Tai Chi for Osteoporosis Instructor Training with Pat Lawson and Nina Zeldin

Tai Chi for Osteoporosis

Tai Chi for Osteoporosis (TCO) was specially designed by Dr Paul Lam in conjunction with his tai chi associates and a team of medical experts. It helps to improve balance and prevent the risk of falls. The program will also improve posture, muscle strength, relaxation, fitness, and health. Based on Sun and Yang styles of tai chi, Tai Chi for Osteoporosis is easy to learn, effective, and safe. It includes some gentle weight-bearing movements that are beneficial for bone strength.  It also incorporates breathing exercises and stepping in four directions. Qualified participants who successfully complete the course may be accredited by the Tai Chi for Health Institute to teach this program.

This training has two parts, a self-paced online portion and a live interactive portion. The Self-Paced Instructor Preparation Package (SIPP) is a self-paced virtual program containing essential material plus instruction in the basic movements to train effective and safe instructors. All you have to do is follow the sequence with Dr Lam’s video guides for every step. Complete the quizzes at the end of each unit to move on, and at completion of the SIPP you download your Certificate of Completion to send to the Master Trainer.

After completion of the SIPP, you are ready for the live interactive instructor training workshop to be eligible to become a Tai Chi for Health Institute (TCHI) board-certified instructor. All TCHI Master Trainers around the world can conduct this workshop as listed online at the Tai Chi for Health Institute (tchi.org) website. The listing will indicate whether it is offered on a virtual platform or in-person, and how the hours (minimum of 8) are distributed into 1 or 2 sessions.  

Suitable participants include health and fitness professionals or those with other similar qualifications, and experienced tai chi students.

The live workshop is very personal. The Master Trainer will work with you to answer your questions, help to improve your tai chi and ensure you can teach the program safely and effectively.  There will be discussions, practice sessions, and sharing of skills and knowledge, Question and Answer portions, and, most importantly, personal interaction. The Master Trainer will give you feedback on what you did well and how you can improve your tai chi and teaching skills and connect you to the Tai Chi for Health Institute (TCHI), fellow instructors, and Senior Trainers.

Suitable participants include health and fitness professionals or those with other similar qualifications, and experienced tai chi students.

Registration Process

When you register for the live interactive training, you will receive a link to purchase the prerequisite online SIPP course. Normally priced at USD 80, your link will allow you to purchase it at a discount of 30%. You must go to Online Tai Chi Workshops and purchase this separately from paying your course fee to the Master Trainer. It must be completed before the live interactive training. Allow 25-70 hours, on your schedule, and forward the Certificate of Completion to the trainer to qualify you for participation in the live interactive workshop. Do enroll ASAP because you must complete it before participating in the live interactive portion. You will have access to the online SIPP material for one year, and you will find it a great support to your teaching skills.

Reasons to Come

• Enjoy learning at your own pace and the personal training to become eligible to be an instructor of this program
• Learn how to teach this program effectively and safely to people with or without osteoporosis
• Discover how tai chi improves health
• Gain essential knowledge about osteoporosis and exercise
• Sample Yang style tai chi
• Improve your level of tai chi in a positive, enjoyable and interactive environment
• To work with one of Dr Lam’s Authorized Master Trainers
• To improve your health
• To improve your balance
• To learn how to set up classes.

Requirements

Anyone is welcome to attend, but to be eligible to be certified as an instructor, please check the recommended qualifications listed below.                           

• Physical therapists or physiotherapists
• Tai chi teachers or advanced students
• Exercise instructor
• Other similar professionals   

By the Completion of the Workshop you will:

• Know the Tai Chi for Osteoporosis set at a deeper level
• Understand how tai chi works for Osteoporosis
• Have learned how to teach this program effectively and safely. 
• Have learned Dr Lam’s Stepwise Progressive Teaching Method
• Apply for either an instructor’s or an attendance certificate

Clothing

Wear loose comfortable clothes and flat shoes suitable for exercise.

From the Experts

“Osteoporosis Australia supports the Tai Chi for Osteoporosis program designed by Dr Paul Lam”

Judy Stenmark, CEO, Osteoporosis Australia

“Tai Chi may help people with Osteoporosis to improve their muscular strength, coordination and balance”

Professor Marcus Seibel, Endocrinologist, Concord Hospital

“Tai chi is a fabulous exercise for older adults as it fulfils many of the outcomes we wish to achieve”

Professor Shona Bass, Population Health, Deakin University

Dr Paul Lam

Dr Paul Lam is an Australian family physician and tai chi expert, and a world leader in the field of tai chi for health. He is a well-recognized teacher, and the author of several books on tai chi and best-selling instructional tai chi DVDs. Over five million people worldwide practice a Tai Chi for Health program every day. 

Dr Lam is one of the most sought-after tai chi teachers, having trained thousands of instructors. Many travel around the world to attend his workshops.

NB:  The name of the Master Trainer authorized by Dr Lam to conduct this workshop is displayed on the workshop location and details page. 

Tai Chi for Health Program Updates

At this workshop, instructors have an opportunity to update their other Tai Chi for Health certifications. 

For more information please contact the MT holding the workshop.

This Instructor Certification course is comprised of two parts: 

Completing the new Tai Chi for Osteoporosis Self-Paced Instructor Preparation Package (SIPP) course and reading the Teaching Tai Chi Effectively book PRIOR to the September in-person workshop. You will enjoy this valuable resource to prepare for the September workshop, as well as to support your teaching in your first year. You will have access to the materials for 365 days.  The SIPP package must be purchased by you separately, well in advance of the September in-person training. It is normally $80 USD, but you will receive a 30% off coupon code after your payment for the July in-person workshop is received, significantly reducing the price to about $56.

Attending the in-person, interactive workshop Sunday, September 7, 9am – 5pm at Healthy Acadia, 77 Beechland Road, Ellsworth, Maine.  During the September workshop, we will review the material from the Tai Chi for Osteoporosis SIPP, including all the movements.  To become certified at the end of the training, participants will need to show they are able to perform the set of movements from memory. Your preparation helps assure you become certified at the end of the training. Those that are not well prepared may require additional practice and meeting(s) with the Master Trainer(s) to meet the standard for certification.

Following the training, those meeting the standard for instructor qualification will be invited to join the Tai Chi for Health Institute. Your membership provides the license to teach this program, list your classes on TCHI.org, and many other benefits. Click here to learn more: https://taichiforhealthinstitute.org/faq-for-becoming-a-board-certified-instructor/

For non-instructors, you will get the most out of the workshop if you learn the movements of the set using the Tai Chi for Osteoporosis DVD or Online lessons, and reading the Teaching Tai Chi Effectively book.

If you have further questions, please check our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

To become a certified instructor in the Tai Chi for Osteoporosis program:

The fee for the Self-Paced Preparation Package (SIPP) portion of the training is $56 after applying the coupon code you will be sent after your registration and payment for the September in-person training are received.  If you pay prior to registering, the fee will be $80. It is best to register for the course and use the coupon code, as refunds will not be processed later. This purchase will be made online via the link you will receive.

The full retail price of the Teaching Tai Effectively book is $9.99 for the electronic version, and $17.95 + shipping for the print version. You will receive a 20% discount code to purchase the book after your payment for the July workshop is received.

The fee for the September workshop is $250, payable by check to Healthy Acadia, P.O. Box 1710, Ellsworth, Maine, 04605 or by credit card. If paying by check, please reference “September TCO” on memo line. If paying by credit card, you can call Nina Zeldin at 207-667-7676 (office) or 479-1206 (cell), or use this link: https://www.healthyacadia.org/pay. If you use the link, please write “September TCO” in the “Payment for” box. 

Early bird workshop fee: $175 if you register before June 6th  

Special early bird offer: Register before June 6th for the September 7th Tai Chi for Osteoporosis AND the September 6th Tai Chi for Life Workshops and pay only $300 ($150 per program).

Following the training, those meeting the standard for instructor qualification will be invited to join the Tai Chi for Health Institute. Annual membership is $27 USD. Your membership provides the license to teach this program, list your classes on TCHI.org, and many other benefits. Click here to learn more: https://taichiforhealthinstitute.org/faq-for-becoming-a-board-certified-instructor/

To attend just for fun, and improve your tai chi knowledge and skills: 

After your payment for the September workshop is received, you will be sent a 20% discount code to purchase the Tai Chi for Osteoporosis DVD or online lessons, and the Teaching Tai Chi Effectively book. The DVD’s full retail cost is $24.95. A subscription to the TCHC lessons is $20 per month or $99 for one year.

To update TCHI programs: 

Current instructors attending this Tai Chi for Osteoporosis workshop can also request to update their TCHI certifications in other programs during the training. Update fees for paid workshop participants are $50 for each program. Please note which programs you want to update when you register, and you will be sent the assignment(s) you will need to complete prior to the September workshop.  For those attending ONLY for Update, the fee is $200 for the first program and $50 for each additional program.

Fees are payable by check to Healthy Acadia, P.O. Box 1710, Ellsworth, Maine, 04605 or by credit card. If paying by check, please reference “September TCO or September TCL & TCO” on the memo line. If paying by credit card, you can call Nina Zeldin at 207-667-7676 (office) or 479-1206 (cell), or use this link: https://www.healthyacadia.org/pay. If you use the link, please write “September TCO or September TCL & TCO” in the “Payment for” box. 

Following the training, those meeting the standard for instructor qualification will be invited to join the Tai Chi for Health Institute. Annual membership is $27 USD. Your membership provides the license to teach this program, list your classes on TCHI.org, and many other benefits. Click here to learn more: https://taichiforhealthinstitute.org/how-to-become-a-certified-tai-chi-instructor-of-dr-paul-lams-programs/

There will be a $50 administration fee for all workshop cancellations. No refunds after August 15, 2025.

 No refunds for preparatory materials. 

Healthy Acadia

77 Beechland Road

Ellsworth, Maine 04605

Nina Zeldin

nina@healthyacadia.org

207-667-7676 (office) or 207-479-1206 (cell)