Gentle Tai Chi & Qigong with Erica

Thursday, October 15th, 2026 from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM EDT

Class will begin in 9 days and 14 hours

Can be done seated Includes standing Anywhere Active Exclusive Tai Chi Flexibility Training Mental Wellness & Stress Relief Full Body Cleared for group screening

Instructor: Erica Heinrichs
Class Duration: 60 mins
Mobility: Can be done seated, Includes standing
Effort: Light
Body Focus: Full Body
Equipment: No Equipment Needed
Recommendations: Wear comfortable, flat shoes with minimal heel lift that fit around the back of the heel and loose, comfortable clothing

Class Description
Gentle, easy-to-learn tai chi and qigong are offered in a format that can be done standing or seated. Classes begin with with very basic concepts such as tai chi breathing, posture, weight shifting, stepping, the dan tian, Qi (life energy), flowing upper body movement, then gradually build toward combining upper and lower body movements into short forms drawn from traditional styles such as Sun and Yang.

All movements are broken down into smaller parts to make them easier to learn, and modifications will be shared to help make the movements more accessible for those with mobility or balance challenges.

Each class includes a short focus of the day, warm-up exercises, tai chi weight shifting and stepping practice, learning and repeating movements in segments, and qigong breathing with a gradual introduction to the five elements. Emphasis is placed on smooth transitions between movements, ongoing practice from one session to the next, and movement that feels comfortable and fluid.

Meet Your Instructor

Erica Heinrichs has been a certified instructor with Dr. Paul Lam's Tai Chi for Health Institute since 2003, teaching classes in a variety of venues, from fitness and community centers to senior centers and online.

Erica currently resides in the Twin Cities area in Minnesota where she teaches several Tai Chi and Aquatic Exercise classes. She is the proud mother of 3 incredible adult sons and loves to spend time outdoors, gardening, walking, practicing tai chi, and exploring and learning what birds and wildlife are in the area.

In addition to teaching her own classes, Erica became active in organizing instructor certification workshops for Dr. Paul Lam and Sifu Ralph Dehner, TCHI Master Trainer. Over the years, Erica has been certified in many Tai Chi for Health programs and has also studied forms from traditional styles, ie: Sun 73 Form and Yang 24 Form and currently exploring Tai Chi Sword – Yang Style 32 Forms. In January 2025, Erica became certified as a Master Trainer in Dr. Paul Lam's Tai Chi for Arthritis and Fall Prevention suite of programs. She now conducts instructor certification and update workshops both in-person and on Zoom.

All views expressed by class instructors are their own and their appearance in a program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. Reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by Anywhere Active. By using Anywhere Active, you accept the User Terms, including the release of liability.