Like many fitness and social organisation across West Lancashire, the Heather Reade School of Tai Chi & Qi Gong has decided to suspend all its training based on Government advice.

It has over 100 students of various ages and abilities, training in Skelmersdale, Ormskirk, Burscough and Parbold and under medical guidance a number of them would be considered vulnerable to COVID – 19.

It operates a What’sApp group and website to support students in their training needs, which also played a part in the group’s social interactions.

Heather Reade, Tai Chi & Qi Gong Master, has now decided to enhance these digital groups to become Tai Chi Friendship and Support Systems. All the current students have been contacted to encourage them to continue to use the sites and support each other socially.

She'll also be doing short demonstrations to enable the students to maintain their practice, health and wellbeing.

Yesterday, she told QLocal: "It's been the pupils who've wanted to keep their social contacts going as well as practicing Tai Chi, so the site's became the obvious way forward.

"This will not only support the students but also the governments advice of social distancing and self-isolation.”

“I will be doing short demonstrations based on the students requests to enable them to develop their skills. But the basis of this will be that social interaction. Not only for the vulnerable but, at some point, we may all need to go into self-isolation and it's so important that we maintain our fitness and sense of belonging.

"Tai Chi is a very effective exercise for any person's entire wellbeing. Establishing with practise an integration of mind and body, which can be achieved by people of any age and ability.”

Cllr John Fillis, Labour Shadow Health and Wellbeing, said: "There are hundreds of What’sApp, web pages and Facebook sites currently supporting communities, fitness, hobbies and other activities right across Lancashire.
“These will never be as good as face to face conversations, but due to COVID – 19 we will find a way to stand together as no one should be alone during this time. We always think about food, fitness and warmth first, however engaging with other people is so important when it comes to our wellbeing.”

“Rather than try to build new platforms, let’s use the ones we have, the ones that people are using with their family and friends they have already and hopefully the new friends they have not yet met. I would ask the administrators of these sites to enhance them, to build bridges and bring people together.”

“I recognise that there are people who don’t have the technology or skills to use the internet, we are trying to identify these people and use other ways to provide them with the support they need during this time especially if they are self-isolating.”
Heather Reade School of Tai Chi and Qigong, What’sApp Heather Reade School TCQG info@HeatherReade.co.uk Tel 07450954900 www.heatherreade.co.uk