All participants who attend the workshop will receive either an instructor/leader or an attendance certificate. Different programs have different requirements for preparation, but they are similar to the Tai Chi for Arthritis program (described below). It will take from 10 hours to 300 hours to prepare depending on your experience in tai chi and health education. For example, an experienced tai chi practitioner would not need as much time (about 10 to 50 hours) to learn the program from the instructional DVD or Online Lessons.

Example: Preparation for the Tai Chi for Arthritis program

Study the instructional Tai Chi for Arthritis Online Lessons or DVD (it consists of twelve virtually real time lessons from Dr Lam), “Teaching Tai Chi Effectively” book by Dr Lam and handbook, and learn how to do the Warm up and Cool down exercises, the Basic Six movements and the Advanced Six movements.

Even if you attend the workshop to learn a program for your health and wellness, Dr Lam strongly recommends you prepare the same way as instructor trainees, as it will enable you to gain more from the workshop. Read the handbook to understand what tai chi is, what arthritis is and how it works. The “Teaching Tai Chi Effectively” book is the textbook for instructors of the Tai Chi for Health programs and would be a useful reference book for any tai chi or exercise teacher. If you are especially interested in medical knowledge of arthritis, “Overcoming Arthritis” written by Dr Lam and Judith Horstman is a valuable resource for both you and your participants.