Move 2 Health

T'ai Chi & Chi Kung & Holistic Therapies

An Introduction to the Internal Arts of T’ai Chi and Chi Kung

T'ai Chi Chuan (Taijiquan) and Chi Kung (Qi Gong) originate in a long-standing tradition that has its roots in the martial, meditative and healing practises of China.


They combine physical practises, relaxation techniques, postural and breathing awareness and meditative techniques with a wide range of flowing, graceful movements of varying complexity.


Movements are often joined to flowing sequences (forms) or practised as individual exercises and can be adapted to suit a wide variety of abilities and circumstances and so can offer a practise that can help manage a wide range of long and short-term health issues, improve balance, cognitive function, co-ordination and mobility, develop personal awareness and cultivate a healthier lifestyle.

T'ai Chi Chuan (Taijiquan) and Chi Kung (Qi Gong) originate in a long-standing tradition that has its roots in the martial, meditative and healing practises of China.


They combine physical practises, relaxation techniques, postural and breathing awareness and meditative techniques with a wide range of flowing, graceful movements of varying complexity.


Movements are often joined to flowing sequences (forms) or practised as individual exercises and can be adapted to suit a wide variety of abilities and circumstances and so can offer a practise that can help manage a wide range of long and short-term health issues, improve balance, cognitive function, co-ordination and mobility, develop personal awareness and cultivate a healthier lifestyle.

Learning these arts can be a satisfying and fulfilling experience. Movements are learnt over time by repeating them until they are natural to perform.


Classes work with a regular set of movements to establish basic principles which can develop into daily activities as part of a regular practise.


Depending on the class, this may involve standing exercises and sequences and/or specially adapted seated practises that can then be practised safely at home without the need for special equipment.

Grey Heron internal Arts is a small, Cambridgeshire based school, teaching all aspects of the arts. We are health care specialists and work alongside other professional health care organisations offering traditional and adapted classes to suit a variety of needs and abilities.


Mike Tabrett, founding tutor, began training in 1983 and has been named as an honorary vice president of the T'ai Chi and Qigong Union Faradena Afifi has trained with Mike and other teachers in a variety of disciplines.


Mike and Fara are registered as senior and intermediate teachers with the union.

Grey Heron internal Arts is a small, Cambridgeshire based school, teaching all aspects of the arts. We are health care specialists and work alongside other professional health care organisations offering traditional and adapted classes to suit a variety of needs and abilities.


Mike Tabrett, founding tutor, began training in 1983 and has been named as an honorary vice president of the T'ai Chi and Qigong Union Faradena Afifi has trained with Mike and other teachers in a variety of disciplines.


Mike and Fara are registered as senior and intermediate teachers with the union.

About Fara

Faradena is a full time T'ai Chi Chuan instructor teaching classes since 2004, a community healing musician, Reiki practitioner and massage therapist. Trained at the Sylvia Brearley School in Harrogate in 2000, achieving an ITEC Anatomy Physiology and Massage Diploma. Since 2001 she attended various postgraduate courses with the Holos Massage School and the Middlesex School of Complementary Medicine.


Faradena is a teacher for Grey Heron Internal Arts, a small Cambridgeshire based T’ai Chi school. Her main areas of study are Chen style Taijiquan and Qigong and she also is learning Yiquan (intent boxing) with Eva Koskuba and the Beijing 24 step and associated practises with Mike Tabrett of Grey Heron Internal Arts and has recently taken up Ba Gua and more martial elements with the World Taiji Boxing Association run by Eli Montague.

 

She teaches T'ai Chi Chuan in a variety of settings mostly for adults and occasionally with children; including yearly festival music/exercise children’s sessions and one to one with children with additional needs. Faradena teaches the Beijing 24 Step, Chen Style beginners, Yiquan for beginners Chi Kung, Push Hands and partnerwork. She also can teach specialist classes: classes for people with long term health conditions, classes for improving strength and balance, women only, mental health positive classes, neurodiverse friendly classes, adaptations for people with complex learning disabilities, classes for wheelchair users, etc.

 

She covers East Cambridgeshire and also teaches online. See timetable HERE.


As well as community music sessions for adults with multiple and complex disabilities using a combination of T'ai Chi Chuan, massage and music to stimulate the senses and improve range of movement. She also does one to one and small group sessions in Music for Wellbeing using a combination of Reiki, recorded nature sounds and handpan, cello or singing for healing.

She teaches workshops in T’ai Chi and Chi Kung in local nature reserves during warmer months.