Teacher Spotlight: Richard Tate

Do you want to get to know your yoga teacher a little better? Lucky for you, we will be posting teacher spotlights to the blog and the social media so you can learn about your favorite teachers and why they love to teach yoga! Next up in the teacher spotlight is Richard!

Richard is a certified instructor of Tai Chi and Qigong and has studied martial arts, Tai Chi, and Qigong for over 30 years. Richard’s favorite pose is “Ward Off and Grasp the Sparrow’s Tail,” which is a 5 sequence flowing movement that embodies the essence of Tai Chi.

After retiring from his position as Executive Manager of the Williamsburg Inn and Director of Special Events, Richard began his second career teaching Tai Chi and Qigong in several venues including the Spa of Colonial Williamsburg, Riverside Wellness & Fitness, and CNU’s Life Long Learning Society. Richard teaches classes that consist of gentle stretches and graceful movements developed from the ancient Chinese traditions of Tai Chi and Qigong in which the movements are slow, circular, and performed from a stationary posture. The practice of Tai Chi and Qigong is low impact but still highly aerobic and offers many health benefits. One of Richard’s favorite quotes is “You can pay for medical treatment. You must EARN your health” by Dr. Dilip Sarkar (author of “Yoga Therapy and Western Medicine”).

Richard and his wife Margie practice yoga regularly at Body Balance. When he is not following his passion for Tai Chi, Richard enjoys traveling with Margie, tending to his Koi pond, nurturing his Bonsai, working in his gardens, and reading about history and current events.

“The study of the eastern internal arts is a never-ending journey. The opportunity to share with others and help them also discover the mysteries of this ancient art and exercise has made my own practice and understanding of Tai Chi and Qigong immeasurably better. To be able to teach what one is passionate about is a gift! And it makes me a kinder person.” -Richard