Deborah di Salvo
Pharma Europe Manager
Munich
About 12 years ago I had the pleasure to live in Dublin for more than three years, & in this time I attended Jan’s Tai Chi classes. It opened up a wonderful new world of internal martial arts, during which I learnt techniques which have helped me in many aspects of my life. For professional reasons, I have lived in different countries over 10 years and despite many attempts to find suitable Tai Chi classes, I have been constantly disappointed by the lack of professionalism and competence of the teachers I met. As Jan says, if tai chi does not rely on the right posture and the precise alignment, Tai Chi is reduced to a dance, or a choreography, failing in its aim. Coming out of Jan’s class you feel your muscles have worked, you feel satisfied to have worked really hard, bringing mind and body together. Jan is a superb teacher (a real teacher) who is able also online to transmit his profound knowledge of internal martial arts and he does it in a scientific way, helping to recognise a good posture from a bad one. I attend now every day at 7.30am (CET) his online classes. This helps me remain focused and energised the whole day despite a very demanding working schedule. I simply feel fit from head to feet. Jan is also a tough teacher and he makes us work very hard and entertains with his clever jokes, great fun! I can only recommend Jan’s class and I can say it is much better to attend Jan’s classes online than bad presence classes!
Deborah di Salvo
Sharon Murphy
Therapist
Kildare
I regularly went to Qi Gong classes when I lived in Dublin and loved them. Jan’s classes were a lovely way for me to slow down and ground myself. I found quickly that his classes offer not just learning, but (just as importantly) a sense of community and I can see why he has so many long-term and returning students!
One of the most natural teachers of their arts I ever have met, his approach to learning and the group dynamic is so unique and different to others, as he distills learning into digestible steps that make it enjoyable, fun and approachable for each person there. Always explaining the whys and context of Qi Gong movements as we learnt, I found he helped pass on the passion and motivation for building a more mindful approach to the physical body and our personal energies (which too often we take for granted!!). As an energy practitioner I found it an amazing support for helping me work with my own energy and become more mindful in general.
Sharon Murphy
Ian Harkin
Software Engineer
Cork
26 years of Tai Chi with Jan and Tai Chi Ireland
I first took Tai Chi lessons with Jan Golden in spring of 1999, in Westwood Gym, we tore through the Wu style short form in an amazing six weeks and I loved it. What we were doing was so relaxing compared to the frantic activity on the exercise machines outside.
After that I didn't do much Tai Chi for about a year, but then a friend mentioned that Jan was giving lessons close to where I lived.
I joined the very next course. It was clear straight away that Jan had developed a new teaching style in the meantime, because he had broken down the form into sections and now taking four months instead of six weeks to go over the Wu short form, and he was teaching in more detail.
Jan has developed and progressively slowed down the pace of teaching and emphasises principles over memorising long sequences of moves.When he feels students have grasped the outline of the form he will often go back and give a greater grounding in the principles behind the particular posture or move, and has at different times tried to make us more aware of this by using posture corrections, static testing, standing, and cloud hands, and shown us push hands practice and some of the possible combat applications of many of the moves to convey the original intentions of the creator of that move.
Whenever he feels he has mastered a new technique of piece of Tai Chi lore he is very quick to pass it on to his students and he is never too proud to admit a mistake or to change a teaching practice when he discovers a correction or a better way of doing it. Also, he has shared with us his growing understanding of bio-mechanics and anatomy and how the different tai chi moves affect the structure of body.
As a 'head person' who enjoys working with the brain rather than the body, I knew I had developed the habit of ignoring problems with the body, and I hoped that Tai Chi would help me with this.
At first, I was fascinated by the movements, and I enjoyed the intricacies that force you to pay attention and focus your mind on your practice.
However the physical benefits began to come after a few months. I found that my balance and posture improved as I paid more attention to the way I walked. Some people even commented that I seem taller. Also I became more aware of my breathing, and noticed that it I was naturally using slower and deeper breaths while doing Tai Chi and discovered that the same breathing techniques could help me relax outside my practice. But for me, it is the unexpected lessons that I learn that are the most rewarding.
I discovered how much we are distracted in our everyday lives and in Tai Chi you quickly learn that to get the best out of it you must use all your attention and be completely present in the moment.This made me more aware of my bad habits and their effects. If I didn't get enough sleep because I drank too much coffee and stayed up too late, maybe I should try drinking less caffeine and getting to bed earlier. By being more conscious of such things, the overall quality of my life is improved.
And finally I discovered that you can use the will to relax; Tai Chi allows you to relax without really thinking about it consciously, but you can also come to a point where you can actually order a certain muscle or group of muscles to relax. I have not mastered this, but the fact that I can do it at all when I previously thought it was impossible is an indication that there may be further surprising rewards to be gained from continuing to improve my Tai Chi
Ian Harkin
Conor Byrne, Software Designer Dublin
I’ve been attending Jan’s classes in Tai Chi and Qi Gong for 20 years now.
In that time I’ve learned how to stand, breathe, squat, bend, lift my arms, turn, push and pull. These are all things you think you know how to do … until you find out you don’t. In class Jan gets the balance right between serious attention to detail, to learning, to continually evolving and improving, while at the same time having fun and really enjoying the experience. Recently though, I was getting frustrated with myself as I felt I wasn’t making the progress I wanted. I approached Jan with the idea of doing a series of concentrated one-to-one lessons, once a week over the space of a few months. Jan concurred and we started working in some detail on the fundamental principles of the form. This has been a great experience. Concepts that I’ve heard Jan repeating over and over in class, at last, became tangible for me. They have started to become instinctual. My practice has moved forward substantially and I feel I’m beginning to imbibe the spirit of Tai Chi. Based on my experience I can say that treating yourself to some intense Tai Chi sessions with Jan is an investment well worth making.
Conor Byrne
Alex Delogu
Psychotherapist
Dublin
Tai Chi and Qi Gong are art forms for lifelong practice. Much like music or painting, progress accumulates over time, often punctuated by leaps of awareness or shifts in feeling. Unlike other skills the focal point is the body itself, on which all other activities depend. In this sense it is a foundational practice that can only but enrich all other undertakings. Speaking personally, Tai Chi and Qi Gong have hugely enhanced my self-awareness and taught me the intimate connection between mind and body. Increased self-awareness allows me to better respond to physical, mental, and emotional stressors. Only through this awareness can I respond more freely to the world. It has also had a positive affect on my psychotherapy practice.
Jan's dedication to understanding Tai Chi and Qi Gong is inspiring. He has a deep sense of what he is teaching. He will teach all he knows and will demonstrate in the most practical way. Jan's classes are focused but light-hearted, offering a tranquil space to learn and explore the movements. I would highly recommend these classes to anyone looking to enhance their self-understanding.
Alex Delogu
Mia Gallagher
Novelist
Dublin
Jan’s Tai Chi classes are remarkable. Before starting, I had a vague idea of Tai Chi being ‘gentle’ and relaxing’ but didn’t expect the class would be so invigorating physically and mentally – or that I’d have so much fun into the bargain! Since I started in 2005, I’ve noticed a definite improvement in my co-ordination, posture, strength and ability to relax, and my sea swimming has vastly improved in efficiency and stamina.
Mia Gallagher
I attended Jan’s classes for over 6 years when I lived in Ireland, and I also did a teacher-training course with him. I can definitely recommend Tai Chi Ireland to everyone.
My back pain from sitting all day in front of a computer was completely gone and I felt much more aware of my own body.The classes were very friendly and Jan is a great teacher with a good sense of humour and loads of patience and dedication for his students.
Anne Madaire
Anne Madaire
Architect
Beziers, France
I wasn't aware that Jan gave private sessions until the evening I arrived in class with a frozen shoulder. My form isn't great at the best of times, but one-armed! Ever since I have been availing of Jan's private sessions, at first for shoulder treatment in combination with strenuous traditional physiotherapy, and more recently for intense tuition, my legs have strengthened, my posture, balance and breathing has improved. When I began Tai Chi classes I was on heavy doses of medication for chronic pain and suffered regularly from back and facial nerve pain. Thanks to the 1-to-1 private sessions I beat the frozen shoulder without having any medical interventions, the usual being a steroid injection, the chronic pain is now managed on minimal medication, and no longer worried by sprains, strains and shortness of breath, I've engaged in strenuous pursuits that I've never before tried such as open sea kayaking and horse riding. I've even helped row a canoe in the Peruvian rainforest! I recommend to everyone I know with any physical or stress-related problems to book Jan for a session. The hour is hard work but hey, it's Jan, it's great fun too.
Estelle Feldman
Estelle Feldman
MBA Lecturer
Dublin
Emily Hosford
International Development Officer
Wicklow
I was initially interested in Tai Chi after seeing a woman and her grandson doing Tai Chi movements. They both looked so strong and graceful in their movement. This elegant Tai Chi granny went on to say that before she started Tai Chi she had been crippled with arthritis!! I was genuinely astonished! I have a condition myself which has caused general weakness on the right side of my body and I was attracted to Tai Chi because I wanted to preserve what strength I had. I started Tai Chi with Jan about 10 years ago and it’s been an interesting journey. I switched to Qi Gong a few years back as it's more focused on the fundamentals and I find it more useful. Over that time I've gained much more understanding of my body. After class I find I have more energy and I feel stronger, more alert and relaxed. It’s also helped me build more strength on my weak side.which helps with my balance. One of the greatest benefits I've found has been in pain relief. From time to time I get fairly intense pain because of my condition which can travel anywhere from my neck lower back to my leg. I've found that even with basic Tai Chi warm up exercises the pain disappears! Jan is an excellent teacher and to top it off his classes are good craic as well.'
Emily Hosford
I started tai chi with Jan a number of months ago and have found it to make a huge difference in my life. The weeks that I don't practise, I just don't feel as good. It is very noticeable! Since I started, I find myself more relaxed and physically stronger, my posture is improving and the more I practise, the better my back feels and the less it hurts (I tend to suffer from back discomfort, probably largely as a result of poor posture/a desk job).
As an example of a concrete difference tai chi has made in my life, a couple of weeks ago I was walking along in a pair of shoes with small heels. I missed my footing and my ankle twisted; I didn't fall, but my full weight went onto my ankle, which was completely bent over. I thought: "this is really going to hurt!" What actually happened is that my ankle sprang back into position as if nothing had happened and I haven't felt as much as a twinge in it since then. I am sure that this is thanks to my tai-chi-added-strength.
Jan is a fantastic teacher, who takes the time to make sure you understand the moves, what parts of your body you are moving and why. He is really knowledgeable, and it is lovely to be learning and practising an art with someone who knows what they are doing and who makes it interesting and fun.
Dr. Kate Waterhouse
Having turned Pro twhen I was 18-years old, I am now very happy to say that the work I've done with Jan Golden, since I was an amateur golfer representing my province and country, is proving to be highly beneficial to my strength, fitness and overall good health, on the professional golf circuit. Despite a heavy schedule of international travel, tournaments, practice and fitness work, I remain injury free and my suppleness and stamina are a huge asset. I attribute this in no small part to the instruction I receive from Jan in Qi Gong.
I broke into the top 40 in the order of merit this season and I am ranked number 2 in Driving Distance on the Alps Golf Tour, which is very satisfying when one considers my age and my physique, (I am 5' 10" and I weigh 70kg), which is relatively small compared with some of my competitors, athletes well over 6 feet tall weighing in at 90/95kg. My average driving stat in competition this season is 325 yards.
I look forward to continuing my excellent instruction with Jan for many years to come.
David Carey
Professional Golfer.
