A first tai chi class can feel like a small mystery. You know it involves slow movement, you have heard it is good for balance, and you may be quietly wondering whether you will be asked to do anything embarrassing. In practice, most sessions follow a similar shape: a gentle warm-up, some form practice, a bit of partner work, and a calm finish. Here is what actually happens in a typical class, whether it is held in a church hall in Widcombe, a community centre in Larkhall, or a draughty sports pavilion on the edge of town.

Arriving, Settling, and the First Few Minutes

Classes usually run for 60 to 90 minutes, once a week, with a mix of ages and abilities. You will not need special clothing. Loose trousers, a t-shirt, and flat shoes or thick socks are ideal. Most teachers ask you to remove outdoor shoes, partly for the floor and partly because you feel the ground better without them.

The teacher will probably introduce themselves, ask if anyone is new, and check whether you have any injuries, recent surgery, or conditions such as high blood pressure or Vertigo. Mentioning a tricky knee or a stiff lower back is not a confession, it is useful information. From there, the class lines up, often in rows or a loose circle, and the first few minutes are spent simply standing still and noticing your feet on the floor.

• Bring water and a light layer you can remove once you warm up
• Tell the teacher about knees, hips, back, shoulders, or balance concerns
• Ask about chairs if standing for long periods is difficult
• Arrive five minutes early on your first visit so you can settle in

Warming Up with Qigong

Almost every class begins with 10 to 15 minutes of qigong and gentle mobilisation. This is not a brisk gym warm-up. It is slower and more deliberate: rotating the ankles, loosening the knees, circling the hips, rolling the shoulders, turning the neck, and opening the wrists and fingers. The aim is to wake up the joints and the nervous system without straining anything.

Then come a few qigong patterns, often drawn from sets such as the Eight Brocades. You might lift both hands towards the sky, draw an imaginary bow, or swing the arms like a pendulum while the knees soften. Each movement is repeated six to eight times and coordinated with the breath. In a Bath winter, when the damp creeps into stone buildings and halls can feel chilly, this section matters. It gets the blood moving, warms the hands, and helps the mind shift out of the working day.

Learning the Form

The form is the heart of most tai chi classes: a sequence of slow, continuous movements linked together without stopping. Beginners rarely learn the whole thing at once. A typical session might cover three or four postures, and you will repeat them many times.

The teacher demonstrates, then breaks the movement down. Weight shifts from one leg to the other; the arms float rather than push; the spine stays upright; the knees track over the toes. You will hear corrections such as "relax the shoulders", "sink into the left hip", or "let the elbow drop". Names like ward off, roll back, press, and push may be used, and it is fine not to remember them at first.

Most classes in the UK teach a short Yang-style form, often the 24-move set, though some focus on qigong only or teach Chen-style. Expect repetition rather than variety. The point is not to collect movements but to let them settle into the body.

Partner Work and Pushing Hands

After a short break, many teachers introduce partner work. This is where newcomers often feel nervous, and it is almost always gentler than they expect. Pushing hands, or tui shou, is a sensitivity drill, not a fight. One person applies light pressure, the other yields and redirects it, and both stay relaxed.

• Beginners usually start with single-hand contact while standing still
• Two-hand and stepping versions come later, once you are comfortable
• No grabbing, no shoving, no competition, and no need to win
• Contact can be adapted or avoided entirely if you prefer

Done well, partner work teaches you to listen through your arms, to notice tension before it becomes force, and to stay balanced while someone else moves towards you. It is one of the most practical balance exercises in the art.

Standing Still, Breathing, and Quiet

The last five to ten minutes are often the quietest. You may stand in zhan zhuang, sometimes called standing like a tree: feet parallel, knees soft, arms rounded as if holding a large ball. Eyes may close or rest softly on the floor. The teacher might guide your attention to the breath, the soles of the feet, or the space between the hands.

Some classes finish with a short seated meditation or a closing qigong pattern. Chairs are usually available. The silence is part of the practice, not an awkward gap, and it is a chance for the nervous system to absorb everything that came before.

After the Class

You may notice warm hands, looser shoulders, and a calmer head on the walk home. Better balance tends to take longer, building over weeks of regular practice. Ten minutes at home on the days between classes is worth more than one long session.

In a city of hills, Georgian steps, and uneven pavements, that steady practice pays off. If the first class does not quite suit you, try another. Teachers vary in pace and emphasis, and finding one whose style fits is a normal part of the process.