HERMITAGETAIJI are currently providing free Tai Chi classes in Levengrove Park, Dumbarton, for the benefit of the local community.

Free Tai Chi in the park is an official park activity, in partnership with the Friends of Levengrove Park.

Every Friday, at 10am, the Tai Chi group meets at the basketball court, in the park.

The class is 60 minutes in duration and participants need to bring with them a pair of flat soled shoes, a waterproof jacket and a cheerful attitude to the West of Scotland climate.

Anyone can do Tai Chi and all are welcome.

Pause, slow down and make time; Tai Chi is an ancient Chinese philosophy and exercise routine that anyone can do, regardless of age or level of fitness.

It is sometimes described as moving meditation and there is now overwhelming medical evidence that regular practice of Tai Chi improves health and wellbeing.

Hermitagetaiji is a not-for-profit endeavour aiming to promote the health and wellbeing benefits of Tai Chi, especially for those who might not be able to afford to pay for Tai Chi lessons; as well supporting the active use of Levengrove park.

The project has been started by a Helensbugh unemployed man, Chris Godwin, who is a registered Tai Chi instructor with the Tai Chi Union of Great Britain and has been practising Tai Chi for 18 years.

A crowdfunding page has also been set-up to help support free Tai Chi in the park as well as promote the project to a wider audience:-

http://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/free-tai-chi-classes-in-the-park

The target total is £25,000 and this will help keep the free classes going, as well as set-up a dedicated website.

The aim is also to provide a ‘village roadshow’ to help promote and educate people to the benefits of practising Tai Chi in their local parks.

This approach has had tremendous success in England and Hermitagetaiji is hoping to emulate this success in Dumbarton and across Scotland.

Hermitagetaiji Facebook page can be found at Hermitagetaiji@taijienergy and Chris Godwin is a member of the Friends of Levengrove Park.