AN East Hampshire leisure learning tutor has broken new ground - with a free qi gong session in Alton’s Public Gardens.

The occasion was a world celebration of the ancient Chinese healing technique on Saturday, with Sue Kelly’s session coinciding with other hour-long sessions all over the world.

Marie Kellie, deputy manager of Alton Community Centre, said: “We were very pleased how the session went as it is the first time we have introduced qi gong, which is so beneficial for your health and teaches you how to breathe so that you can be calm and in control of your body. It is something people of all ages can do.”

Mrs Kellie added: “Among our group on Saturday was a little girl, and it can even be done sitting down.”

Sue, who also teaches tai chi, will be introducing qi gong at the community centre classes in January.

In August, she travelled to the University of Hertfordshire in Hatfield to enter the third European Health Qi Gong Games, where there were teams and individual entrants from all across Europe, alongside entrants from Sri Lanka, Canada and the United States.

Sue was part of Team BHCA Four Counties and they performed Dao Yin Yang Shen Gong Shi Er Fa, the 12 health preservation Exercises.

They were up against teams from elsewhere in the UK, France, and China and won a team bronze for their troubles.

It was the first time these people had competed as a team.

Marie said: “We are so pleased to have Sue teach a programme of tai chi classes suitable for the beginner or improver with East Hampshire Leisure Learning based at Alton Community Centre.”

For more details abou the sessions available, call 01420 85057.