Tai Chi for Beginners: How to Start

By Julian Reeve, Tai Chi & Qigong instructor · Updated 23 May 2026

Starting Tai Chi can feel mysterious, but it need not be. You need almost no equipment, no special fitness, and no prior experience. This guide lays out exactly how to begin — and how to avoid the few mistakes that slow most beginners down.

What you need

Very little: loose, comfortable clothing, flat shoes or bare feet, and a few square metres of floor. That is genuinely all. Tai Chi meets you where you are, whatever your age or condition.

Class, online or both?

A good local teacher is the fastest way to learn, because Tai Chi is full of small alignments a book or video can't catch. But online resources are excellent for daily reinforcement between lessons. Many beginners do best with both: a class for correction, and short home practice to build the habit. Whichever style you meet first matters less than finding a teacher you can practise with regularly.

Your first few weeks

1. Learn to stand. Feet shoulder-width, knees soft, spine long, shoulders dropped. Spend a minute simply relaxing here.
2. Find your weight. Shift slowly from one foot to the other, noticing "full" and "empty" legs.
3. Add a short sequence. A handful of linked movements is plenty; depth beats length.
4. Practise daily, briefly. Ten minutes most days will carry you further than anything else.

Our ten practical tips expand on each of these.

Common beginner mistakes

• Going too fast. Speed hides faults; slowness reveals and fixes them.
• Collapsing instead of relaxing. Softness still needs clear structure.
• Chasing the long form. A short sequence done well teaches more than a long one done vaguely.
• Skipping the principles. The classics explain why the form works.

Once you're moving comfortably, explore the benefits you can expect and consider visiting a push hands meeting to feel the art come alive with a partner.

Frequently asked questions