Tai Chi classes to return to Jesmond Pool and Gym
Jesmond Pool and Gym is set to host Tai Chi classes for the second time under long-time senior instructor Joe Harte, an instructor with over 30 years of knowledge.
Tai Chi is a form of moving meditation originating in China and dates back to the 19th century. At its core Tai Chi consists of a series of slow movements and postures designed to relax both the mind and body.
Harte says that his Tai Chi can help open up the body and mind to make day to day life less stressful:
“Moving the body in waves helps to move the fluids in the body that don’t have pumps. If you move in certain waysthen the lymphatic system boosts the immune system and then the spinal fluids. If you allow the body to compress and decompress as we do in the Tai Chi, then the spinal fluids get moving again.”
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Harte states that the classes in Jesmond stand out to him due to the available facilities and the similar experience each participant typically has:
“It’s a very nice open hall, it’s spacious and well-lit but actually one of the benefits there are that most people are starting at the same time. In my other classes, I have students that have been with me for 20+ years so I have to incorporate new people into those. My job is to manage that but sometimes people are intimidated by that which they shouldn’t be, but they are.”
The upcoming classes are currently advertised to take place on a weekly basis starting on 8th February 2023 however this could be subject to change depending on the interest shown beforehand by potential participants.
Harte believes that the Tai Chi he instructs can have more meaningful benefits to those who participate:
“We aim for a deeper aspect of the training so really it’s people who are interested in internal development not just the simple physical movement which is so often taught. So what specifically does out Tai Chi consist of? We have a deeper aim so that people who are interested in developing themselves like in meditation for example would be drawn to it. We aim to awaken a deeper part of the mind so really it is mind training using the body as a vehicle.”
“The outer world is quite rough really there is a lot of pressure on people in the outer world such as the cost of living and the pressure of jobs and family and all of the rest of it. So really this aims to deepen a person’s inner strength so they can feel less blown around by the winds of the external world and have a greater sense of inner stability.
To express interest in the classes, aspiring participants should make their interest known directly to Jesmond Pool and Gym. Alternatively, Harte currently runs classes locally in Gosforth and Blyth. To learn more about Tai Chi joetaiji.co.uk or contact Joe directly by emailing joetaiji@gmail.com