I had the pleasure of being among a group of Celestial Tai Chi Instructors and students to celebrate the Chinese New Year Festival, by performing several Tai Chi and Qigong routines at the Forest Hill Chase Shopping Centre on Sunday 22nd February 2026. With the symbolic “Wishing Tree” behind us we claimed our space and found our calm centre among all the noise and bustle of the busy shopping mall.
With a 30 minute slot to fill, we ran through our repertoire of Lotus Qigong, Celestial Yang style Tai Chi Levels 1 and 2, Warrior Lohan Qigong, Yang style Tai Chi 10, Yang Tai Chi Fan 18 and finishing again with the Lotus routine but this time encouraging audience participation.
Several of us went amongst the crowd and asked them to join us in the last routine of Lotus and many chose to do so (some with more encouragement than others). It was so lovely to see whole families join in - children along with the parents, as well as their grandparents following along. I had also spotted some friendly faces in the crowd from our classes who had come to support so naturally, they were also keenly persuaded to join us.
I personally gain such peace from my years of Tai Chi practice but when communities come together in this way, it can change to something stronger – a sense of joy. This was my first chance to experience Chinese New Year in this fashion and I’m glad I took the opportunity to try something new.
Natalie Lapham
Camberwell, Student
Updated: 19 April 2026
