Education & Certifications
Master Ding Academy (MDA) traditional Tai Chi school London HQ Tai Chi for Health – Certified 2025
Two week-long intensive retreats and several four-day and week-long workshops completed (2024–2025)
Style
Yang Tai Chi with an emphasis on health. Focuses on relaxed structure, body alignment, and internal awareness to support mobility and calmness
How I Got Into Tai Chi
I was really into yoga and had done and taught it for years. I heard Tai Chi was similar and wanted to try it. One day, a leaflet came in the post. It was advertising night courses at a nearby school: languages, instruments, art, and of course, Tai Chi
I signed up. It was a ten-week course. The first few classes were uneventful. It was slow, and no one there was my age. But I'd paid upfront, so I kept going
On the third or fourth class, during standing meditation, my hands started tingling. I asked the teacher what it meant. He said it was my chi. I asked if chi was real and he said, “You just felt it!” It was hard to argue with that
I don't think everyone will feel the tingling straight away. Every body is different. But I always left class feeling calm. Most people do. So why not give it a try? It's something you can do from young to old. There's always something new to learn. It’s a lifetime journey
How Long Have I Been Doing Tai Chi
I started practising in February 2023 in a MDA Ireland branch. I relocated to London in 2024 and currently train multiple times a week at MDA HQ in London. I regularly attend workshops and retreats to deepen my Tai Chi knowledge. I estimate I have done over 1000 hours of Tai Chi practice to date. I practise every day so I am quite enthusiastic about it!