In 2007 Helen Kingdon founded the Exeter Tai Chi school with her husband Tom Collingridge and, for the past 3 years, they have been running classes in Crediton. Since the pandemic struck they have had to learn to do this in a very different way. And, as Helen reports here, their students are responding well to virtual learning.
The teaching of Tai Chi is a very traditional process and the best results for students are gained from regular practice and the regular personal attendance of a Teacher. We have always followed the traditional approach of giving students hands-on postural correction and guidance, as we have received from our teachers and international Masters. So … how to translate that hands-on approach to the Coronavirus pandemic?
We very quickly recognised the need to change how we provided classes and wanted to offer students some continuity, normality and routine in these uncertain times. So online we went! Learning from friends and peers, we set up classes on the Zoom.Us portal. Usually used for meetings and conferences, it is a great interactive tool enabling all attendees to see each other, chat and have a virtual class.
The feedback has been wonderful so far. We’ve had great attendance and in some cases we’ve seen students more frequently than we usually would as they’re not working, there’s no need for travel and everyone is comfortable in their own space. Some have found the need to move a little furniture or ensure they don’t step on the cat. No accidents to date though.
From a teaching point of view it is quite challenging, making sure everyone can see what you’re doing, changing angles and views to give clarity, but at the same time it is very rewarding. As we can see the majority of students we can still watch them move and offer verbal correction and adjustment. We open the mic for questions throughout the class and everyone learns from questions posed by other students. The same as we do in our usual classes.
In the majority of our classes, Tom and I teach together and split the class into different levels of ability. Using the online portal we’re unable to do this, so we’ve extended our evening classes and split the time into different sections of the Tai Chi form, so that students can attend the time slot most appropriate for them.
We’ve also included a weekly Qi Gong class which is suitable for anyone to attend, no experience necessary at all. It’s a lovely class of exercises which combine movement and breath. Both Qi Gong and Tai Chi promote robust health, strength, balance, coordination and relaxation.
We’re enjoying our new “normal”. It’s been a steep and rapid learning process and we’re still adjusting how we present the classes online. But I think this is a great opportunity to rethink how we teach in the future. It presents more opportunities for some who may struggle to attend a class; either through travel restrictions or social anxiety. It could be a way to introduce more people to a new experience, eventually providing them with the confidence to come and join a class at a later date.
For now, it’s wonderful to see familiar, smiling faces, work together, teach and pass on what we’ve been taught ourselves.
For details of our classes contact:
Email: tom.collingridge@sky.com
Tel: 07800 854 513
