More About the 42 form Tai Chi Form

The 42 Form Tai Chi is a graceful and rewarding routine that blends movement qualities from several major Tai Chi styles. It includes smooth, flowing transitions, steady postures, coordinated stepping, turning, shifting, and moments of both softness and strength.

This form gives students an opportunity to experience Tai Chi as a complete mind-body practice. It encourages better balance, improved posture, greater coordination, more relaxed movement, and deeper internal awareness. As students learn the sequence, they begin to feel how each posture connects to the next, creating a flowing practice that is both grounding and quietly energizing.

For beginners and returning students alike, the 42 Form offers enough structure to build confidence and enough depth to remain interesting over time. It is a beautiful form to learn slowly, patiently, and with curiosity.

More About the Tai Chi Stick Form

Taiji Yang Sheng Zhang, also known as Tai Chi Stick Qigong or Tai Ji Health Preservation Stick, is a Health Qigong routine created and compiled by the Chinese Health Qigong Association and the Administration Centre of the General Administration of Sport of China.

This graceful Qigong form uses a short stick to guide the movements of the body, helping students coordinate posture, breath, intention, and flow. The practice reflects the Taiji principle of harmony — the balance of yin and yang, stillness and movement, softness and strength, body and mind.

Tai Chi Stick Qigong draws from traditional stick martial art practices, but is practised in a gentle, accessible, and health-focused way. The movements include smooth turns, stretches, coordinated left-and-right patterns, gentle squatting, opening and closing actions, and flowing transitions. Because the stick gives the hands and body something to follow, many students find the practice both fun and surprisingly helpful for focus, coordination, flexibility, balance, and whole-body awareness.

This Qigong routine can be practised as a complete form, or enjoyed in smaller sections and individual movements. It is suitable for many ages and ability levels, and while the movements are gentle and graceful, they also offer a wonderful “brain workout” as students learn how to move the stick, body, breath, and intention together.

Equipment you will need for the Class

To practise Tai Chi Stick Qigong, each student will need a short practice stick.

Traditionally, sticks for this form were made from materials such as white wax tree, pine, or bamboo. These sticks were smooth and even, and sometimes included carvings or text related to health and wellbeing.

For this class, you do not need to purchase an expensive traditional Taiji stick. While beautiful versions can be purchased online — including some that separate for travel — we strongly suggest that students begin with a simple wooden dowel from the hardware store. It is affordable, practical, and you can decorate it yourself! Get all the details here: Stick Introduction and Stick Picture Dimensions

ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THIS IN-PERSON CLASS

This class takes place at Highlands United Church, located at 3255 Edgemont Blvd, North Vancouver, BC V7R 2P1, in the heart of Edgemont Village. The practice space offers a warm and welcoming environment where students can learn step by step, ask questions, and feel supported as they build confidence with both Tai Chi and Qigong.

Each class will include clear instruction, gentle repetition, and time to practise the movements in a way that helps the body gradually understand the sequence. Students will work on Tai Chi foundations such as posture, weight shifting, balance, turning, stepping, relaxation, and mindful coordination. With the addition of Tai Chi Stick Qigong, students will also explore how a simple wooden stick can help guide movement, support focus, and bring a fresh sense of playfulness and discovery into the practice.

Please wear comfortable clothing and flat, indoor-friendly shoes suitable for gentle movement. Bring water, your practice stick, and your curiosity. As always, the goal is not perfection — it is steady learning, mindful practice, and discovering how Tai Chi and Qigong can support your balance, wellbeing, and inner calm.