TEACHER MENTORSHIP PROGRAMME

Paul Cavel is the principal of The Tai Chi Space School, offering teacher mentorship for internal arts practitioners who would like to become certified tai chi and/or qigong instructors. Join our growing school!

2024 TTCS INSTRUCTOR TRAINING, LONDON

Benefits

Having a personal practice and being able to share your knowledge with others is the real value of training to become a qigong or tai chi instructor.

Additionally, prospective teachers who certify under my mentorship will:

  • Receive a teaching certificate.

  • Become eligible to join The Tai Chi Union of Great Britain in order to obtain liability insurance. Paul is a senior instructor of TCUGB and can sign off on your application accordingly. You can also secure liability insurance in your country of origin with your certificate — just let my team know if any additional documentation is requested.

  • Receive a profile on our TTCS website — “Teachers” (page 2). TTCS teachers can also post their classes on the Courses page and approved articles and videos in the Blog section; posts are shared on multiple social media accounts.

  • Become eligible to join instructor-only meetings and trainings led by me, where I offer personal feedback, and you have the opportunity to train with and get feedback from other skilled Water Method practitioners.

  • TTCS teachers may email me with curriculum-related training questions year-round.

  • Discounted private training from my standard rate (TTCS Instructors/Instructor-trainees only).

  • Receive training support in core programmes with our fully integrated curriculum — in person and online. My teaching assistants have 10-25 years experience, and they offer weekend seminars to back up and prepare you for instructor and more advanced trainings.

TTCS Core Training

The core curriculum is offered by me and the other TTCS Instructors through fully integrated in-person courses and TTCS online courses:

  • Taoist Neigong — four-exercise qigong set, including standing qigong and sinking qi, Cloud Hands, two swings and Beginning Form.

  • Yang Style Tai Chi — Mini, Short and Medium Forms, with essential neigong and energetics.

I am also empowered by Taoist Lineage Holder Bruce Frantzis to offer teacher certification trainings in Energy Arts programmes:

  • Dragon and Tiger Medical Qigong — seven-exercise set, including essential neigong and energetics.

  • Foundational Qigong — for prerequisite training, see Taoist Neigong above.

  • Energy Gates Qigong — for prerequisite training, see Taoist Neigong above.

Due to the integrated nature of the Water Method, not all training must take place in the specific subject in which you wish to become certified (see complete details below).

Teacher Certification Requirements

The four aspects required to become an effective Water Method arts teacher are:

  • A daily personal practice

  • Skill with neigong

  • The ability to teach

  • The willingness to teach.

The desire to maintain a daily practice (minimum five days per week) and the willingness to teach and help others must come from inside of you, and cannot be taught. My mentorship programme is designed to help you develop and deepen skill with neigong and teaching effectively. 

All prospective instructors who wish to become certified must complete the following prerequisites.

Prerequisite Training Hours

In-person and online course training hours are required to become a TTCS Instructor.

IN-PERSON TRAINING

In order to become a certified tai chi and/or qigong teacher, a minimum of 80 training hours are required over a period of two years as follows:

  • 30 hours — through in-person, public courses or private tuition in the specific subject in which you wish to become certified with me and/or TTCS Instructors on pg. 1 of TTCS.

  • 30 hours — through in-person, neigong and teaching skills upgrade courses (or previous instructor certification trainings) offered by me. The next one is scheduled for 21-22 May 2025 in London.

  • 20 hours — through in-person, public courses or private tuition of supporting Water Method programmes (i.e. Five Element neigong, Taoist Breathing & Meditation and bagua) offered by me and/or TTCS Instructors on pg. 1 of TTCS.

Note: Typically it takes a practitioner longer than the minimum requirements above to become a certified tai chi and/or qigong teacher. However, with dedication and a consistent daily practice, most people can achieve teacher certification. TTCS online courses give you access to 24/7 training support.

ONLINE TRAINING

Completion of TTCS online course material in the subject in which you wish to become a certified tai chi and/or qigong instructor, and any prerequisite material, where applicable.

Assessment

Once you have completed prerequisite training, you will be eligible to schedule an in-person assessment at the next available neigong and teaching skills upgrade course or privately with me.

This concludes the requirements for existing TTCS and EA Instructors. Prospective instructors will be required to complete three additional steps.

Instructor-trainees

Once completing the above steps and a one-time admin fee, prospective instructors who are not currently certified by me or Taoist Master Bruce Frantzis, will become instructor-trainees while fulfilling three additional steps.

Practical Application

First-time instructor-trainees who do not have any other certifications in our system must:

  • Practise for six months following the completion of course hours and the initial assessment.

  • Teach 20 hours of in-person courses or private lessons in the subject in which they wish to become certified.

Exit Assessment

Once all the above is completed, you can schedule a Zoom meeting or in-person assessment with me to confirm you have maintained the quality of your practice and completed all teacher requirements.

Note: If for any reason you do not meet the minimum skills to pass the first module of the subject in which you wish to become certified during your first assessment, you may work with me and/or the TTCS Instructors of your choice to develop skill in the areas that require improvement. This training can be done in any format, in person or online, through public courses or private training. When you are ready for a final assessment, you can book an appointment with me at a discounted rate (in person or via Zoom). We do our best to support prospective teachers to become certified once they enter the mentorship programme.

Teacher Certification

A teaching certification issued by The Tai Chi Space School, based in Redlands, California (USA) will be awarded to those who complete all prerequisite training and pass the final assessment, and where applicable, complete the required practice and practical teaching hours and exit assessment.

I am a senior instructor of the Tai Chi Union of Great Britain, and can sign off for you to join the organisation and obtain liability insurance as a qigong/tai chi teacher.

Preparatory Online Training

Taoist Neigong Online Classes — Learn the four-exercise Taoist Neigong set and essential internal content that defines and underpins all Water Method arts training.

  • In the first six months of qigong classes, I teach all the material necessary for Taoist Neigong teacher certification (Levels 1-2).

  • In the following year, I present all the material required for teacher certification (Level 3 and beyond).

Medical Qigong Online Classes — Learn the seven movements of Dragon and Tiger Medical Qigong, along with essential neigong and energetics.

  • In the first six months, I teach all the material necessary for Dragon and Tiger teacher certification (Levels 1-2).

  • In the following year, I present all the material required for teacher certification (Levels 3 and beyond).

Yang Style Tai Chi Online Classes — Learn the form and all the internal content required for Yang Style Mini Form, Short Form and Medium Form teacher certification (Levels 1-3).

  • In the first 10 months, I teach all the material necessary for Yang Style Mini and Short Form teacher certification (Levels 1-3).

  • In the following 10 months, I present all the material required for Yang Style Medium Form teacher certification (Levels 1-3).

Join the Programme

If you would like to join my teacher mentorship programme, you can start by signing up for online or in-person courses in the subjects in which you wish to become certified. I recommend all students start with Taoist Neigong, online and in person, whenever possible.

Ultimately, in-person training is a must in order to make a personal connection, determine whether I’m the right fit for you as a mentor, and for you to receive personal input and feedback on your practice and teaching skills.

TTCS teachers are required to complete 20 hours of in-person continuing professional development (CPD) training each year with me and/or the TTCS Instructors of their choice to maintain their profile on the school website.

Upcoming Courses

2025

See in-person tai chi qigong courses and teacher trainings:

See info for my next neigong and teaching skills seminar:

2026

In 2026 in London, I intend to offer Taoist Neigong and Yang Style Tai Chi (Mini Form, Short Form and Medium Form groups) followed by a teacher certification seminar for those who wish to be assessed in order to become a certified tai chi and/or qigong instructor, or upgrade their current level(s).

Questions?

Feel free to get in touch.