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Tai Chi. What is Tai Chi?. Tai Chi Chuan can be translated as “Supreme Ultimate Force.” Many people think of Tai Chi as a mixture of yoga and meditation combined. It is also a type of martial arts that is expressed slowly and freely throughout the entire body. Types of tai chi.
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What is Tai Chi? • Tai Chi Chuan can be translated as “Supreme Ultimate Force.” Many people think of Tai Chi as a mixture of yoga and meditation combined. It is also a type of martial arts that is expressed slowly and freely throughout the entire body.
Types of tai chi • Chen Style Tai Chi-Chen style Tai Chi Chuan is the oldest form of Tai Chi from which all the other styles derived. Chen style is known for its lower stances, silk reeling, jumps, stamps and Fa Jing encapsulated within a smooth flowing powerful form. • Yang Style Tai Chi Chuan- Yang Style Taiji is recognized for large and relatively simplified movements which along with sponsorship form the Chinese Government have helped to make Yang Style one of the most popular styles of Tai Chi practiced in the world today. • Sun Style Tai Chi Chuan- Sun-style Tai Chi is recognised by its small high postures with flowing movements forwards and backwards accompanied by connected arms movements.
Types of Tai Chi cont. • Guang Ping Tai Chi-Guangping Tai Chi Chuan clearly illustrates the historical and lineage link between the Chen Family and the Yang Family Taijiquan. The form incorporates a solid differentiation between yin and yang, as well as a number of well-defined silk drawing movements. • 8 Diamond Form Tai Chi Chuan (8 Energies)-8 Diamond Form Tai Chi Chuan Form is based on the foundations of the eight key energies: peng, lu, ji, an, leigh, tsai, kao, zhao. These energies are fundamental to the practice and development of any Tai Chi Chuan Form and any Tai Chi Chuan practitioner. This form is short and accessible with a wealth of depth and knowledge to be found in its simplicity, all the principals and concepts that underpin all Tai Chi Chuan and internal martial arts.
History • The term Tai Chi has been in the Chinese language for a very long time. It is used in philosophy, religion, literature, art, medicine and even astronomy. Now when we think of Tai Chi, we relate it to Tai Chi the martial art. A great deal of effort was spent on finding the origin of this ancient Chinese martial art. The problem with researching the history of Tai Chi is the lack of precise written records and the fact that CNN wasn't in China then! Many books talked about Tai Chi being invented by a Taoist priest named Chang San Feng and just as many books believed that Tai Chi was invented by one of the martial art masters from the Chen village in the mid 1600's.
History cont. • It is not the purpose of this web page to prove nor dispute the aforementioned theories, but to put them forth for your own analysis. For what it is worth, my belief is that Tai Chi as a martial art has been around for much longer than 300 years and cannot be attributed to one individual. Through the cumulating of many years of hard work by the masses, Tai Chi had evolved.
Statistics • Use in the United States • A 2007 survey by the National Center for Health Statistics and the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) on Americans' use of CAM found that 1 percent of the more than 23,300 adults surveyed had used tai chi in the past 12 months. Adjusted to nationally representative numbers, this means more than 2.3 million adults. • People practice tai chi for various health-related purposes, such as: • For benefits associated with low-impact, weight-bearing, aerobic exercise • To improve physical condition, muscle strength, coordination, and flexibility • To improve balance and decrease the risk of falls, especially in elderly people • To ease pain and stiffness—for example, from osteoarthritis • To improve sleep • For overall wellness.
How do you start? • Some people feel more comfortable with doing tai chi on their own because it is a sense of self being. Others like tai chi in a group because of a since of unity. It is always good to have an open mind in while doing tai chi and also having a good open space that makes one calm.
Important factors! • Throughout the form, the body remains soft and relaxed, as if suspended from the top of the head and the joints like a puppet. The mind is centered on each movement, assessing the alignment and correctness of the form, focusing on feeling the flow from substantial to insubstantial in each movement, fending off distractions. Breathing is through the nose, slow and even, inhaling during contractions, exhaling during expansions of the form.
Be careful!!! • Side Effects and Risks • Tai chi is a relatively safe practice. However, there are some cautions: • As with any exercise regimen, if you overdo practice, you may have sore muscles or sprains. • Tai chi instructors often recommend that you do not practice tai chi right after a meal, or when you are very tired, or if you have an active infection. • If you are pregnant, or if you have a hernia, joint problems, back pain, fractures, or severe osteoporosis, your health care provider may advise you to modify or avoid certain postures in tai chi.
If you go to http://northcarolina.usa.taoist.org/schedule-nc.htm • There is more information about going to Raleigh, North Carolina and participating in tai chi classes.
Works Cited • http://www.chebucto.ns.ca/Philosophy/Taichi/what.html • Picture : http://www.dconadime.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/tai-chi.gif • Picture : http://www.visitreykjavik.is/Portaldata/1/Resources/events/taichi.jpg • http://www.taichiacademy.com/abouttaichi.htm • http://www.uktqf.co.uk/Tai-Chi/Types-of-Tai-Chi/Types-of-Tai-Chi.html • http://nccam.nih.gov/health/taichi/
