Why did you start training in Lishi?
A friend who’s a physiotherapist and dancer recommended Tai Chi and swimming for balance and aging. I’d always wanted to try Tai Chi but never found the right time—until I came across a lunchtime Lishi class in Chapel Allerton in 2017. I had no idea what Lishi was, but I found it completely engaging. I feel incredibly lucky to have found it.
What’s kept you going all these years?
Because it works. No matter how I feel going in, I always feel better after class—physically and emotionally. It helps me relax, grounds me, and makes sense in a world increasingly disconnected from the body and reality. Lishi is organic; it treats us as whole humans.
How has it changed your life?
It’s improved my balance and helped me stop overthinking. As someone who lives in their head, Lishi brings me back into my body. It pulls me out of self-criticism and the hamster wheel of thought. I feel healthier, more centered—like it’s a kind of alchemy.
What does “it works” feel like to you?
Grounded, present, connected. Lishi is about the individual, but also about a way of living. It creates community, and I’ve found people to be welcoming and accepting. I love learning from them.
Is Lishi for older people? Do you need a young spirit?
Yes, you need a young spirit to start at 70! But there are many of us like that. Sometimes I wish I’d found it earlier, but I believe things happen in their own time. The practice has helped me trust more and find optimism—even with the challenges of age.