Helping you stay healthy since 2013
Competition
Success
With 8 students competing in 11 events including 2 team events, the Tai Chi Centre was well represented at the 2023 Tai Chi Association of Australia (TCAA) Open Competition held in April.
Competition provides the opportunity for students to not only gauge their own skills against set criteria, but to test how calm and focused they can stay while being judged.
Congratulations to our students who perfomed brilliantly and were awarded an amazing 13 medals :
Louise, Pete, Sue, Tony, Theresa, Annette, Lawrence, Kerrie and of course to Shifu Amanda Heidke (pictured L to R)
Research Support
Scientists are working hard to delay, prevent and ultimately find a cure for dementia.
To give our best and brightest scientists a fighting chance against dementia, funding needs to be available to allow them to carry out their work.
We are proud to support Dementia Research Australia through our fundraising efforts, and our 2022 cheque has brought our current total to over $11,000.
Thank you to everyone involved !
Amanda with Annette Moxey and Imogen Hansen from Dementia Australia Research Foundation
COVID-19 recovery
The benefit to pulmonary and immune function health by doing Qigong and Tai Chi has long been understood, so it is no surprise that many Western health professionals are advocating the practise of these systems for those recovering from COVID - 19 and for those managing the associated affects of long term COVID.
Click on the link below to read more (page 14)
https://issuu.com/hunterlocal/docs/thelocal_october2022_edition_issuu
Student success
On 23rd April 2022 the Tai Chi Association Australia (TCAA) welcomed competition back after a 2year COVID 19 hiatus. Amanda refers to the competition as "The Tai Chi Friendly Games" and the atmosphere is very reflective of that term.
Although competitor and spectator numbers were well below previous years, it was a fantastic opportunity for all to reconnect, have fun and challenge themselves.
A big thumbs up and huge Congratulations to our students Peter, Louise and Tony who all performed so well and achieved great scores including a Silver medal for Tony and a Bronze medal for Louise. Peter was only a fraction of a point behind and we are sure if he had remembered his knee brace, he too would have some bling to show off.
Go Team!
COVID - 19
Despite event cancellations, social distancing and self imposed isolation. With fewer students attending and the resulting financial strain , when the Newcastle Herald asked Amanda about life as a Tai Chi teacher and small business owner during the current pandemic, her response was remarkably positive.
Amanda offers some practical advice for looking after ourselves and others as we navigate our way through these uncertain times.
You can read the full article here
https://www.newcastleherald.com.au/story/6691814/a-way-to-find-balance-in-unbalanced-times/
At the Art Gallery
Qigong session within the Exhibition
"Between Two Worlds"
Presented by Newcastle Art Gallery
and The Tai Chi Centre
A truly unique opportunity was given to literally immerse oneself within an exhibition that held the energy of generations of Chinese Australian artists.
International Health Qigong Federation Instructor,
Amanda Heidke, unveiled the ancient art of internal strength, and guided participants on a journey of self awareness, to rediscover and release the powerful natural energy that lies dormant within.
World Tai Chi Qigong Day
The count down to World Tai Chi & Qigong Day provides the opportunity to revisit the many health benefits of these amazing arts.
We will be celebrating this special day 10am Saturday 27th April at the former Newcastle Railway Station "The Station" 110 Scott Street Newcastle.
Everyone is invited to join us for a free morning of Tai Chi and Qigong and to watch demonstrations of different styles and forms including weaponry.
You can read the full article here
Seniors Festival
This year we celebrated Seniors Festival with Tai Chi and Qigong by the harbour at Newcastle Foreshore Park.
We were delighted to have Dementia Australia Research Foundation representatives with us for the morning and to hear all about current techniques and research breakthroughs.
All research is funded entirely by donations and presenting our annual donation was a very proud moment indeed.
Thank you to everyone involved !
Amanda and friends with Belinda Horgan from Dementia Australia
and Annette Moxey from Dementia Australia Research Foundation
Master Class
The Tai Chi Centre is proud to host world renowned Tai Chi Master Jesse Tsao.
Newcastle Tai Chi students have been given the opportunity of a lifetime when Master Jesse Tsao arrives in Newcastle to conduct Shibashi Fan 18 form in Yang Style workshops.
Master Tsao will spend two days sharing his knowledge and skills with students of all levels of Tai Chi experience.
"It is difficult to describe the power, strength and energy that surrounds Master Tsao however, when you are in his presence, you are acutely aware of it".
you can read the article here
https://issuu.com/newcastleweekly/docs/nw20181018_issuu
Cultural Moon Festival
Amanda with TCAA President Ken Goh
Tai Chi Association of Australia (TCAA) Moon Festival Sunday 30th October 2018.
Receiving her invitation to participate in the TCAA Inaugral Moon Festival was an invitation Amanda accepted with much enthusiasm.
The event brought participants from Sydney, Central Coast, Newcastle and beyond together to celebrate and showcase many styles and forms of Tai Chi.
The audience was treated to beautiful and powerful demonstrations of both barehand and weapons.
Amanda performed Tai Chi Bang : Eight Immortal Flute to a very appreciative and positive audience but her highlight was providing the audience with the opportunity to join in and learn a few of the movements. "Being able to share what we do is its own reward".
Sharing Mooncakes and Green Tea on the day was a wonderful symbol of our friendships and as the Chinese poem goes ;
“May we live long and share the beauty of the moon together, even if we are hundreds of miles apart.”
Global Healing Event
The Tai Chi Centre is proud to be hosting its annual World Tai Chi & Qigong Day event 10.00am Saturday 28th April.
This year our community session and demonstrations will be held overlooking our wonderful working
harbour at Foreshore Park, Wharf Road Newcastle (near the frog pond and tram sheds).
Regardless of your age, physical abilities or fitness levels you are invited to join in. The simple Tai Chi routines enable everyone the opportunity to experience the healing benefits of this ancient Chinese art form and share in the global phenomenon known worldwide as Tai Chi & Qigong Day.
We are looking forward to sharing the morning with old friends and meeting new ones!
you can read the article here
https://www.theherald.com.au/story/5343147/tai-chi-sends-wave-of-healing-around-world/?cs=6158
Fundraising success
Everyday another 244 Australians are impacted by a diagnosis.
Dementia Australia is the national peak body for people, of all ages, living with all forms of dementia, their families and carers. It provides advocacy, support services, education and information.
Dementia Australia Research Foundation is the research arm that supports and funds research to help people living with dementia and their families, including research to develop new treatments for the future.
We are proud to be actively involved in raising funds for this vital research.
Amanda with Belinda Horgan from Dementia Australia
Thank you for your continued support !
World Tai Chi & Qigong Day
A fantastic opportunity for the Hunter community to join in and be part of a global Tai Chi event.
On Saturday the 29th April at 10.00am The Tai Chi Centre will host World Tai Chi & Qigong Day on Market Street Lawn (ex rail corridor) situated between Wharf Road and Scott Street Newcastle.
Regardless of your Tai Chi experience (or lack of) everyone is invited to come along and share the morning in the heart of our beautiful City. There is ample parking and people can make it a full day out to enjoy the foreshore, beaches, local cafes and the shopping precinct.
you can read the article here
http://www.theherald.com.au/story/4585709/tai-chi-session-helps-people-come-together/
Fundraising
Amanda with Maree Fleming from Alzheimer's Australia
There are an estimated 413,000 people living with dementia in Australia and around 1.2 million people involved in the care of someone with dementia.
Without a significant medical breakthrough, the number of people with dementia is expected to grow to more than half a million people by 2025 and 1.1 million people by 2056.
At present there is no prevention or cure for most forms of dementia and research holds the key to its defeat.
Fundraising helps spread the message about how investing in research strategies can deliver better treatments and preventative measures for the future.
Our annual fundraising efforts are always an amazing success and all proceeds are presented to the Alzheimers' Australia Dementia Research Foundation.
Honoured
It was such a thrill to be invited to work with Master Jesse Tsao in Melbourne during his first visit to Australia, and Amanda is ecstatic with his confidence in her teaching.
Master Jesse Tsao (12th generation direct lineage Chen Style) is the creator of the form Tai Chi Bang: Eight Immortal Flute which consists of 36 postures influenced by Penglai Temple Taoist meditation, General Qi Jiguang (1528-1588) martial art and Chen Style Silk Reeling.
The Bang can be solid timber or bamboo, it measures from the point of your elbow to the tip of your middle finger and varies in diameter to suit an individual’s grip.
Working with the Tai Chi Bang improves balance, joint flexibility and muscle strength.
Students of the Tai Chi Centre are being introduced to the Tai Chi Bang: Eight Immortal Flute Form with much enthusiasm.
You can read the article here
http://www.theherald.com.au/story/4299448/chill-out-with-an-ancient-kung-fu/
Award Nomination
Amanda was overwhelmed when the Newcastle Herald contacted her to advise that she had been nominated for "Hunter Hero".
" it was such a pleasure to volunteer my time and offer my Reclaim Lunchtime program in Civic Park. I am so happy that the classes were appreciated and incredibly humbled that someone would take the time to nominate me".
"My sincerest thanks to everyone who participated and enjoyed the program".
You can read the article here
http://www.theherald.com.au/…/sharing-the-secret-to-health…/
Reclaim Lunchtime
Reclaim Lunchtime is an interactive Tai Chi and Qigong program designed to improve your health and wellbeing.
Stressful work environments, long work hours and low morale can have a negative effect on the social and emotional wellbeing of working people, and by association, their families and friends.
It may be easy to advise people to make exercise a part of their life, but it is much more difficult to advise people which exercise to do. Some people like an intense work out at the gym, but if you would rather care for your body without sweating it out, now is your perfect opportunity to try the ancient martial art of Tai Chi.
Although Tai Chi is slow and gentle and doesn’t leave you breathless, it addresses the key components of fitness: muscle strength, flexibility, balance, and, to a lesser degree, aerobic conditioning.
You can read the article here
http://www.theherald.com.au/story/3809301/calm-the-senses-in-your-lunch-break/