Welcome to the internet home of

Established in 2015, we offer weekly classes, occasional seminars and workshops and corporate events in and around the Preston area of Lancashire.

Dig around and you’ll find everything you need to know about our classes, the history of Tai Chi and Qigong, forthcoming seminars and links to YouTube videos featuring the forms we practice.

Check out the News page for our archive of articles and features about Tai Chi and Qigong in general, or get in touch with us via our contact us page.

LATEST NEWS

We have a few cancelled sessions in June and July. Please check the Classes page for details.

24 November 2025Clair’s at it again. By “it”, we main raising money for Charity. On Sunday 7th December, she’ll be taking part in a Santa Dash to raise funds for the incredibly worthy cause of St. Catherine’s Hospice. Clair has asked us to stress that if everyone in the club, plus anyone else who reads this on the website or Facebook page was to donate just £1 each it will make a real difference, so what are you waiting for..?   [...] Read more...
9 October 2025Online Qigong with Feixia Yu for World Mental Health Day This Friday 10th October our good friend and accomplished Qigong teacher Feixia Yu (who brought home two gold medals from this summer’s World Qigong Tournament in Vancouver) will be hosting a special online event to celebrate World Mental Health Day. The session, called “Move to Heal: Gentle Qigong for Mental Wellness”, is a chance to explore how simple, mindful movement can ease stress, lift mood, and restore balance in our everyday lives. Understanding Qi and Mental Wellbeing Feixia will start by looking at the concept of Qi, the life force that flows through all of us. She’ll talk about how imbalances in Qi, whether it’s lacking or overactive, can affect how we feel emotionally, sometimes showing up as anxiety, low mood, or general fatigue. Understanding this connection can help us see how working with Qi through Qigong supports both body and mind. Movement, Breath and Calm From there, Feixia will explore the powerful link between movement, breathing, and emotional balance. She’ll show how gentle Qigong exercises, combined with mindful breathing, can create a smoother, more harmonious flow of energy. This not only helps reduce stress but also promotes a sense of calm and wellbeing — something most of us could use a little more of! A Hands-On Experience The event will be interactive and practical. Feixia will guide participants through a few easy-to-follow Qigong movements and some simple grounding techniques based on mindfulness and body awareness. The aim is for everyone to experience how subtle shifts in posture and breath can create noticeable changes in how we feel. By the end of the session, you’ll have a short routine you can use at home whenever you need to restore balance, ease tension, or simply take a few moments for yourself. Join In When: World Mental Health Day (Friday October 10th) Where: Online — join from the comfort of your home Booking: Eventbrite – Move to Heal: Gentle Qigong for Mental Wellness   [...] Read more...
11 August 2025Our Autumn Qigong seminar seems to have become something of a tradition, so in order not to disappoint we’ve invited the wonderful Feixia Yu back again to share some of her extensive knowledge. Our first Autumn seminar was back in November 2021 as the country was finally getting back to normal after Covid had knocked the world for six. At that first seminar Feixia took us through the ancient Shaolin qigong exercises known collectively as the Yi Jin Jing, so we thought it might be useful to revisit the routine and jog a few memories. For more information about the seminar, or to reserve a place, head over to our seminars page. [...] Read more...
11 August 2025We’re delighted to announce that we’ll be welcoming David Gaffney, chief instructor at Chen Jiagou Taijiquan GB to spend an afternoon looking at the first two sections of Lao Jia Yilu. David began his training in Asian martial arts in 1980, but has focused exclusively on Chen Taijiquan since 1996. He’s trained with many leading Chen Taijiquan teachers and since 2003 has been training with Chen Xiaoxing in the Chenjiagou Taijiquan School. His quest to experience the art in the most authentic way has seen him travel to China more than twenty times to train in Chen Jiagou, the birthplace of Taijiquan. He is one of the few westerners to be awarded an Advanced Instructor’s Certificate by the Chenjiagou Taijiquan School and holds a sixth Duan grade with the Chinese Wushu Association. He has published a number of books with Davidine Siaw-Voon Sim, including “Chen Taijiquan Illustrated” which we recommend to all students as a course handbook. David also publishes the popular Talking Chen Taijiquan blog. David is one of the UK’s leading instructors of Chen Tai Chi, so don’t miss this chance to train with him in here in Preston. For more information regarding the forthcoming seminar, or to book a place, head over to our seminars page. [...] Read more...
22 June 2025Zhan Zhuang (Standing Post) is an iconic exercise practised across a spectrum of Chinese internal arts, while Chan Si Jin (Silk Reeling) is a foundational exercise of Chen Tai Chi. Both are intended to help train the body to sense, cultivate and feel Qi (internal energy) within the body. We’ll be holding a 2 hour workshop on Sunday 27th July at St. Aidan’s Church Hall in Bamber Bridge where we’ll be practising and improving both skills.   For further information or to book a place at the workshop, please visit our Seminar & Workshop Bookings page, or click the flyer below.         [...] Read more...
18 April 2025In June of this year Amelia, one of our club members, is undertaking the daunting task of scaling Kilimanjaro, Africa’s tallest mountain, in order to raise money for Reuben’s Retreat. Reuben’s Retreat is a remarkable charity offering emotional and practical support to families who have suffered the loss of a child or are caring for a child with a life-limiting or complex condition. Based in the North West, they provide a warm and welcoming sanctuary where families can find peace, make precious memories, and begin to heal. From counselling and respite breaks to wellbeing therapies and peer support, the charity is dedicated to walking alongside families through the most difficult of times, with compassion at every step. To donate to this worthy cause and support Amelia in her challenge, click here to visit her JustGiving page. We’re looking forward to the pictures of her practising her forms at the top of the world! [...] Read more...
2 April 2025Clair, one of our club members, will be jogging one mile a day for Dementia UK this month. Most of us will know someone who suffers from Dementia and just how challenging it can be. Just £8 could pay for the telephone costs of two families calling its free Dementia Helpline, so any support would be much appreciated. Please click here and offer Clair your support! [...] Read more...
3 February 2025In 2015 the British Journal of Sports Medicine published a study suggesting that Tai Chi is great for older adults with conditions like arthritis, COPD, and even heart issues. Researchers found it helps with pain, stiffness, and overall quality of life without making symptoms worse. The gentle, flowing movements combine relaxation with deep breathing, making it an accessible way to stay active. With evidence from over 30 studies, experts think Tai Chi could even be prescribed in the future for multiple chronic conditions. Check out the BBC News Article here for more information and head to our classes page to find out when and where you can join us at a session and begin your Tai Chi journey. [...] Read more...
22 January 2025Living with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) can be incredibly challenging, with symptoms like chronic pain, fatigue, and limited mobility often impacting daily life. For some, Qigong (a gentle, ancient Chinese practice combining slow movements, meditation, and breathing) has offered a surprising and effective way to manage symptoms. Originally developed over 5,000 years ago, Qigong is rooted in Chinese medicine and martial arts. Unlike more strenuous forms of exercise, Qigong is accessible for those with physical limitations. Its flowing, low-impact movements can be done standing, sitting, or even in short sessions, making it adaptable for people with conditions like EDS. The benefits of Qigong for EDS sufferers are profound. Its gentle movements help build strength and improve flexibility without straining the body, while the focus on breathwork and mindfulness promotes relaxation and reduces stress (a key factor in managing chronic pain). Many who practise Qigong report feeling energised, more mobile, and less reliant on medication. If you’re curious about how Qigong can help alleviate EDS symptoms, this BBC article shares an inspiring story of recovery and resilience. It’s a fascinating glimpse into how this ancient practice is making a modern impact on lives. [...] Read more...
9 January 2025It’s the time of year when Master Chen Zhiqiang, Chief Coach of the Chenjiagou Taijiquan School and eldest son of Grandmaster Chen Xiaoxing, visits the UK to share his knowledge during a week of seminars looking at Push Hands, Straight Sword (Jian) Form, Lao Jia Yilu. Silk Reeling and Standing Pole (Zhan Zhuang) To book a place on any or all of the seminars, Download the PDF here, or contact David Gaffney (details on the flyer below) to book yourself a place.       [...] Read more...

So… what’s it all about?

 

To some, Tai Chi is a martial art, to others a spiritual practice and to yet others, simply a way of keeping body and mind fit.

Zhang San Feng

Regardless of the definition,  there’s a growing wealth of scientific evidence which recognises the benefits regular Tai Chi practice bestows on both body and mind.

The origins of Tai Chi are obscure and subject to much debate. Folklore attributes the creation of Tai Chi to the Taoist priest Zhang San Feng who, while living in the Wudang mountains, saw a snake and a crane fighting. Legend has it that he subsequently  integrated the moves of both creatures into his own sequence of movements, thus creating Tai Chi.

 

 

Chen Jia Gou
Chen Jia Gou

The “official” Chinese account (and the earliest with any written historical evidence) names the birthplace of Tai Chi as Chen Village (Chen Jia Gou) in Northern China’s Henan province. It is from the Chen family’s Tai Chi that the four other styles of Tai Chi arose, namely Wu, Wu (Hao), Sun and the most well known and widely practiced style, Yang. The village is on the opposite side of the valley to the Shaolin Temple in Deng Feng county. It is perhaps no surprise then that Chen style Tai Chi, which echoes movements found in internal Shaolin Kung Fu styles, became known as a formidable martial art long before the world awoke to its broader health benefits.

Master Wang Hai Jun
Master Wang Hai Jun

At Ling Shui we practice the original old frame Chen Family Tai Chi in the style of Grand Master Chen Zhenglei, as taught by Master Wang Haijun.

Grand Master Chen-Zhenglei
Grand Master Chen-Zhenglei

Tai Chi is a journey, not a destination and classes are relaxed, friendly and allow students to explore this beautiful art martially, spiritually or simply as a path to improved fitness, as they prefer.

In addition to Tai Chi, we practice traditional Qigong including the ancient Ba Duan Jin, Mawangdui Daoyin Shu and Yang Shi Ba Shi sequences.

 

 

 

For more information regarding our class schedule or to join us, please leave a message for us on our Contact Us page, or via our Facebook group.

 

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