Zoom: Tai Chi for Arthritis and Fall Prevention (2 Half-Days) + Seated + Updates with Heather Chalon, MPH

Tai Chi for Arthritis for Fall Prevention

Dr Paul Lam and his team of medical and tai chi experts designed this program to be safe and effective for people who are at increased risk of falling. It will also provide health benefits and improve almost anyone’s quality of life. More than 30 medical studies have shown its efficacy, and millions of people around the world have gained health benefits. This is why the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC.gov), government agencies, and arthritis foundations around the world support it. Tai chi is proven to improve immunity by about 50%. It also relieves stress and improves almost all aspects of health.

Based on the Sun style of tai chi, Tai Chi for Arthritis for Fall Prevention (TCAFP) is easy to learn, effective, and safe. It improves flexibility and muscle strength, increases heart/lung activity, aligns posture, improves balance, and integrates the mind and body. The TCAFP program includes warm-up and cool-down exercises, the teaching method, knowledge about arthritis and the cause of falls, and how to teach this program safely. This program is the same as the Tai Chi for Arthritis program with the addition of a specialised module to further enhance its efficacy in preventing falls. 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 and offer continual support.

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
• Discover how tai chi improves health and relieves arthritis
• Learn Dr Lam's Stepwise Progressive Teaching Method
• Gain essential knowledge about arthritis and fall prevention
• Learn about the essential principles of tai chi
• Improve your level of tai chi in a positive, enjoyable, and interactive environment

Who Can Come?

Anyone with or without prior tai chi experience can attend this workshop. However, preparation is mandatory.

By the Completion of the Workshop, you will:

• Know the Tai Chi for Arthritis for Fall Prevention set at a deeper level
• Understand how tai chi improves health and relaxation and helps prevent falls
• Have learned how to teach this program effectively and safely
• Have improved your tai chi skills and knowledge
• Have learned how to attract and retain more students

About the Creator of Tai Chi for Arthritis and Fall Prevention

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-recognised teacher, and the author of several books on tai chi and health and best-selling instructional tai chi DVDs. Over five million people worldwide practise 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 Master Trainer authorised by Dr Lam to conduct this workshop is named on this workshop page.

Registration and Preparation

When you register for the live interactive training, your Master Trainer will send you a link to enrol in the prerequisite online SIPP course and confirm how its cost is handled. Depending on the workshop, the SIPP is either included in your workshop fee or offered to you at a 30% discount, USD 56 rather than the standard USD 80. You complete the SIPP online, in your own time, at Online Tai Chi Lessons (onlinetaichilessons.com).

The SIPP must be completed before the live interactive training. Allow 25 to 70 hours or more, on your own schedule, then forward your Certificate of Completion to the trainer to qualify for the live interactive workshop. Please enrol as soon as possible, since it must be finished before the live portion. You will have access to the online SIPP material for three years, and your Certificate of Completion is valid for two years. You will find it a great support to your teaching.

In addition to completing the SIPP course, reading the Teaching Tai Chi Effectively book and the Arthritis and Fall Prevention Handbook before the workshop is required. Depending on the workshop, these materials are either included in the workshop fee or offered to you at a 20% discount. The Details section of the workshop page explains how the cost of preparatory material is handled.

Board Certification

Following successful completion of this course you will be required to register to become a Tai Chi for Health Institute Board-certified instructor before teaching the program, if you are not already a member. One two-year membership fee of AUD 99 covers Board Certification for all your Tai Chi for Health qualifications, and you will then be listed with your certifications on the TCHI website. To learn more about membership benefits, see How to become a certified instructor.

Clothing

Wear loose comfortable clothes and closed flat shoes suitable for exercise.

Tai Chi for Health Program Updates

At this workshop, instructors have an opportunity to update their other Tai Chi for Health certifications. Let the Master Trainer know in advance that you are interested in updates. Additional fees apply.

Continuing education credits

The Tai Chi for Health Institute is an approved provider of continuing education with the American College of Sports Medicine and other professional bodies in the USA, Australia and Korea. See Partnerships and accrediting organisations for the current list and the credits available for this program.

Thank you for taking a few moments to thoroughly read the following information before you register.   

Welcome!  Thank you for taking this step for your own health and wellness, in addition to gaining a powerful skill set for serving others in your community.   We look forward to supporting your Tai Chi for Health journey.   

This workshop is designed to train new instructors and recertify current instructors.  

Your preparation / pre-requisites:   

• Participants study/practice a recommended minimum of 30 hours with the required Tai Chi for Arthritis and Fall Prevention Self-Paced Preparation Package Online Course (SIPP)  and the ebooks - 1)Tai Chi for Arthritis and Falls Prevention Handbook, and 2) Teaching Tai Chi Effectively prior to the workshop.
• Email the following to Heather for review prior to the workshop:
  • First time certifying,  email Heather the certificate of completion of SIPP
  • For recertification, your written Google Forms assignment.
  • Although not required, videos of you performing the TCA movements are strongly encouraged as a tool for self-discovery of tai chi forms and preparation for accountability partnerships.  
• Further details for your time-efficient preparation will be provided in your email welcome package after you register and submit payment for the workshop fee/or fees are arranged through employer/sponsoring organization. 
• Tech check for setting up your Zoom room learning environment will be held at an agreed time, to be communicated via email. Duration - open house for 1 hour or until everyone is set up. A practice session, if time permits. 
• Post-workshop integration session, 1-hour via Zoom will be scheduled and conducted at an agreed-upon time -  to be communicated via email.  

By the end of our time together, we will be able to demonstrate the ability to follow the program using the prescribed teaching method and proficiently demonstrate the warm-up, cool down, basic 6, and extended tai chi moves to both sides, including seated. 

Participants who meet the requirements for certification will receive "Instructor Certification” and an invitation from Dr Paul Lam/ Tai Chi for Health Institute to register online to become a Board-Certified Instructor with the Tai Chi for Health Institute. Those who need more time will work with the MT to meet the requirements prior to the instructor certification being awarded.

Register By:  December 1, 2026, 5:00 pm MST 

NOTE:  If you are already a certified TCHI instructor, you will need to log in to the TCHI.org website before you register for this workshop on the same site.  Use the "Lost Password" link to reset your password if you are having difficulty logging onto this website.

Certification Options:

1. First time certifying for  TCA/ TCAFP:

• Select both Certified TCA and TCAFP Instructor options under Courses when registering.   

2.  Recertifications/Updates (currently within 2.5 years since last certification) with Option to Add Seated TCA:

• Recertification is required every 2 years, with an additional 6-month grace period currently in place. Additional fees apply for each update/recertification program in addition to the TCA/TCAFP workshop fee.  Including Seated TCA and/or TCA Part 2.
• If you are currently certified and seeking recertification in TCA, TCAFP, Seated TCA and/or TCA Part 2, then select the applicable programs under Refresher Courses when registering. 
• If you are adding Seated TCA to your current TCA/TCAFP certifications, then also select Seated TCA under Courses when registering.

3. Current TCA/TCAFP Instructors: Add First Time Seated TCA Certification with Skill Development (not recertifying in TCA/TCAFP at this workshop)

• If you are adding Seated TCA to your current TCA/TCAFP certifications, then select Seated TCA under Courses when registering.

4. Skill Development Options for Current TCA/TCAFP Instructors (not recertifying or adding certifications at this workshop)

• Add "Skill Development" in the Comments section on the last page of registration. You will then be added to our waitlist and informed as space becomes available.

NOTE: Assignments must be completed and returned to Heather by December 14, 2026.

Preparation for Virtual Instructor Training:

This is a virtual workshop using the Zoom platform. Please download the updated version of Zoom (you may use the free version). If you haven't used this platform before, Zoom provides videos to help you learn how it works. 

• Master Trainer and all Participants will be ‘live and visible’ during the entire training
  • 7  Hours of Training,  8 hours total including breaks 
  • Please download Zoom (you may use the free version)
  • Participants must use a tablet or computer with a camera to participate. 
    • Phones are not allowed as the screen will be too small.
  • You must be present for all of the training.
    • You cannot turn off your camera or take a photo instead of having the camera on
  • We will take refresh breaks regularly and as needed
  • Participants must have a space large enough to be visible from head to toe throughout the workshop.
  • Session login information will be provided via email in the weeks leading up to the event, and reminders will be sent repeatedly. 
  • A post-workshop Zoom session for integration, within 4 weeks after the workshop.

Instructor Certification in TCA/TCAFP:  

Total Cost:  $518* ($380 Tuition/Workshop Fee, plus $68 required Materials and $70US 2-year TCHI Membership Fee) 

*slightly higher fee with printed books order.  Paid registrants will receive a welcome email with a discount code for training materials order.  

• $380:  1-Day Virtual via Zoom TCA/TCAFP Instructor Training Workshop with Master Trainer Heather Chalon, MPH
  • NOTE:  Additional $50 for Seated TCA if well prepared and approved by Heather
• $68:  Required Training Materials & Membership Fee (purchased separately by each participant unless organized for group purchase by agency/organization) includes:
  • Tai Chi for Arthritis & Fall Prevention Self-Paced Preparation Package Online Course (SIPP) - $80  (discount code upon paid registration cost becomes $56)
  • Teaching Tai Chi Effectively & Tai Chi for Arthritis & Fall Prevention Handbook - $27 print bundle or $12 for digital books
  • 2-year Standard Board Membership with Tai Chi for Health Institute (TCHI) - $70US
    • Please read http://taichiforhealthinstitute.org/faq-for-becoming-a-board-certified-instructor/ 

Re-Certifications/Update TCA/TCAFP (currently certified in TCA/TCAFP):  $200 Workshop Fee.   

• Add $50 EACH for Additional Update in Seated TCA and/or TCA2.
• If you are recertifying/updating, you should already have the required training materials. If you for any reason you do not have these materials, discount codes will be provided in your welcome letter to acquire them. While not required, you are encouraged to purchase and complete the SIPP program.

Skill Development/Just for Fun (JFF):  $95 (not certifying or recertifying at this workshop). Enter "JFF" in the comments section on the last page of your registration. Details will be emailed to you after registration.  

Payment:  You will not be asked for payment when you submit this registration, though it will be time-efficient if you take your next step and submit payment following the instructions below.  You will be emailed a confirmation by TCHI upon registration, followed by a welcome email from Heather Chalon.  Thank you for promptly taking the next step - to submit payment for the workshop fee to the Master Trainer, Heather Chalon.  NOTE:  Registration is not considered complete until payment has been made.

1)  Zelle, Cosmic Dolphin LLC, heather@heatherchalon.com / 520-780-6751.   NOTE:  Please make a notation within the transaction to identify the purpose of the transaction "TCAFP WS  12/17-18/2026" along with your name.

2) Pay Via Pay Pal or Venmo include 3% service fee. 

2) Agency Payment - communicate your request to heather@heatherchalon.com

CANCELLATION FEE:  If a request to withdraw from the workshop is received within 3 days of registering and not less than 14 days prior to the workshop, it must be received in writing AND with a written (email) confirmation from Heather,  a reschedule with a future workshop with Heather + $75 administration fee will be possible.  

Live via Zoom

MT based in Tucson, Arizona, USA

Master Trainer,  Heather Chalon MPH

heather@heatherchalon.com