To become a Trainer you first have to become certified to teach Levels 1, 2 and 3 of our Fall Prevention Tai Chi and have about two years of teaching experience. You also need to become familiar with the longform (Sun 73 forms) although you don’t have to become certified in this form.

All Trainers can certify instructors to teach Fall Prevention Tai Chi.

Some Trainers also can certify in other forms. At the present time, Marty Kidder and Anne Bower can certify instructors in Yang 24 Forms; Marty Kidder and Ellie Hayes can certify instructors in Sun 73 Forms.

To become a Trainer, the process begins when either you initiate your interest by speaking with one of our Trainers or when one of them invites you to join our ranks. Besides taking classes and becoming skillful in tai chi, you’ll now also begin "facilitating" at certification and/or skillbuilder workshops, starting to practice your leadership and organizational skills. After having done that a few times, if all goes well, you'll be invited to become aTrainer. At first you will always lead workshops with an experienced Trainer, but eventually you will have the skills to go solo.
When an instructor becomes a Trainer, she or he is sent all necessary forms and files that the position requires.

Most of our Trainers, besides teaching with Tai Chi Vermont, have garnered experience through taking tai chi, qigong, or martial arts classes with other groups, reading and researching about Tai Chi, and attending workshops on various related topics.

Note: Our Code of Ethics can be found at the bottom of the "Becoming an Instructor" page.