About Sophie
Meet Sophie, Our Founder
Sophie is a Tai chi teacher from the U.K. now happily living and thriving in the Netherlands. As well as teaching Tai chi Sophie is a Holistic massage therapist and teacher. She loves how the combination of Tai Chi and massage help guide people back to themselves and equip them with tools to feel empowered to find more balance in both body and mind.
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Sophie offers Massage sessions in both Amsterdam and Utrecht. To find out more please go to her holistic massage website
Tai chi - from the first class I was hooked!
I discovered Tai Chi by accident really, but after one class I was hooked! At the time I was experiencing a lot of stress at work, I had a lot of responsibility and found it so hard to switch off. I would even sleep with a note pad by the bed because I would wake in the night with things to add to my to-do list! I was destined for a burn out at this rate. Luckily a colleague insisted I join him at his Tai Chi class, I knew nothing about Tai Chi but thought why not?!​After the teacher led us through a gentle warm up I already felt more connected to my body and my to-do list was nowhere to be seen.
As we practised the flowing movements of the Tai Chi Form I felt graceful, strong and so focused yet relaxed. It was like nothing I had experienced before. The world went quiet and peaceful. I was practising ancient martial movements in a group of people all synchronized together. I felt like I could feel the energy of everyone together and that gave me a feeling of belonging, connection and peace. I signed up there and then for weekly classes!
This first class was back in November 2004 in Bristol with Ben Milton of Bristol School of Tai Chi. Since this first class I have had the privilege to train with various esteemed teachers and masters in different disciplines and styles of Tai Chi. I travelled as far as Wudang Mountain in China to train with Master Yuan Xiu Gang of Wudang Daoist Traditional Kungfu Academy in China and had the opportunity to train with Grandmaster Chen Xiao Wang the head of the Chen family and current lineage holder of Chen style Tai Chi and Ben Milton's teacher.After many years of exploration I came to the conclusion that Chen style Tai Chi was the style of Tai Chi for me. When I took the leap to move to The Netherlands in 2016 Ben endorsed me to teach and start my own Tai Chi school of which I was and continue to be honoured and grateful for.
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My ongoing development now takes the form of training with a fellow Chen style Tai Chi teacher Maarten Beets from Tai Chi Well. Maarten is a fantastic teacher who guides my Tai Chi to a deeper level with plenty of theory to help embody the principles of Tai Chi. Maarten offers classes, workshops and retreats in Amsterdam, Amstelveen and Monnickendam .
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I love nothing more than to share Tai Chi with people and to enable them to feel empowered in their bodies. I look forward to sharing Tai Chi with you very soon.
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With warmth and gratitude,
Sophie