Living Tai Chi was founded in London in 2015 by Chris Jones. With a long background in traditional hatha yoga practice, she first began to learn traditional internal Chinese martial arts, Shaolin gong fu (kung fu) and qi gong (chi kung) in 1998. Then in 2002 she experienced the power, and serenity of tai chi, and began the study of Chen Taijiquan and qi gong with Liu Quanjun and studies with him to the present day. This changed the direction of her whole life!
Chris was also very fortunate to train with Grandmaster Chen Xiaowang from 2003-2015 in London, and continues when possible to train in China with him, the last time in 2018. She holds a 4th Duan Wei certificate from the Wushu Association in China for Chen Taijiquan, has a 2nd level Coaching and a Judging certificates from the BCCMA and was very honoured to became a disciple of Grandmaster Chen Xiaowang in 2013 on a training visit to Chenjiagou (Chen Village), in China. In 2015 Chris completed an NHS recognised course ‘Tai Chi for Rehabilitation and Falls Prevention’ and set up Living Tai Chi to extend her work in developing tai ji practice concentrating on the health benefits. In 2016 she also completed a Practitioner Course in NLP.
In 2004 Chris joined forces with Master Liu Quanjun and founded the Tai Ji Circle school in London teaching Chen Taijiquan and qi gong, he became Director and Senior Instructor in 2005. Tai Ji Circle became a not-for-profit organisation and a charity from March 2013 until it closed in 2023. Classes with Shifu Liu Quanjun continue under the new banner of Taiji Circle Lucky Dragon and information and bookings can be made at taijicircle.com
Chris directed and managed the Tai Ji Circle charity with the help of wonderful trustees and students and taught with Tai Ji Circle and in a variety of places over the years, including a P&O cruise ship and at Triyoga in Camden. She also taught Tai Chi Qi Gong for 10 years with Barnet Age UK and at the Edgware Hospital Parkinson’s Unit, until the pandemic closed the classes. Currently she is teaching her own Camden class and for two charities, the St Pancras Community Association and the Kensington and Chelsea Forum classes based in Notting Hill.
In 2023 through Taiji Circle Lucky Dragon, Master Liu Quanjun continues to promote a healthy way of life and to bring the physical and mental benefits of authentic Tai Chi and Qi Gong practice through regular classes and workshops, from classic Chen hand forms to exciting weapons routines.
Living Tai Chi aims to take Tai chi classes to a wide range of people to bring the health and well-being benefits of regular practice to local communities around London.
• 20th Generation disciple of Chen family Grandmaster Chen Xiaowang
• Instructor member of the Tai Chi Union of Great Britain.
• Certificate in Tai Chi and Chi Kung for Falls Prevention & Rehabilitation November 2015
• Certificate for NLP Practitioner from The Society of Neuro-Linguistic Programming 2016
• 4th Level Duan Wei Certificate from the Wushu Association of China 2016
“Be still like a mountain, and flow like a great river”. Lao Zi