Carlow to host its first-ever ‘Tai Chi Day’ at Woodford Dolmen Hotel

CARLOW is set to experience something entirely new this September, as the town prepares to host its first-ever “Tai Chi Day” – an event designed to introduce the public to the ancient Chinese martial art that has been quietly transforming lives locally for nearly two decades.

The Tai Chi Experience will take place at The Woodford Dolmen Hotel on 7 September from 12 noon to 4pm, offering visitors a comprehensive introduction to what organisers describe as one of Carlow’s “best kept secrets”.

For just €10, attendees can sample a variety of 30-minute taster sessions including physical Tai Chi, meditation, and breathwork, with up to 10 qualified teachers present throughout the day. The event promises something for everyone, with classes, presentations and meditation sessions running every half hour.

Behind the event is Rosaleen Fadden, founder of the Tai Chi and Wellness Academy, who has been teaching the practice in Carlow for 17-18 years. Her philosophy is refreshingly simple: “If you can walk, you can do tai chi. It’s that simple”.

Unlike some forms of yoga, Tai Chi is performed entirely while standing, making it particularly accessible for individuals with mobility issues who find floor-based exercises challenging. This accessibility has allowed Rosaleen to work with diverse groups across the community, from the Delta Centre to active and retired people, and even local schools.

“It’s for all levels of fitness,” she explains. “You adjust the class to suit whoever is in front of you.” One common misconception Rosaleen encounters is that Tai Chi is solely for older people who can’t manage more vigorous exercise. The reality, she says, is quite different.

“Some people think this is just for older people who can’t do any other form of exercise, but it’s not really because we have dynamic moves. The warmup, for example, is Qigong punching, kicking, the same as martial arts.” The practice, which originates from martial arts performed by Taoist monks on Wudang Mountain in China, focuses on what Rosaleen calls “energy work” – slow, deliberate movements coordinated with breath to connect with the body’s energy, or “Qi”.

“The idea is that you’re totally in touch with every move you do. And that’s why it has such benefits physically, mentally, spiritually, because which one of us are in touch with our physical bodies, even as we go for a walk in the countryside? We’re just not,” she says.

The teachers leading the September event represent serious credentials in the field, having completed a rigorous three-year training programme with biannual assessments to meet international standards set by Chinese authorities. This level of training is beginning to pay dividends as graduates integrate Tai Chi into mainstream institutions, including St. James’ Hospital and local schools.

The healing potential of Tai Chi is something that resonates strongly with traditional Chinese medicine approaches. “In Chinese medicine – in Chinese hospitals, they would assign you maybe three or four Tai Chi practitioners to work with after a diagnosis,” Rosaleen notes. “It has a hugely healing aspect to it.” The event will also provide information on upcoming classes and workshops throughout the country for those inspired to continue their Tai Chi journey.

With its promise of being suitable for all ages and its focus on mindful movement rather than aerobic intensity, Carlow’s first Tai Chi Day offers something genuinely different in the local wellness landscape.

Those interested can find more information by contacting Info@taichiandwellnessacademy.com or simply turning up at The Woodford Dolmen Hotel on 7 September to experience what organisers describe as "the radiant and life-giving energy of Tai Chi, Chi Kung and meditation”.