The Year 2020 Comes to an End

At the close of 2020, Tai Ji Circle looked back on a year of adaptation: the Covid-19 outbreak, classes on Zoom, a careful return to the hall, and Brexit still to come.

From March to July, Tai Ji Circle ran its classes on Zoom, and we were thankful that so many students stood loyally by to support us during this time. We set up a Vimeo channel to help our students practise. Shifu Liu taught early-morning online Taiji and Qigong classes from Monday to Friday, as well as classes on Sundays and in the evenings. There were also online Saturday workshops and free monthly Taiji classes online.

When we could return to the venue, we set up online booking, wrote a risk assessment, limited our numbers and took every safety precaution. We carried on online for those further away or shielding. It was amazing to welcome people from a wider circle around the globe joining us online.

The trustees and students gave thanks to Shifu Liu Quanjun for his wonderful energy, for sharing his skill, and for adapting to teaching online so brilliantly.

Despite the huge sadness and loss surrounding the global pandemic, this was a time to give thanks for the wisdom of the Chen Taijiquan practice from our master, Grandmaster Chen Xiaowang. We were thankful to be able to share it with others, and for how it helped each of us find patience and calm, deepen our breathing, stay healthy and be thankful to be alive.

Tai Ji Circle then closed for the holidays, with classes due to reopen online, and in the venue if possible, on Sunday 10 January 2021.