Intro to Tai Chi for Wellness Professionals
Learn the foundations of Tai Chi for Arthritis & explore how this powerful practice can support your health, work & future path.
AS SEEN IN:
This professional track includes the Tai Chi for Arthritis & Fall Prevention course plus a 2.5-hour LIVE Exclusive Professional 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.
You’ll learn the practice, embody it, learn the science, and discover the path toward becoming a Tai Chi for Arthritis instructor.
This is the only time I’m offering this workshop, based on popular request.
Why I created this professional track
Wellness professionals, especially yoga teachers, have been asking me, “How do I get into tai chi? How do I become a tai chi teacher? Is it right for me?” 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 for Arthritis 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. Plus, I love practicing and teaching!
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, both personally and professionally.
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.
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. We’ll go over the SCIENCE OF TAI CHI and discuss its potential.
This professional intro gives you a grounded starting point in the practice for yourself, 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. You don’t have to get on the floor. It’s less intimidating. It’s a meditation in motion.
Why we begin with Tai Chi for Arthritis & Fall Prevention
This professional track includes the LIVE Tai Chi for Arthritis & Fall Prevention course. Join Ann Swanson, MS, Tai Chi for Health Senior Trainer, to learn a world-renowned Tai Chi program developed by her teacher, Paul Lam, MD, researcher and medical doctor.
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 for the last 5+ years because it works and people enjoy it. It is safe and effective, even if you deal with medical conditions. Each class will offer standing and seated options in a chair.
Tai Chi 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
What’s Included:
When you join, you’ll receive:
LIVE Tai Chi for Arthritis & Fall Prevention course
4 LIVE 60-minute 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
A downloadable practice guide with step-by-step instruction to learn the 6 essential movements in the evidence-based Tai Chi for Arthritis & Fall Prevention program
Weekly home practice prompts & accountability reminders so you know exactly what to practice between classes
Professional mentorship with honest insights from Ann about teaching, income, and opportunities
ONE-TIME PAYMENT
$350 $222
Get $128 off for being a Yoga for Arthritis subscriber.
Includes these LIVE sessions:
(Live attendance not required, as recordings are available.)
1) Exclusive Workshop: Tai Chi for Wellness Professionals
Sunday, September 13th
4 pm - 6:30 pm EDT (1 pm - 3:30 pm PDT)
2) Tai Chi for Arthritis & Fall Prevention course ($179 value, but included in this course).
Sundays: September 13, September 20, September 27, and October 4 (recordings included)
Time: 11 am Eastern Daylight Time / 8 am PDT
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 Tai Chi for Arthritis & Fall Prevention course
As part of this professional track, you’ll enroll in the LIVE Tai Chi for Arthritis & Fall Prevention course. ($179 value but included in this package)
This 4-week course helps ease pain & stiffness with a joint-friendly short form backed by decades of scientific research to support those with arthritis and chronic pain conditions.
Week 1:
Discover: What is Sun Style Tai Chi? What are the science-backed benefits?
Learn the Tai Chi for Health Warm-ups (both in the chair and standing)
Experience the Tai Chi Posture, aka Infinite Posture, as a pain-free meditation pose
Learn the Sun Style Opening Movement
Week 2:
Learn Sun Style Single Whip Form, with safe accommodations for knees, hips, etc.
Learn the powerful yet simple Open/Close Movement that incorporates breathwork & powerful Qi Gong (energy work with self-healing)
Discover the essential principles for a Tai Chi flow
Week 3:
Learn the flowing meditation in motion that is Sun Style Wave Hands Like Clouds
Discover the power of energy (aka qi) and the science behind the breathwork practice called Dan Tian Breathing
Learn the Tai Chi tricks to help energy flow to ease pain and facilitate flow
Week 4:
Put it all together into a relaxing, flowing form clinically shown in decades of research to boost balance and ease pain
Discover how Tai Chi can help with balance and fall prevention with practical tips to improve your balance
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 Tai Chi for Arthritis & Fall Prevention course meets LIVE on Zoom once a week.
Length: 60 minutes with Q&A
Dates/Times: Sundays: September 13, September 20, September 27, and October 4
Time: 11 am EDT / 8 am PDT
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 Schaeffer. RN, C-IAYT
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:
Why learn with Ann?
“Thank you for caring about accessibility. I appreciate your communication and attention to detail. I look forward to future opportunities to learn from you, and hopefully one day collaborate with you professionally.”
—Candice Jordan, Certified Rehabilitation Counselor, Yoga Therapy Apprentice
“The content is so well-organized and as a teacher, you were very accessible. Thank you. The quality and organization of your content really assist the learning experience. I'm very grateful for this time together and for all of your efforts toward producing this learning opportunity.”
—Amy, Yoga teacher
“Ann, I want to say that your knowledge and expertise really stand out, and your enthusiasm for the material made the course so engaging and inspiring.”
—Molly, physical therapist, yoga certified
“Got my wife (a yoga instructor) to join me. She's been resisting performing any Tai Chi for several years because I'm an instructor and doesn't like me telling her what to do (ever 😉). This session made us feel GREAT. We really had some fun doing the freestyle arm movements while mindfully shifting weight. Your bright energy shines through--you're a force for good Ann. Much gratitude for what you do.”
—Scott
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 Tai Chi for Arthritis & Fall Prevention 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 and YouTube.
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
Plus, you'll leave the course and workshop with a peaceful, flowing routine you can continue for years to come!
You'll boost balance while easing stress and pain with this science-backed technique! This is truly an investment in your health and future.
And if you serve older adults, or are interested in healthy aging and arthritis relief, it’s a no-brainer!