news from
Tai Chi Vermont

Spring officially arrived last month, and with it bushels of learning opportunities coming up this season. Check out the certification trainings, Skill Builders and Enrichment Workshops below, as well as the tai chi event we wait for all year long. Spread the word about these happenings, and we'll look forward to seeing you at one or more!

World Tai Chi and Qigong Day is Saturday, April 25

Players from across the globe in 80+ nations come together at 10 a.m. on the last Saturday of April each year to educate the world about the profound benefits of tai chi and qigong. You can think of World Tai Chi and Qigong Day like the New Year's Eve ball drop ... except instead of midnight celebrations, it's waves of flowing qi moving across the time zones as the planet turns, from New Zealand to Hawaii.

Free events are being planned across the state, so head to the website for the most up-to-date information on Tai Chi Vermont happenings in your area. We know that teachers in Bristol, Montpelier, Newfane, Springfield and White River Junction are working on their celebrations--what do you have planned? Email to let us know and we'll add your event to our list. As always, all are welcome to these fun celebrations!

Upcoming Certification Trainings

NEW! Tai Chi Vermont will offer Bafa Wubu Level 1 certification Friday, May 15, at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Randolph, 8:45 a.m.-4 p.m.

Bafa Wubu ("Eight Methods, Five Steps") is based on an ancient Chinese treatise describing key tai chi principles. Chinese martial artists recently resurrected and popularized it as a simple movement sequence incorporating self-defense techniques from the five main tai chi lineages. This form offers an excellent introduction to Tai Chi principles and martial arts applications. It's easy to learn, relaxing and enjoyable.

First-time Bafa Wubu instructor certifier candidates ideally should be

certified Fall Prevention Tai Chi instructors.

As with all TCV certifications, a 2026 Bafa Wubu certification will be good until 2028. A Bafa Wubu cert/recert option will be made available to 2025 certifiers in 2027.

Those who aren't interested in teaching it may use this training to enjoy a day of intensive practice for $50.

A $50 fee is required for all registrations, and the fee for certification is $175. Instructors supported by one of the Area Agencies on Aging may be reimbursed for the registration fee and the agency would be billed the balance ($125 for a certification). Please check with your agency for details. Independent instructors will need to pay the balance two weeks prior to the training date.

Level 2 Bafa Wubu certification is scheduled for July--watch the website for details.

Questions on either of these certifications? Click to email trainer Ellie Hayes

We'll host our biennial Sun 73 instructor certification training Thursday, Sept. 17, and Friday, Sept. 25 (eight days apart) in the Fellowship Hall at Charlotte Congregational Church, 8:45 a.m.-4 p.m. each day.

Sun 73 is the "parent form" of our Fall Prevention Tai Chi sequence (Sun style short form) and includes some of the same movements, often repeated. We've taught practitioners of all abilities these 73 rhythmic movements with kicks, turns and more.

Once you've registered with your $50 deposit, we'll provide you with home practice instructional videos.

The cost for first-time certifiers is $350. Ideally, first-time instructor certification candidates should be certified Fall Prevention Tai Chi instructors, with one or two years of Sun 73 form practice, and should be ready to demonstrate

teaching any Sun 73 movement effectively.

Recertifiers have the option of attending one or both days for the same low cost of $175.

If you volunteer with an Agency on Aging, your training fee, including the deposit, will be covered by that agency. After registering with the $50 deposit, independent instructors will pay the balance due by 
Sept. 3.

Students familiar with the Sun 73 form who aren't interested in teaching it may use these sessions simply to enjoy a day or two of intensive training. To participate as an auditor, use the same online registration and look for the $50/day “audit” option.

While you're waiting for certification to arrive this fall, brush up on the form with a series of four Enrichment Workshops, April 30, May 28, Jun 25 and Aug. 6.

Registration is open now for both of these certifications (and the Sun 73 Enrichment Workshops)--click to visit the website for complete details and to save your spot(s)!

Spring Skill Builders

Volunteer Tai Chi Vermont instructors: enter the special Skill Builder code that’s been shared with you previously at checkout so you can register for these events for FREE (click here to email us if you've misplaced the code). For all other registrants,

Skill Builders are $50. Follow this link (or those below) to register!

Step, Follow Step: Drills for Exploring, Teaching, and Inhabiting the Fall Prevention Tai Chi Form with TCV trainers Beverly Blakeney and Zhen Wolffe

9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Thursday, April 23, at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Randolph

Drills are repetitive movements that help create body memory. In this workshop we'll explore movements and practices to enhance our awareness of the Fall Prevention Tai Chi. Instructors can use these drills to support their students in learning the form. 

Bring your favorite drill to share--as well as your curiosity--and we’ll explore ways of feeling our way into the Fall Prevention form and inviting our students to do the same.

Tai Chi Pedagogy Skill Builder: How We Teach What We Teach with TCV trainer Anne Bower

9 a.m.-noon, Tuesday, May 7, online

During this Skill Builder we'll consider the methodology behind our teaching method and the ways that we structure our classes--both an individual class and a series. How do we incorporate vital tai chi concepts? How do we maintain fidelity to the tai chi form we're teaching? How do we encourage our students to deepen and enrich what they've learned? This Skill Builder will be an opportunity to share our best practices and learn from each other.

A recording will be available afterwards, for those who can't attend live as well as those who want to review the session.