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How I'm Expanding My Tai Chi Classes into Big Hospitals
In 1996, Gene Nelson, the founder, owner
and chief instructor of Empire Tai Chi began teaching Tai Chi & Qigong at the
Burke Rehabilitation Hospital in White Plains NY. Burke is a world renowned
Rehabilitation and Research Center. The first class was a balance specific
program that was on the heels of the landmark Tai Chi & Balance study conducted
at Emory University and funded by the NIH. Gene offered to teach it first in the
10-week, once-a-week program at Burke at no charge. This immediately spun off a
twice-a-week, fee-based, balance-specific program. Both classes enjoyed maximum
enrollment.
Empire's classes at Burke grew at a modest
pace expanding into seven classes a week including Traditional Tai Chi. In 2012
Gene was recognized for his many years of tai chi training and teaching, and was
certified by the ATCQA as a Level-3 teacher. He subsequently has been appointed
to the ATCQA Advisory Board.
A long-time student of Gene was running an
advertising program for his own business, through a local Newspaper. In the
process, the student’s interest in Tai Chi was discussed and his teacher’s
recent recognition was mentioned. Subsequently, Gene was interviewed by the
publication. The published interview focused on "a local Tai Chi & Qigong
teacher who received the highest level of certification from American Tai Chi &
Qigong Association", as well as his involvement with the Tai Chi & Qigong
program taught at The Burke Rehabilitation Hospital & Research Center. The
following month, Burke was named an authorized ATCQA Teaching Center.
Less than a year later, the Burke's Tai
Chi & Qigong schedule includes 11 weekly Tai Chi and Qigong classes. Included
are 5 Balance Specific programs, 4 traditional Tai Chi & Qigong classes, and 2
Therapuetic Tai Chi classes for Special Populations. In addition, there are
regularly scheduled Tai Chi related workshops and seminars. Plans are in the
works to expand classes in the spring. Gene and Empire Tai Chi continues to
expand into the NYC Market Place taking advantage of the resources of the ATCQA
along the way.
In the interview by ATCQA, Gene cited his
success story as an example of how an
ATCQA Certification can be a significant
contributing factor in helping to grow relationships and assist in expanding the
presence of Tai Chi & Qigong in a market place. | 
