Focusing on health prevention & wellness for a better quality of life.
Founded by Instructor Julie-Anne Johnston
Julie-Anne Johnston
Julie-Anne is Senior Chen Style T’ai Chi Instructor & Complementary Therapist in the Belfast Area. She first started out teaching T'ai Chi at Belfast Metropolitan College with only 1 class of 4 students. Today, she has over 20 years of experience and has created her own T'ai Chi school across several different venues: Maitri Studio, Physio Works NI, Moneyreagh Community Centre & Belfast Metropolitan College.
The T'ai Chi School is founded on Julie-Anne's knowledge and experience of the health & wellbeing sector. This experience originates from active involvement in Belfast Hospitals, including Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast City Hospital & Mater Hospital. Julie-Anne has been involved with several programmes affiliated with NI Chest Heart and Stroke Foundation, Belfast City Hospital Cardiac Rehabilitation Unit, & NI Mental Health Association.
Her impeccable experience and close relationship with the World Chen T'ai Chi Association across the UK & Ireland has made her a highly sought-after instructor in Northern Ireland.
Julie-Anne is a practitioner and advocate for intuitive and integrative holistic wellness with a wide array of experience that supports mental health and physical health recovery.
Senior T'ai Chi Instructor & Complementary Therapist
Julie-Anne Johnston
Why I have chosen T'ai Chi?
Before I started Belfast Chen Style T'ai Chi School, my interest and understanding of T'ai Chi started with my Uncle, Master Philip Foo, who was a renowned Kungfu/Wushu Master in Malaysia and Northern Ireland.
At a young age, I was always inquisitive about martial arts, health & fitness. In my younger days, I was heavily involved in gymnastics and held the title of County Down Champion several times. I trained with the Northern Ireland & Ulster squad, under Senior Coach Tony Burns where my advanced and specialised knowledge of gymnastics led to becoming a gymnastic's coach and a judge for competitions.
A serious car accident changed my career direction. It took seven years to recover from my own injuries and it was the practice of T'ai Chi that helped with my rehabilitation from the trauma. It was Master Philip Foo, who opened the door and led the way to train with a highly respected World Class Chen Style Tai Chi Teacher: Grandmaster Chen Xiao Wang.
The primary aim of the Belfast Chen Style Tai Chi School is to integrate complementary and oriental medicine with the principles and philosophy originally taught by Grand Master Chen Xiao Wang.