Tai Chi
How can Tai Chi help you?
The benefits of Tai Chi may include:
- Decreased stress, anxiety and depression
- Improved mood
- Improved aerobic capacity
- Increased energy and stamina
- Improved flexibility, balance, and agility
- Improved muscle strength and definition (Mayo Clinic)
Overview
Tai Chi is a series of gentle physical exercises and stretches. Each posture flows into the next without pause, ensuring that your body is in constant motion. Tai chi is sometimes described as Meditation in motion because it promotes serenity through gentle movements — connecting the mind and body. (Mayo Clinic)
Tai Chi was created based on nature and harmony. The gentle flowing movements contain inner power that strengthens the body, improves mental balance, and is said to bring better health and harmony to people’s lives. (Tai Chi for Health Institute)
Tai Chi is an ancient martial art literally translated as “Supreme Ultimate Force” which became popular in China due to its natural proactive health benefits. It was promoted through the country as a health regime which would help people maintain their mental, physical and energetic health, even through the elderly years.
Tai Chi is an internal martial art that combines philosophy, martial arts, well-being and self-awareness. Considered “moving meditation”, Tai Chi requires focus of the mind and body synchronized with slow, controlled movements. This low-impact exercise, practiced with relaxed muscles, improves natural posture alignment, balance, and internal energy.
It provides multiple health and physical benefits to a range of people from those with recovering health to those who are physically active already.
Traditional Tai Chi forms include over 80 moves that take approximately 20 to 30 minutes to perform. (JI Hong Tai Chi and Qi Gong, Mississauga, ON)
Tai Chi (pronounced “tie chee”) and Qi Gong (pronounced “chee goong” or “chee gong”) are traditional Chinese movement exercises. They are based on two ideas:
- Energy, called qi or chi, flows through the body along “energy pathways” called meridians. If the flow of chi is blocked or unbalanced at any point on a pathway, it is thought that you may become ill. You do tai chi and qi gong to increase energy (chi or qi) flow and improve health through gentle, graceful, repeated movements.
- Nature, including the body, consists of opposing forces called yin and yang. Good health results when these forces are in balance. You do Tai Chi and Qi Gong movements in an attempt to help restore the body’s balance of yin and yang.
Tai Chi is a series of movements done either very slowly or quickly to help move the body’s chi. People use tai chi as a way to combine meditation and movement and to improve and maintain health.
Qi Gong involves different movements that may be done in different orders. Some common qi gong movements include raising and lowering the arms, moving the head from side to side, and gently rubbing the ears, feet, and hands.
Tai Chi may also work well with
Tai Chi is commonly used to work with
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