Tai chi in Malta

Tai chi is a slow, continuous sequence of movements that grew out of Chinese martial arts. A class is usually quiet and unhurried: you learn a few movements at a time, and over weeks and months they join into a longer sequence called a form. Qigong is a related practice of simpler, repeated movements done with the breath, and many tai chi teachers teach both.

In Malta, tai chi is taught mostly by a handful of teachers and clubs rather than by the yoga studios, so it pays to know who teaches where. The listings below are checked against each teacher’s own published information.

Where can you learn tai chi in Malta?

Malta Yong Nian Yang Style Taijiquan is taught by Omar Calleja, in the Yong Nian tradition of the Yang style. There are two beginners’ classes, one at the BS Building on Mosta Road in Lija and one at T52 Fitness Studio in Mosta, and an advanced group that practises the 28 form at Gnien Victor Calvagna, a public garden in Mosta. The monthly fee is €50 for one session a week, and private sessions are by appointment. Qigong is offered too, mainly through corporate wellness programmes.

Tai Chi Malta & Gozo is run by Sifu Adrian Axisa and Sifu Alana Axisa, who describe tai chi as a moving meditation. On Gozo, they teach beginners, intermediate and advanced students at the Gozo Indoor Sports and Aquatic Pavilion in Victoria. In Malta, their classes are held at the Riviera Spa Resort on Marfa Bay in the north, which lists tai chi among its own sessions.

Malta School of Wushu in Santa Venera teaches the Li Pai style of tai chi and Health Qigong alongside kung fu. Its website lists a weekly tai chi class but gives no dates, so we are still confirming that it is current.

The live timetable shows tai chi classes whenever a teacher publishes them in a form we can read.

What is a first class like?

Expect to stand for most of the class and to move slowly. A teacher usually starts with a warm-up and some simple qigong, then teaches a few movements of the form, repeating them until they feel familiar. You won’t learn the whole form in one evening, and nobody expects you to.

Wear loose, comfortable clothes and flat shoes that let you turn your feet easily. Bring water. Classes held outdoors, such as the advanced group in Mosta’s public garden, depend on the weather, so check with the teacher if the day looks wet or windy.

Tell the teacher about any injury or health condition before you start, and if you’re unsure whether tai chi suits you, speak to your doctor first.

Tai chi or yoga?

Both are slow, mindful practices, but they feel different. Yoga moves between held poses, many of them on a mat, sitting or lying down. Tai chi is done standing and keeps moving, with the weight shifting smoothly from one foot to the other, and there is no mat at all. Some people practise both, and if you already do yoga, a tai chi class is an easy thing to try. Our style guide covers the yoga side, and meditation in Malta covers seated practice.