• The two-disk Instructional DVD “Tai Chi for Arthritis – 12 lessons”
• Consider the objectives and conditions of your participants
• The book “Teaching Tai Chi Effectively” by Dr Lam as a resource for your teaching

• Contact participants prior to the first session to let them know what to wear, what to expect and offer any relevant information or assistance.
• Roll call during each session.
• Contact any participants who missed a session without prior notice to find out the reason and offer any assistance if necessary.
• Record any misadventures and reasons for absence.

General Guidelines

1. Encourage participants to practice regularly, ideally 30 to 40 minutes a day and most days of the week. It can be done in separate sessions.

2. Communicate with participants; find out their needs and offer any assistance. 

3. Give meaningful and positive feedback to participants. Avoid over correcting, it can overwhelm participants. It is preferable to go through each point with the entire group without singling out any one person for correction. Never work on more than one point of improvement at a time.

4. Keep talking to a minimum. Do more “follow me and practice together”. Practice as much as possible without over-tiring participants.

NB:
Use your judgement to modify this as appropriate. You are welcome to contact Dr Lam through service@taichiproductions.com. 
 
The Forms:

Basic Six
Form 1 — Commencement Form
Form 2 — Opening and Closing Hands
Form 3 — Single Whip (right)
Form 4 — Waving Hands in the Cloud (right)
Form 5 — Opening and Closing Hands
Form 6 — Closing Form

Reverse Basic Six
Form 7 — Single Whip (left)
Form 8 — Waving Hands in the Cloud (left)
Form 9 — Opening and Closing Hands
Form 10 — Closing Form

Advanced Six
Form 11 — Brush Knee and Twist Step (left)
Form 12 — Playing the Lute
Form 13 — Step Forward To Deflect Downwards, Parry and Punch
Form 14 — Block and Close
Form 15 — Pushing the Mountain
Form 16 — Opening and Closing Hands
Form 17 — Closing Form

• Greeting 
• Ask each participant to introduce themselves
• Encourage participants to work within their own comfort zone, be gentle, do not over extend and advise them they should let you know if they have any problems 

• Two minute talk on “What is Tai Chi?”
• Learn Warm Up exercises
• Understand how to use minimal force for the movements 
• Learn Cooling Down exercises
• Form 1 — Commencement Form

Emphasise on Body Alignment: -
(a) Maintain, as much as possible, an upright but relaxed posture at all times
(b) Take care when doing ‘bend-knee’ stance that it is desirable but participants must work very gradually towards that. Start working with knees slightly bent.