Intro to Tai Chi for Wellness Professionals
Learn the foundations of Tai Chi and explore how this powerful practice may support your health, your work, and your future path.
AS SEEN IN
This professional track includes the LIVE Real Tai Chi Walking course plus a 2.5-hour LIVE workshop created specifically for wellness professionals.
Designed for:
Yoga/meditation teachers
Fitness instructors & wellness coaches
Healthcare professionals
Curious about tai chi for your own health, your clients, or the possibility of teaching someday?
This course helps you begin where every meaningful teaching path begins: with your own embodied practice.
Although this is not a tai chi teacher training or certification, it is the first step toward that path.
First, learn the practice, embody it, and explore the next steps if it feels right.
Why I created this professional track
Wellness professionals, especially yoga teachers, have been asking me, “How do I become a tai chi teacher? Is it right for me?” And many have joined my classes hoping to learn techniques they can share with their students. Many want to know how to pursue it in the safest, most science-backed way.
I began teaching tai chi in 2012, and over time, it quietly became a major part of my business. Even with decades of yoga training, a Master of Science in Yoga Therapy, and a career as the author of Science of Yoga, tai chi opened doors that yoga alone often did not.
Retirement communities, gyms, hospitals, corporate wellness programs, private clients, and workshops often wanted someone who could offer BOTH yoga and tai chi. Meditation students had trouble sitting still, and tai chi became a starting point as a flowing meditation in motion.
Even though my most extensive (and expensive) formal training is primarily in yoga and yoga therapy, tai chi has consistently brought business, often accounting for 50% or more.
That is why I created this: to help you explore tai chi from the inside out, not just as another modality, but as a practice that may support your own well-being and open meaningful doors in your work.
I designed this package to begin with the foundations through a 4-week LIVE course: one hour per class, with recordings available. Then, you’ll join me for an in-depth 2.5-hour workshop designed specifically for wellness professionals exploring tai chi personally and professionally.
Wellness is crowded. Tai chi can help you see a new path.
If you work in yoga or the wellness space, you already know how crowded the field can feel.
There are many people offering yoga classes, Pilates, free meditations, personal training, wellness coaching, and online courses.
Tai chi is different.
It’s less crowded and growing fast, especially as the population ages and needs more low-impact, gentle approaches.
It is widely needed (and supported by research), especially for balance, stress relief, arthritis, fall prevention, pain relief, healthy aging, and nervous system regulation, but far fewer wellness professionals understand it well.
This professional intro gives you a grounded starting point in the practice, a deeper understanding of its value, and honest guidance on how to pursue the teaching path if it feels right for you. You’ll get your questions answered, both about the evidence-based Tai Chi for Health programs I love and other paths you may choose. I’m an open book!
If you work with older adults (or want to), Tai Chi is a no-brainer.
Tai chi is gentle, adaptable, and low-impact. If you can walk, you can do tai chi. And if you need, there’s chair tai chi!
It’s true that yoga, Pilates, and any movement practice can be adapted to be more accessible, but tai chi is naturally more accessible.
It’s upright (no rounding of the spine that can be risky for osteoporosis).
You don’t get down on the floor (or have to get back up again).
We don’t go upside down (so high blood pressure, glaucoma, and many other conditions are not a concern).
It rarely involves intense, extreme movements. (Your joints are subtly bent, not straight, which builds strength slowly in a joint-friendly way.)
It seems like every retirement community, YMCA, and program that serves older adults is looking for tai chi.
And because tai chi is especially appealing to adults seeking a low-impact, sustainable practice, it can be a natural path to explore if you serve older adults, people with joint pain, or clients who need something gentler than traditional fitness.
If you value science-backed practices, tai chi is a gold standard.
This tradition has stood the test of time because it works, but also because the research supports it, particularly for:
Balance & fall prevention.
Arthritis & pain relief.
Stress relief.
Inflammation reduction.
& other markers of healthy aging.
For wellness professionals, tai chi offers something special.
It is not just another exercise format.
It is a way of moving, breathing, paying attention, shifting weight, softening tension, and restoring balance from the inside out.
Is this right for you?
This course is for you if:
You are a yoga/meditation teacher, fitness instructor, wellness coach, or healthcare professional.
You are interested in tai chi for your own health and longevity.
You serve older adults or people who need a gentler approach to movement.
You feel like the wellness space is crowded and want to explore a less oversaturated path.
You want to better understand a practice that supports balance, pain relief, stress reduction, and healthy aging.
You are considering becoming a tai chi instructor someday, but you want to learn the practice first.
You want honest guidance on what the tai chi teaching path can look like.
You want to experience tai chi as meditation in motion, not just read about it.
***You do not need prior tai chi experience.
Why we begin with REAL Tai Chi Walking
This professional track includes the LIVE Real Tai Chi Walking course because Tai Chi Walking is one of the most practical ways to begin learning tai chi. It may have gone viral recently from scammy ads with outlandish claims, but the actual benefits of the authentic practice are profound and science-backed:
Better balance & fewer falls
Pain relief, especially from arthritis & back pain
Deep relaxation through meditation in motion
I’ve taught tai chi walking for the last 5+ years because it works and people enjoy it. Some tai chi classes can feel complex, with long sequences to learn and follow, but this format is the perfect starting point for beginners.
Tai Chi Walking teaches the building blocks that show up throughout the practice:
Weight shifting that makes tai chi so different from yoga and typical exercise
Proper foot placement for healthy knees & optimal flow
Tai Chi posture
Tai Chi breathing
These are not just “walking slowly” skills.
You’ll learn traditional tai chi forms that can be carried into learning longer forms. You’ll learn the most popular style of tai chi in the world: Yang Style.
What’s Included:
When you join, you’ll receive:
Your choice of one cohort of the LIVE Real Tai Chi Walking course
4 LIVE Zoom classes with Ann Swanson, MS (and access to recordings after the course to revisit)
1 LIVE 2.5-hour, in-depth workshop with Ann specifically on Tai Chi for Wellness Professionals
Direct support from Ann during the course. Get all your questions answered!
Support in a community from around the world
Step-by-step instruction on two of the most popular styles (Yang and Sun)
Home practice prompts to stay accountable
Downloadable practice guides & cheat sheets
Bonus short practice videos
Professional mentorship with honest insights from Ann about teaching, income, and opportunities
Note:
This is a professional intro course, not a tai chi teacher training or certification.
It is a one-time payment.
No ongoing subscription.
No hidden fees.
No gimmicks.
Just real, authentic tai chi and honest insider info from Ann.
Designed for busy wellness professionals
This course was created with real life in mind.
You’ll have four 60-minute LIVE classes and one 2.5-hour LIVE workshop, with recordings available for everything.
Attend live when you can, submit questions when you can’t, and use the extra resources to go deeper as your schedule allows.
Exclusive Workshop: Tai Chi for Wellness Professionals
This 2.5-hour LIVE workshop designed specifically for wellness professionals is part education, part mentorship, and part behind-the-scenes business guidance.
We’ll explore:
What tai chi is, how it differs from yoga, qigong, meditation, and fitness, and what the research says
Why tai chi is such a strong fit for balance, healthy aging, mental health, and pain relief.
Why tai chi can be a natural path to explore if you serve older adults
How tai chi can help you stand out in a crowded wellness market
What wellness professionals should honestly know before pursuing becoming a tai chi teacher
How learning tai chi can support your own body, nervous system, and longevity as a wellness professional
How tai chi opened doors for Ann in retirement communities, gyms, hospitals, corporate wellness, private sessions, and workshops
The different paths toward becoming a tai chi instructor
What to look for in a tai chi teacher training
How to decide whether tai chi instructor training is right for you
You’ll also have time to ask Ann anything. She’ll give unfiltered, honest insights into income, opportunities, and more!
Plus, you’ll finish with self-care practices you’ll look forward to doing.
LIVE Real Tai Chi Walking course
As part of this professional track, you’ll choose one cohort of the LIVE Real Tai Chi Walking course. ($179 value but included in this package)
This 4-week course gives you a direct experience of tai chi fundamentals in your own body.
You’ll learn the authentic, science-backed practice behind the Tai Chi Walking trend.
Week 1:
Real Tai Chi Walking Foundations.
Discover what tai chi is, and what it isn’t
Learn why we’re starting with the most popular tai chi style in the world: Yang Style
Start safely with research-backed Tai Chi for Health warm-ups
Build the foundation of Tai Chi Walking through mindful footwork
Practice Tai Chi Walking footwork forward, backward, sideways & 360º stepping (never shared!)
Week 2:
Tai Chi Principles, Arms & Coordination.
Explore authentic tai chi principles that make this more than choreography
Try the Tai Chi for Health warm-ups seated
Refine your Tai Chi Walking footwork
Discover the fascinating science behind tai chi
Refine two classic tai chi arm patterns to make it a full-body flow with classic tai chi forms:
Parting the Wild Horse’s Mane
Wave Hands Like Clouds
Week 3:
Breath, Backward Walking & Repulse Monkey.
Learn how to breathe properly in Tai Chi Walking
Explore the science of qi
Coordinate breath, arms, and steps into a smoother Tai Chi Walking flow
Practice backward Tai Chi Walking - with tricks and tips I’ve never shared
Add arm movements to the form called Repulse Monkey with insider tips & tricks
Week 4:
Meditation in Motion.
Experience “meditation in motion” & the psychological phenomenon “flow state”
Practice BOX Tai Chi Walking that you can do anytime, anywhere
Learn Dan Tian Breathing, a science-backed breathing technique & Sun Style Tai Chi Walking
Learn the ultimate Tai Chi Meditation technique to space in the joints to support joint health
Discover the next steps in your Tai Chi Journey
EARLY BIRD PRICING
ONE-TIME PAYMENT
$299$197
Register now to save over $100
Includes these LIVE sessions:
(Live attendance not required, as recordings are available.)
1) Exclusive Workshop: Tai Chi for Wellness Professionals
Sunday, September 13th
4-6:30 pm EDT (1-3:30 pm PDT)
2) REAL Tai Chi Walking course ($179 value, but included in this course).
Choose the cohort for these 4-week LIVE classes that fits your schedule best:
Register now to save over $100
Special pricing ends:
Wednesdays: August 12, August 19, August 26, and September 2
Time: 1 pm EDT / 10 am PDT
Wednesdays: August 26, September 2, September 9, and September 16
Time: 10:30 am EDT / 7:30 am PDT
Thursdays: September 3, September 10, September 17, and September 24
Time: 6 pm EDT / 3 pm PDT
An Investment In Yourself
If you’ve ever felt called to learn tai chi, now is the time to begin.
This is not only about your career. This course will renew your own self-care and healing.
As wellness professionals, it is easy to spend years caring for others while quietly pushing your own body, nervous system, and energy aside.
It is slow, mindful, low-impact, and deeply restorative.
It can help you move with more ease, breathe with more awareness, and feel calmer and steadier in your own body.
Before tai chi becomes something you may teach someday, it becomes something you practice.
That is where the path begins.
The Real Tai Chi Walking course meets LIVE on Zoom once a week.
Length: 60 minutes with Q&A
Dates/Times: See cohort options below
Don’t worry if you can’t attend live. Recordings will be available afterward, and you can submit questions on the course platform before or after class.
Cameras are encouraged so Ann can offer the most helpful guidance and feedback.
You’ll also get step-by-step handouts, practice reminders & more!
“This training was much more in depth and informative than I first thought it would be. I didn't know what to expect, but this has been wonderful.
I need to go back and review the Tai Chi video practices and actually put them to use! ”
—Rhonda, yoga teacher
“Exceptional. The experience and knowledge that Ann contains herself and shares with others is a gift. Our live calls always felt connected and energizing. “
—Carrie, Wellness Guide
“Ann, your integrity, authenticity, and expertise are so needed to educate the community on the true practice that is evidence-based and an amazing lifelong strategy for well-being for our entire being. I am so grateful our paths have crossed! I look forward to continuing to study with you for life.”
—Laurie
Why learn with Ann?
Meet Your Teacher: Ann Swanson, MS, LMT, C-IAYT, E-RYT500
Hi, I’m Ann. I began studying tai chi in China over 20 years ago and have been teaching tai chi since 2012. I’m now a Tai Chi for Health Senior Trainer under the mentorship of one of the most well-respected tai chi masters in the world, Dr. Paul Lam.
I’m also a yoga therapist (C-IAYT) with a Master of Science in Yoga Therapy and the author of the internationally best-selling Science of Yoga, which has sold over half a million copies in 15+ languages.
What’s shocked me is that with all this education and background, tai chi is the only place I’ve ever gone “viral” or taken off online.
Even though my formal training is primarily in yoga therapy, tai chi has consistently brought in opportunities, often accounting for 50% or more of my business.
It has helped me serve more people, get hired in more settings, and offer a practice that is especially powerful for balance, healthy aging, stress relief, and accessible movement. It’s been the perfect complement to my work as a yoga therapist and meditation teacher.
Certified in & Recognized by:
Early Bird Pricing
Register by August 11th for the $197 Early Bird Price.
After that, enrollment is $299.
This is a one-time payment for the full package.
You’ll receive the LIVE Real Tai Chi Walking course and the 2.5-hour LIVE professional workshop. Plus, you get lifetime access to the recordings, cheat sheet PDFs, community support, and direct support from Ann during the course.
No ongoing subscription.
No hidden fees.
No gimmicks.
“I just tried your work out and I find it calming and relaxing. I'm 64 and lost a lot of ability to hike due to major surgery and recovery (still), but am slowly trying to get back into the swing of things, and this workout was quite easy to follow and a nice way to restart moving.”
—Ann
Thank you for being real. Not just a human, but matter of fact, real information, no hype. I have been looking for this kind of honestly for years. The way you explain Tai Chi Walking makes so much sense. I feel like I am really starting to understand this practice.
—Deseret
“Excellent instruction and demonstration. This fundamental practice of Tai Chi is often overlooked as students focus on the form and hand movements. However, the root of movements comes from the feet and the relaxed concentration and correct alignment are very important to develop at an early stage - and to continually revisit.
You have a superb teaching style that your students will benefit from.“
—Mark
Frequently Asked Questions
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No. This course is beginner-friendly.
If you are interested in tai chi, this is a thoughtful place to start.
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This course is designed for yoga/meditation teachers, fitness instructors, wellness coaches, and healthcare professionals who are curious about tai chi personally and professionally.
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Yes. You’ll have lifetime access to the Real Tai Chi Walking recordings and the exclusive workshop recording.
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This course was designed for busy wellness professionals.
You’ll have four 60-minute classes, one 2.5-hour workshop, and recordings for everything.
Attend LIVE when you can, submit questions if you can’t, and use the extra resources as your schedule allows.
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No. This course does not certify you to teach tai chi.
It is the first step toward that path: learning the practice, embodying it, and exploring the next steps if it feels right.
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That’s perfectly fine. That’s actually the point: to see if it’s the right fit.
This course is designed to help you learn the practice, experience the benefits, and decide whether the teaching path feels right for you.
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You are welcome here.
A major part of this course is learning tai chi for your own health, nervous system, balance, and longevity.
The professional workshop includes business and teaching-path guidance, but you do not need to know whether you want to teach someday to benefit from this course.
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Yes. You’ll be able to ask questions during the LIVE sessions and inside the course community during the course.
The professional track also includes space for questions about tai chi, professional development, teacher training pathways, and how tai chi may fit into your work.
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No. This is a one-time payment.
There are no ongoing subscriptions or hidden fees.
Still have a question?
A more accessible first step
Professional training can be a major investment. I know because I’ve invested tens of thousands of dollars in my own education, including a graduate degree in yoga therapy.
And yes, that training was worth it.
But tai chi opened doors in my career in a surprisingly practical way, from retirement communities and hospitals to private clients, workshops, gyms, and corporate wellness.
This professional intro is designed to give you a more accessible first step before you invest in a full teacher training.
You’ll learn the practice, embody it, ask your questions, and get honest guidance on the next steps if tai chi feels like a fit.