In-Person Classes Begin Again on 1st November, 2021

Dear All,

After much coordination with the good folks at The Regent Health Centre, I'm cautiously anticipating a return to in-person classes this fall. If it's safe for us to run classes, we will.

Where: The (gloriously revamped!) Studio at The Regent Centre, 150 Locke St. South.

When: Classes will begin on Friday, November 1st, 2021

***NOTE: this start date is different from what was previously announced***

Matt and Mel have done an incredible job updating the Centre with beautiful new paint and clearing the Studio of excess stuff. It's going to be such a nice space for us to work out in together.

Our group's needs have evolved since I last designed the schedule. I've shifted class content to better represent where people's interests lie. You can view the complete shiny and new schedule at the end of this message, or go to the schedule and fees page to look at it now. It includes some more detailed information about each class.

I understand that safety concerns are going to be ongoing. We will almost certainly be required to be flexible this year. Matt and Mel and I have worked out a safety plan that I hope will help us all feel more comfortable. You can view the health and safety plan here. 

Please bear in mind that we may have to put in-person classes on hold again, depending on what the Province and our own wisdom tells us. Should we need to shut down, I'll be running the complete new schedule via Zoom, with some minor adjustments. If that doesn't suit you, but you do want to attend in-person classes, please feel free to pay per class rather than monthly, in case we have to pivot.

For people who aren't ready to return to in-person classes yet, I'm planning to continue teaching Qigong online once a week, and I'll be running online Guided Meditation classes on Sunday evenings again this fall and winter. (More details on that to follow.)

I'm sure you'll have questions and may want some immediate answers, or just want to say hi before we reconvene. If you're concerned at all, please don't hesitate to contact me at smithmk2@gmail.com or (905) 521-0043.

IMPORTANT: Please Fill Out an Online Registration Form

This is to ensure that all my information for you is up-to-date and in one place. It doesn't commit you to anything, but I will use the list of people who register as a contact list for classes. To stay informed of what's going on at the Centre, you have to fill out a form.

Note: you must provide proof of full vaccination before you can attend a class. The Province of Ontario is requiring participants in gym and studio classes to provide proof of vaccination as of October 4th, 2021. There is a field for uploading a photo or screenshot of your vaccine receipt on the registration form, or you can simply bring proof of vaccination to class.

Click here to access the secure Registration Form.

If you have difficulty with the form, get in touch at smithmk2@gmail.com or (905) 521-0043 and I'll help you fill it out.

NEW: Signing Up for the Classes You Want to Attend

To help manage the limit on attendance, the Centre has implemented an online sign-up system so you will know if there's room for you at class before you come. You'll be required to sign up for every class you plan to attend. Each class listed on the schedule requires a separate sign-up. Even if you're attending two classes in a row on the same day, you'll need to put your name in for each one. You'll be able to sign up for more than one class at a time. If you can't attend a class you've signed up for, I'll ask that you take your name off the class for that day so someone else can attend.

I know this is going to be a big change, but it will assist us with contact tracing and will also help me know what to expect before I come to class, which will be a big help to me.

If you're unable to access the online portal to sign up for classes, you'll be able to contact the Regent Centre front desk so they can put your name in for you. I will also be able to sign you up for classes.

I'll be sending more detailed instructions on how class sign-up will work to everyone who fills out a Registration form. I should have this information by mid-September. Don't worry, though! I'm told most people find it very easy once they get the hang of it.

2021 Class Schedule

Now for the fun stuff! I've put a lot of thought into the new schedule. We'll still be doing plenty of Tai Chi, but there will be three Qigong sessions each week, as well as advanced content for those of you who've worked on the other internal martial arts. I'm dedicating two classes per week to Lok Hup Ba Fa / Liu He Ba Fa, an advanced art that is rarely taught, and extremely beneficial. (It's like Tai Chi Plus!) This will be a chance to go over the complete form from the beginning, and polish it well.

Beginner's classes will run courtesy of the astounding Sam Rush and the incredible Gillianne Shaver. I'll be teaching all other classes.

All classes are at The Regent Centre unless otherwise noted. Go to the schedule and fees page to read a more detailed description of each class.

Monday
Continuing Tai Chi: 1-2 pm
Lok Hup Ba Fa: 2:15-3:15 pm
Qigong: 3:30-4:30 pm

Tuesday
Beginner's Tai Chi: 5:30-7 pm

Wednesday
Beginner's Tai Chi: 1-2:30 pm

Thursday
Qigong: 6:30-8 pm (Online)

Friday
Continuing Tai Chi: 1-2 pm
Lok Hup Ba Fa: 2:15-3:15 pm

Saturday
Qigong: 1-2 pm
Tai Chi and Other Forms Review: 2:15-3:45 pm

Fall 2021 / Winter 2022 Fees

Monthly: $60 plus HST
Per-class: $15 plus HST