of your sleep on T’ai Chi day

The class comprises a warm-up to prepare your body and your mind for the T’ai Chi practice. We include both Qigong to connect with the breath, and meditation exercises (often walking meditation) - to calm the mind and build presence.

T’ai Chi movements follow the postures which are found in nature, e.g. the White Crane Spreads its Wings, Tiger’s Ears, Grasping the Bird’s Tail etc.

Students leave the class smiling – feeling relaxed and rejuvenated.

What should you expect from T’ai Chi? Best to come with an open mind and see where it takes you!

Any questions? Do please get in touch.

Image credit: Freepik

What to wear?

For your comfort and safety please wear loose clothing, e.g. jogging bottoms and a t-shirt. Wearing a couple of layers would be a good idea.

You will ultimately require some T’ai Chi shoes (cotton shoes with a flat espadrille sole), but for your first class please feel free to come in trainers – or better, plimsoles which don’t have a very good grip. I do not recommend bare feet or socks.

Please bring a small bottle of water with you – there will be a couple of water breaks in the class.

Any medical conditions?

Please let Helen know if you have any medical history you think Helen should know about. You can do this by using the contact form, or send by email. Thanks.

In case of any doubt, it is recommended to let your GP know you are about to start T’ai Chi classes.

the t’ai chi room policies

Quiet presence - so that we can all experience full presence in class, we operate a no phones policy. All phones on silent please for the duration of class. Gives us an opportunity to disconnect from the busyness and ‘always on’ which we have come to accept.

Privacy - In accordance with the General Data Protection Act, please use the link below to access the T’ai Chi Room’s Privacy Policy, including how we keep your data safe; what data we hold and why.

Privacy Notice – May 2018 – Draft pdf v4

Keeping each other healthy - It is good practice to stay home and rest up if you are feeling unwell. That keeps us all healthy.

We are running in-person classes.

I will presume that you are in class because you have chosen to be 😉

If you are feeling at all unwell – for everyone’s comfort PLEASE DO NOT COME TO CLASS. For clarity – if you are in class and have a cold, you will be asked to go home.

We are not requiring masks, but please know that you are welcome to use one.

You are welcome to use the hand sanitisers which the school installed during the pandemic.

Please observe the thorough handwashing rules (using soap, 20 seconds).

For the sake of completeness – please adhere to any current self-isolation advice you may have been given.

TEMPORARY INFO FOR LATE BOOKINGS -

Enquiry Letter

T’ai Chi classes, Witney - Autumn Term 2026

Thank you for your enquiry about T’ai Chi classes in Witney. I still have spaces in the Thursday Beginners class and the T’ai Chi Postures & Presence classes (Tuesdays). Autumn timetable below, plus some background information on what is T’ai Chi and how the Postures & Presence classes differ from the Beginners course.

All classes are operated on a by-course basis. This protects the energy in the room for the benefit of all students.

Autumn Term 2026 - Timetable

Complete Beginners are welcome to join either the new Beginners’ T’ai Chi course, or the T’ai Chi Postures & Presence class.

T’ai Chi Beginners Classes

Tuesdays 6.40pm – 7.50pm | 70 mins | The Corn Exchange, Market Square, Witney CLASS FULL or
Thursdays 7.35pm - 8.45pm | 70 mins | Burwell Village Hall, Thorney Leys, Witney
Course fee: £90, see below How to book
Full course dates (ten-week course) – https://www.thetaichiroom.co.uk/timetable-autumn-2026

NOTE – I postponed the first class for T’ai Chi Beginners to 24 September. The Postures & Presence class started on 15 September.

T’ai Chi Postures & Presence Classes

Tuesdays 5.50pm – 6.40pm | 50 mins | The Corn Exchange, Market Square, Witney
Course Fee: £80, see below How to book
Full course dates (ten-week course) – https://www.thetaichiroom.co.uk/timetable-autumn-2026

What is T’ai Chi?

T’ai Chi is an ancient Chinese martial art which incorporates slow, gentle movements and a calming approach to learning, and to living in the present moment.

In our Beginners class we learn the sequence of postures called the T’ai Chi Ch’uan Yang Long Form. When all three Parts are practised together, the exercise takes around 17/ 18 minutes.

In the Autumn Term Beginners’ classes we will familiarise ourselves with some basic T’ai Chi movements, concentrating on the foundational aspects, e.g. breathing and posture. We incorporate Qigong breathing exercises and meditations to prepare for the T’ai Chi Form practice.

Differences between the T’ai Chi Beginners’ class and the T’ai Chi Postures & Presence class

The Postures & Presence classes are more foundational and include a longer section of Qigong, as well as other somatic movements. Somatic movements help us to calm the nervous system. As the title suggests – we break down the T’ai Chi movements into very fundamental parts, and we learn different techniques for building presence. When we build presence we can build a sense of peace, calm and clarity.

Some students attend both classes; this has many benefits, not least the longer practice time means you are able to build deeper connection to the breath, whilst dropping into the body – making all movements more mindful.

How to book?

Submit your Booking Form and make payment either by PayPal (link on Bookings page), or bank transfer (details in Booking Form). Bookings link: www.thetaichiroom.co.uk/bookings

You will receive Joining Instructions by email (within 48 hours, as this is not automated).

Benefits of T’ai Chi

T’ai Chi Ch’uan is based on an ancient Chinese form of exercise. Slow, gentle movements strengthen and relax the body. T’ai Chi is many things – it has been described as a form of meditation, a martial art, a means of relaxation for body and spirit, as well as a system for developing good posture, physical balance and co-ordination. Whatever has drawn you to T’ai Chi – whether it be a part of your fitness regime, a desire to experience a journey of self-discovery, or simply to combat life’s everyday stresses – I hope that you will enjoy T’ai Chi’s many health-giving benefits! I look forward to the possibility of welcoming you to class soon.

Please do get in touch if you have any questions. Email or WhatsApp are good channels for me, and I would be happy to schedule a brief call if you prefer to speak with me directly.

Kind regards,

Helen Blantz, T’ai Chi Instructor

Confirmation Letter - Thursday Beginners T’ai Chi Class, Autumn Term 2026

1. Venue & Times

Burwell Village Hall, Thorney Leys
Thursdays, 7.35pm – 8.45pm

2. Arrival

We take the hall over from the children’s martial arts class. As the foyer is small we have learnt that it’s best we stay in our cars until 7.30pm and come into the hall once the children have left.

· Toilets are available as you come in, on your left hand side

· Mobiles must be switched off as part of my Ts & Cs.

· If you arrive late, simply slip in quietly - no need to apologise.

3. Plans for AutumnTerm

We will cover Part I of the T’ai Chi Chuan Yang Long Form. This is a sequence of moves which takes around five minutes to perform.

Please allow for Week 1 to be an orientation week. At the beginning of Term, I will share some class resources by email. We will look at sharing a simple homework after half-term week.

Next Book Club: There are No Secrets: Professor Cheng Man-ching and His T'ai Chi Ch'uan by Wolfe Lowenthal

Wednesday 11 November 2026, 7.30pm – 8.15pm (amended on 23 July 2026 to fit with a regular attendee)

Please message me “I’m in!” as I will share late meeting details only with those who are attending.

We share some T’ai Chi lineage with Cheng Man-Ching (see our lineage tree on the tai chi room website). He taught T’ai Chi in New York in the 1960s. This is an anecdotal book, which explores the lived experience of walking the Tai Chi path.

4. Term Dates

Classes:
• 24 Sept 2026 • 1 Oct 2026 • 8 Oct 2026 • 15 Oct 2026 • 22 Oct 2026 • 29 Oct 2026 • 12 Nov 2026 • 19 Nov 2026 • 26 Nov 2026 • 17 Dec 2026

This will be a 10-week term. A few dates clash with family celebrations my side, and Bonfire Night. Therefore no classes scheduled on:

• 5 Nov • 3 Dec • 10 Dec 2026.

5. What to Bring

· Water bottle

· Loose, layered clothing

· Soft-soled plimsolls recommended (or search “cotton sole kung fu shoes”). Bare feet/socks not advised.

Please let me know any relevant medical info, and update me privately if anything changes.

6. Helpful Resources

· Newsletter (approx. 6 issues per year) – sign up on the website

· T’ai Chi DVD – www.thetaichiroom.co.uk/bookings

· Gerda Geddes – Looking for the Golden Needle (recommended reading)

· Daily practice tips:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/TheTaiChiRoom

Blog: http://taichiblog.co.uk

7. Staying in Touch

I’ll add you to our class WhatsApp group for updates and notices (e.g. weather closures).
For absences, please message me privately!!! That will keep our group comms in a positive vibe 😉

I’m looking forward to a calm, restorative Autumn term with you.

Warm regards,

Helen Blantz, T’ai Chi Instructor

Confirmation letter - T’ai chi Postures & Presence Class, Autumn Term 2026

1. Venue & Times

The Corn Exchange, Market Square, Witney OX28 6AB
Tuesdays, 5.50pm – 6.40pm

Map & directions:

· Building photo: https://share.google/O4l0ZgOt6F89Bnci1

· What3words: ///stray.trout.ships

· Google pin: https://maps.app.goo.gl/VtKsPYSHwYMvZR7r6

· Parking: Waitrose or around the War Memorial/The Green.

· From Waitrose: walk past the card shops, turn left onto the High Street — Corn Exchange is a few doors up on the left.

2. Arrival

Please come in via the main doors and wait in the café area (it will be closed). We don’t have exclusive use of the space, so please be mindful of others.

· Change footwear before class so we can start on time.

· I’ll come and collect you when the room is ready.

· Toilets are upstairs; lift available.