About Tai Chi Instructor Nicola

Tai Chi Instructor

Where Movements Follow Nature

"The best part of teaching Tai Chi and Qigong is passing on the contagion of passionate learning. At the end of a lesson when a student is smiling from ear to ear with childlike excitement, those moments are to be cherished."

Hello, I am Nicola, the instructor and owner of Earth Balance Tai Chi.  Welcome to my school of Chen Tai Chi, Qi Gong and Taoist meditation, where I teach the Classical Chinese arts for health, happiness and longevity. My school is based on the Isle of Wight, I teach in the community, online via Zoom and through video on demand courses. I have been a Tai Chi and Qigong student since 2006 and continue to study, learn and practice every day. I have taught classes as an instructor within the community since 2010 and have been teaching group and private classes online via Zoom since 2016.  I live with chronic health and have been diagnosed with Ehlers Danlos syndrome (EDS), fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, arthritis and a persistent pain disorder. These allopathic medicine labels are not my identity, instead they help me reach and support others.

During the first few years of my Tai Chi and Qigong journey as a student, I found the movements so beneficial for my health that it led me to become an instructor.  My personal journey has given me a unique understanding of chronic health, relating to healthy exercise, pain management, working gracefully with chronic fatigue, training to my baseline, and managing the psychological aspects of chronic health. Combine this with professional study of the human body in movement and stillness, brings us up to today.

Living with hypermobility, there is an unpredictable nature to the degenerative effects.  As I age, the management of my base-line is becoming much more intense. Every movement I make in my practice has purpose, focus, principles and alignment.  I meet each day, no matter how challenging, with hope and perseverance, as everyday holds potential, even in times of rest and rejuvenation. My aim as an instructor is to show people that there are other routes to improved health and wellbeing, rather than reliance on allopathic medicine and our crumbling health service.  All treatments within my management programme are naturopathic and holistic. Healthy, frequent and accurate Tai Chi/Qigong movements are a key part of my managing my health and wellbeing and I hope that I can pass on my dedication to others.

My Training

My personal Tai Chi studies have included Southern Wu Short Form, Old Yang Long Form, Bagua Zhang, Chen 18 Form, Chen Laojia Yi Lu, Chen Double Fan, Chen Laojia Er Lu, Chen sword and Chen sabre.  My personal Qi Gong training has included 5 Animal Frolics, 8 Pieces of Brocade, Hun Yuan Qi Gong, Earth Qi Gong for Women, Phoenix Alchemy Qigong, Yi Jin Jing, Eight Energy Circle Walking.

I left formal schooling in 2016 and have since been studying with teachers privately. I teach the forms of Grand Master Chen Zhenglei and my teachers have studied within the lineage or are lineage holders. The teachers I have studied with as an instructor are listed below, with certification dates.

  • Joe Lok, Natural Energy Academy, Hong Kong. 2014: 'Phoenix in Graceful Clouds of Blessing' Daoist Qigong.
  • Wang Hai Jun, ChenTaiji Academy, UK.  2013:  Chen Silk Reeling, Chen 18 Form and Chen Laojia Yi Lu (74 Form).
  • Faye Yip, British Health Qigong Association, UK.  2014: 8 Pieces of Brocade Qigong.
  • Tina Chunna Zhang, Earth Qi Gong for Women, New York, USA.  2010: Earth Qi Gong for Women, 8 Energies Circle Walking Qigong.
  • Liming Yue, Tai Chi Centre, UK.  2010: Chen Silk Reeling, Chen Tai Chi, 8 Pieces of Brocade and 5 Animals Health Qigong (Chinese Health Qigong Association).

Additional Details

  • Mental Health First Aider, Mind. 2023.
  • Emergency First Aider, St Johns Ambulance. 2022.
  • ZSA Suicide Awareness Training. 2022.
  • Safeguarding Level 1 & 2. 2020, 2021.
  • Enhanced DBS. 2023.
  • Instructor membership with the Tai Chi Union in the UK. 2011 - 2016.
  • Member of Awakening Dragon Taoism. 2013 to date.
Mental Health First Aider

Professional / Academic Study