The possibilities for growth and expansion that arise from the study and practice of Tai Chi are infinite. One thing for sure is that finding the right teacher for you is an important early step. Describing the process of choosing a teacher is tricky because there are so many factors.

Lets begin with exploring some of the polarities amongst teachers and their classes:

Physical <————-> Meditative
Martial <————-> Health Focussed
Formal <————-> Relaxed

These and many other aspects form a spectrum and every teacher will have a different mix so with some idea what you want from a teacher/class you can asses what is on offer.

Over time a relationship develops between a teacher and a student and there are many ways this can grow. As a guide you might gauge the relational aspects of choosing a teacher by noting how you feel around them. Your feelings communicate to you in many ways and in this regard feelings that arise in relation to another person such as a prospective teacher can guide you.

A teacher can only take you as far as they have gone and so it will be important to gauge how experienced your teacher is. Deeper development in Tai Chi takes time and practice – there are no shortcuts. Also does your teacher have a teacher themselves and are they engaged with their own study on an ongoing basis.

Whilst convenience may seem like a tempting option that would lead you to simply choose the teacher that offers a class nearest to your home or work – or to choose on the basis on your preferred class timing. It is wise to explore more and to try out different classes and teachers. The effort at this stage will pay-off in the longer term.