After taking the first step of signing up to a Tai Chi class, the next step of wondering "...now what do I wear?" can be a worrying one, so I thought it'd be good to write down a general guide to help people find their feet and feel confident arriving at the first class

Although some schools may have items that they expect their more-senior students to wear, generally; wearing loose fitting, comfortable clothing is the best recommendation. Simple enough, that's all you need to know to be honest. A t-shirt and loose trousers/ bottoms is all that's needed for a beginner arriving to a class.

Some schools prefer people to practice in their socks if they do not have tai chi shoes (more on that later), so it's also a good idea to be aware of this, but as long as you are ready and able to move freely and stretch a little bit in all directions, you will be absolutely fine.

If you are enjoying the classes and are still practicing after the initial intro course, then it could be a good idea to buy a pair of tai chi shoes; cotton-soled, black and white slippers. After getting used to them, they can compliment your practice and help work on principles such as grounding and rooting, but just remember to buy a size smaller than your feet are so they fit snuggly over time (the cotton outer stretches over time... so if you buy the same size as your feet, they'll get loose pretty quickly and just get in the way more than anything)

Good luck in your first class! if you find you really like it and want to wear something tai chi themed, come back and have a look around: our designs are made for and by people who practice the art so we've got something for everyone at any stage of the journey

All the best
Seán