Below are some pointers to ponder on (for beginners and those who have medical problems):

Precaution #1

Never attempt to learn Tai Chi through instruction manuals and online videos. The book can only tell you what to do and what are the basic principles behind every move but it will not actually exhibit the right or wrong positions. Trying to imitate the Tai Chi DVDs can be quite a hag.

They will make you want to try and learn but will be very hard for you to keep on pushing the stop-rewind-play-stop-rewind-play-fast forward buttons just to catch up on their instructions. Things like this will never tell you if you have made a mistake in your performance. They will just go on and on. Besides, if you have a particular question in mind, your manuals and videos will not make the slightest effort to answer you.

It is always safe to learn from someone who is experienced enoughed to teach you, PERSONALLY, the basics. Once you have learned the difference between the right and wrong technique, that’s the right time to practice with your manual or video. Beginners should take note of this very seriously.

Precaution #2

Upon entering a Tai Chi program, you should choose the teacher who will instruct you. You have to make sure that he or she is experienced enough to entertain any of your needs or questions regarding Tai Chi. This is very important especially for those who are currently experiencing arthritis or heart problems because there are certain movements that can be straining and may contribute more to the pain.

In cases of joint pains and flares, always consult your doctor about it. Ask him what are the appropriate movements that can’t produce further pain. Tell your instructor about your condition so that he may have an idea on what would be more appropriate for your condition.

Precaution #3

You should always warm up before and then cool down and take a quick rest after. You may not think Tai Chi as a vigorous and strenuous kind of exercise but mind you, it keeps the muscles and joints working overtime.

Precaution #4

If there is a need to modify, then do it for as long as it is necessary. Because there are many Tai Chi movements that are in need of your whole to produce a perfect position. But if you have some unseen involvement that may cause your performance to become blur, then drop the original movements then modify it.

Precaution #5

If you can’t do it, don’t push it. Exerting yourself just to let everyone see is like stressing yourself in the most painful manner. Tai chi is a process in which it is meditative and not stressful so don’t push yourself to movements that aren’t possible for you to perform.

Practice. This won’t harm you. And it will only take you at least half an hour to complete an hour’s program. Tai Chi is indeed a perfect exercise for meditative purposes. But don’t mistake it with other vigorous exercises that promise weight loss or weight gain, nice abs, etc.

Tai Chi in the Medical Aspect

Tai Chi grew as one of the most effective exercise to treat, prevent and boost certain systems in the human’s body. Classes were included in hospital programs that involve arthritis problems as their main course. It is also popular in clinics, senior and community centers and as well as those places wherein stress management is applied.

Stress, one of the leading causes of many ailments today is present almost everywhere. It can be a pinch or a bundle of stress. It is common in workplaces wherein you meet deadlines every waking day. It has been concluded that, with the help of the principles of Tai Chi and what it is doing to the body, stress can be reduced or better yet, eliminated and prevented. Some of these workplaces include Tai Chi as one of their programs for their beloved employees.

Self-defense, Aesthetic or Physical and Mental Benefits?

Tai Chi is both. Although, the result of its popularity in the modern world made people’s opinion has broken into three dividing beliefs. This is true especially to those who are already applying and practicing it. But however the opinions may pave its way, it always depends on how it is done. If you are practicing Tai Chi because you wanted peace of mind, body and soul, then be it. If you are using it for aesthetic (wushu) purposes, then let it be done that way. But if you enrolled in a Tai Chi class because you believe in the power of Tai Chi to help you get through defending yourself, then, for you, Tai Chi is for self-defense.

Thing is, wushu is made only for show. The forms that were done and taught are all designed to amass points in a competition. Wushu techniques are really not concerned with any of the physical, mental and martial art aspect of Tai Chi. Instead, it is done to impress judges of certain tournaments.

But traditional stylists has this belief that martial arts and health are strictly necessary in the convergence of Tai Chi. Elements of the yin and yang must be there. Tai Chi schools still include their teachings in a martial art concept whatever their students’ intentions may be.

Tai Chi, like Yoga, is one of the fastest and most famous growing health maintenance and fitness program in the U.S.

Tournaments

A standardized form of Tai Chi competition, wushu had made it big as a Chinese sport. Rules for the competition were made to be succeeded within six minutes. It was formed by the Chinese Sports Committee and made many different forms of the competition.

Modern versions have become a very integral part of the international tournament. Tai Chi has also been included in movies and in very important competitions like the Asian Games.

First, know some facts about Tai Chi. Tai Chi and Tai Chi Chuan is not different after all. There might be an additional character on the latter but the meaning stands the same. Tai Chi is just the shorter version. Tai Chi Chuan means “Supreme Ultimate Fist”. It is derived from a series of kung fu techniques so it can be applied as both a therapeutic activity and a medium of self-defense.

Range in the number of students in each class varies but you can expect about 20-30 students in each class. The age factor is between teens and up to the 90s. This art is not common for children though, because the slow movements will just bore them. But most likely, classes like this target people from the early twenties and so on. Men and women alike can enroll in the class. It is quite seldom to see a men-only or women-only class within a Tai Chi program. Generally, it is much more beneficial if men and women mix because of the energy that elevates inside the class.

Being fit is not a requirement. It’s okay if you are stout, thin, overweight or so. Even those who are permanently attached to their wheelchairs can adapt to the movements of Tai Chi. But a certain attention is required. But if you have undergone certain medical treatments, ask your doctor if Tai Chi is really meant for you because if it is contraindicated, might as well drop it. And if your doctor has approved with your Tai Chi, tell your teacher about your disability so he can adjust or restrict movements that you can’t handle.

Tai Chi is both an exercise and a martial art. But there are teachers that give out only the movements that are purely for health. There would be like at least 80% of those who are engaged in the art embrace the idea of Tai Chi being an art. So if you think that you are the type who needs self defense more than an exercise, you can achieve this in some art that exhibits kung fu actions than health exercises. But if you are the type who wants the best of both worlds, Tai Chi is best for you.

Tai Chi is a form of internal martial art that is characterized by soft movements and is trained to be a relaxing and slower speed than other kinds of martial art.

If you keep on thinking what to wear on a Tai Chi class, you don’t have to shop for cool clothes. Special clothing is not a requirement. You just have to wear something really comfortable like snickers, T-shirts and jogging pants. Remember, it must be something that would allow you to move freely while performing every move. Never wear jeans or any constrictive clothing.

Things to expect while in a Tai Chi class are Qigong, which means meditation that is done by moving your body, or otherwise is in a stationary state. Push hands or what is known as tui shou, is an exercise that requires two persons who exchange energy by performing movements leveled with each other. You can also expect the use of weapons like swords.

These will be used in advanced classes and those who enroll are the ones who have already experienced the basics.

Tai Chi has already proven a lot of things since its emergence during ancient China. Scientific studies proved that Tai Chi is not only a form of exercise for daily living but also a moving treatment for those who need medical help inside and out. Tai Chi implored many benefits aside from improvement of flexibility and maintaining fitness.

Some of these benefits are: integrating the mind to be one with the body and spirit, improving qi (internal energy), promote correct posture of the body, it is one of the easiest exercises to learn, inexpensive and it can be suitable for any age.

Battling Arthritis

Arthritis is the inflammation of bones most specifically, the joints. It can be caused by numerous factors like diet, age, obesity, etc. It can be very aggravating during parts of the day because the person who has this illness can experience stiffness and pain that somehow tends to discourage those experiencing it to move or engage in exercise.

But if that person will not make even the simplest exercise moves to battle out arthritis, it will get much worse every waking day because the joints will continue to “rust” and this will contribute to more pain. However, if you will participate in exercise programs such as Tai Chi, which is diagnosed to be very effective in preventing arthritis severity, it will keep your bones, joints and muscles healthy.

It is irrefutable; exercise is indeed part of the therapeutic aspect to prevent arthritis especially in older ones. By keeping the tissues and muscles strong, it can further protect and support the joints. Once exercise is facilitated, it will promote proper circulation and provide body fluid and nourished blood to the tendons, muscles and joints which are said to promote healing.

There are 4 kinds of the most suitable Tai Chi exercises that a person may perform.

1. Muscle Strengthening
Exercises like these increase and maintain the strength of the muscles. It will minimize further injuries that may occur and reduce the pain so as to improve muscle strength and give you the capability to do more than less.

2. Flexibility
This reduces the stiffness thus keeping the joints more flexible. Range-of-motion exercises can help you move joints that are affected in different directions. By doing Tai Chi, it will increase a person’s flexibility.

3. Posture
Promoting the correct posture through exercises has proven the ability to decrease the wearing of muscles and joints. This also helps excavate the positive emotions in you.

4. Fitness
Cardio-respiratory exercises or fitness exercises are those that help in strengthening the lungs and heart and increasing the person’s stamina that are all important in maintaining proper health. Tissues and joints always need the proper supply of oxygen for rejuvenation and healing.

Through Tai Chi, better blood and oxygen circulation is promoted which in return will keep the muscles strong and joints flexible.

With the use of the concept of the positive and negative energy, Tai Chi is a form of force that can be assumed as a dual dynamic state in which force coming from within the body is used in means of achieving the supreme and ultimate discipline in oneself.

Today, Tai Chi is practiced in many parts of the world including the Western World. It can be a sort of moving meditation and yoga combined. Tai Chi has its many forms or sets that consist of a number of sequential movements that was derived from martial arts that can be in the form of imitating the movements of different kinds of birds and animals in the most gentle and invigorating way. Even if it is a kind of movement involving martial arts, Tai Chi is done in a soft and graceful manner entailing smooth transitions in between.

Practitioners see Tai Chi as a form of meditative interaction between the mind, body, soul and the environment. They don’t see it as a martial art technique but as an exercise to calm the body. Some consider Tai Chi as a combat interest because of its considerable force.

With regards to Chinese medicine and philosophy, the existence of “chi” is important to the vitality that enables to animate the body. One of the many aims of Tai Chi is to promote circulation of the “chi” throughout the body. By promoting this belief, the vitality and health of a person is normally enhanced. Once the “chi” circulates around the body, it goes to the pattern of the vascular and nervous system and any organ correlated to it. Thus, making Tai Chi connected with the principles of oriental healing and acupuncture.

One of the most familiar aims of Tai Chi is fostering the calmness and tranquility of the mind. One’s mind must be focused on executing the exercise precisely because doing it in a proper manner provides an avenue to learn things about balance, motor control, alignment, movement rhythm, and the list goes on. If the person practicing Tai Chi can practice it every day, then he or she will reach to the extent of being able to stand, run, move, and walk in a better position. It also touches some of the spheres in a person’s life as well.

There are numerous benefits seen by practitioners regarding Tai Chi. One of which is inhibiting the correct posture and alignment of the body which lessens further injuries and tension.

Push-hands is a kind of Tai Chi that involves two persons. Here, principles regarding Tai Chi are applied in a manner that the response of the other person is developed in a more sensitive way. It is an opportunity to exhibit martial arts aspects in a kind of a slow motion combat, without hurting the opponent.

An emphasis that Tai Chi has channeled through its practitioners is that they can give out an energy that may be in a form of a destructive behavior or context without dissipating that energy in a harmful way.

Practicing Tai Chi need not command certain limitations like traveling through distance, space availability, appropriate attire and equipments for practice, weather conditions, and overwhelming fees. Tai Chi is an exercise that you can perform consistently due to its features that is not bounded by certain conditions.

Benefits of Tai Chi
Looking Tai Chi in a different way can make you cultivate its many wonderful benefits. It’s up to the person on how he or she would use the benefits to his or her advantage.

General – Benefits in general are those that comprises of the whole person including mind, body and spirit. Tai Chi serves as a tool for developing dynamics and possibilities. If practiced at a daily basis, it will facilitate longevity and promote good health. Through its meditative aspect, it provides sufficient relaxation that eliminates accumulated stress and tension which in return, revitalizes and nurtures the body. The principle of perseverance and self-discipline are also cultivated.

Occupational – The benefits in which it provides individuals who are working their butts off to be able to release a relative amount of tension and stress that is acquired upon working. Tai Chi provides training for the awareness of stressful and inefficient patterns of motion that are non-productive and debilitating to the physical aura of the body. After performing for 30 minutes, at least, the individual will feel more the significance of Tai Chi through its rejuvenating and revitalizing effects.

Geriatric – Benefits regarding old people can be numerous. First, Tai Chi provides opportunities for adults in the older stage to experience exercises that can be good for their health. Tai Chi is an exercise that can be done, in observance and precaution, by anyone especially those belonging in the geriatric stage.

Now, older adults can perform exercises without restrictions or limitations through the practice of Tai Chi. There are different movements which Tai Chi is concerned about. A lot of people can do certain range of motion even if they are at a standing or sitting position. It overcomes an individual’s incapacity to a possible state.

For the newcomers and older people, Tai Chi is an easy grasp because of the slow, smooth movements. The result? Internal and external health that brings a motivational vitality that is lacking in individuals that are aging. Therefore, Tai Chi can bring about significance to those lacking or needing exercise.

Advantages

1.Affordable. No special, expensive equipments needed to start the session. Clothing can be of any kind for as long as it keeps you moving freely and is comfortable. The environment can be outdoors or indoors, windy, cloudy, sunny, name it.

2.It can be a nice way of socializing.

3.Tai Chi is a progressive exercise that becomes more effective and intriguing.

4.It is pleasurable and interesting.

People in workplaces always wanted something more out of their lives. Something more… Or probably, something to cool them down whiles their working. To relieve the stress of falling apart or having some kind of emotional breakdown just because their boss made them do tons of paper works. And when all hell breaks loose, that’s when the invigorating idea of doing Tai Chi comes in.

Some of the workplaces in certain parts of the world like London are adapting this area to their employees. Goes to show that they are concerned about how stress can tumble down an entire floor.

Tai Chi is important because it can improve employees’ well-being and health. It is also very effective in reducing the amount of stress flowing inside the body thus making you more resistant to long hours of work. There are three things that Tai Chi can do for the body and can be an advantage to those working eight hours a day, seven days a week:

• Manage level of stress effectively.

• Improve the productivity of employees thus making them do more than less.

• Reduce absences that are unnecessary.

Tai Chi is typically one of a kind. It endorses different kinds of advantages to the person adapting it by physically rejuvenating your body and relaxing your mind to let you start your day with a happy heart. It is both relaxation and meditation in which is both a very important contributing factor to manage the negative effects of stress. Relaxation is useful in releasing any kind of tension inside the body. While meditation makes the mind focus.

There are things that you have to take note of about Tai Chi the moment you incorporate it with your work.

a. Make sure that you have appropriate time to practice it.
Tai Chi is not a fast food chain wherein you can order something then have it “to go”. It is always something to look forward to. Once you have decided to apply in the Tai Chi program, you have to treat it like a lunch meeting or a church seminar. Yes, that important.

b. Have a certain level of patience in you (especially during the first few days).
Though Tai Chi seems easy to do, there are still people who find difficulty performing it. Especially for those beginners and new timers, they will always have trouble in doing some of the movements. But that’s all right because everyone experiences that. All you have to instill in that brain of yours is to have a self-supporting patience that won’t fail you when the movements get tough.

Everyone will agree to the idea that physical activities are important to reduce the negative effects of stress. Physical activities washes out the toxins and hormones that contribute to stress while increasing the adrenalin that people can definitely use in their work.

Tai Chi can raise your self-esteem and the way you feel about work.

History

Chen style was developed more than 350 years ago. This was during the time of the Ching Dynasty. Chen Wang Ting, who lived in Chen Village, was the one who introduced and taught the martial art. He was an experienced commander in the military who is an expert in medical skills. He based his art and teachings through his family’s fighting skills and combined it with his external resources. His knowledge was passed from generation to generation but was exclusively meant for the men of Chen Village.

Hundreds of years have passed. It was not so long ago since the art was disclosed to the people. And as time has wandered, so is the Chen style. It reached parts outside the village and it resulted in the people accepting and making other styles of Tai Chi.

The history of Chen Tai Chi brought about different characteristics to the styles used in Kung Fu. The core always comes down to two important principles: external and internal. It’s all the same principle. Externally, every physical movement is made visible while in the internal aspect, energy is used to move the body. Without thought there is no chi and therefore, no motion.

Principles and Beliefs

Before engaging in Tai Chi, whatever style it might be, people must first understand the components of Yin and Yang. Opposing properties’ balance is created in a strong aura to unify the moves in Kung Fu.

In due time, Chen style Tai Chi brings coordination and balance internally to the entire aspect of the body. In return, the body will become more aware of its surroundings and will use it for its advantage as a sort of self-defense.

Tai Chi, in general, looks timid empty and timid but if identified more clearly, one will realize that it is the internal balance that one must achieve. Spiraling circular movements are used to transfer the internal chi inside the body.

The mind is also an important part of the entire martial art. It is focused on the applications of Tai Chi for combat and emanate proper health that will circulate through the entire nervous system. The most important aspect about Tai Chi is that it has the capacity to energize the blood that will be most beneficial to the systems inside the body.

Chen Style Explained

Chen style Tai Chi is one of the hardest and the most difficult type of Tai Chi to learn. It requires a high level of art that is needed in the demands of life. Primarily, Chen style is concerned on self-defense but as it progresses, it offers more namely wisdom about kinetics, physiology, psychology, aesthetics, and body mechanics.

Chen is characterized by a deep stance, twists and circles, and a pace that is varied. The hand is formed as the index fingers of both hands are extended in an angle that forms a plane. The pace varies from a standing position and explosive powerful moves.

As an exercise, Tai Chi can increase the strength of muscles and enhance the flexibility and balance of a person. Those who practice Tai Chi is exploiting the powers of yin and yang therefore the exercise are designed to especially express the forces in a harmonious and balanced form.

Not only can Tai Chi relax the mind and the soul but also prevent the extent of certain illnesses to spread through the body. It is a very good way of maintaining health. Tai Chi is not a disease curing technique but can be complemented as a form of therapy.

Balance

One of the major causes of disability and death among the elderly is loss of coordination or in more ways than one, falling. By practicing Tai Chi, balance in older people can improve thus reducing the risk of falling.

Arthritis

Tai Chi can be used to increase the range of motion without even causing a twinge of pain to the arthritic joint plus improving the flexibility of the bones and strengthening the surrounding muscles. It is not to be addressed that Tai Chi can cure the disease itself but it only lessens its severity and the contributing pain by working on those joints as early as possible.

Circulation

Problems regarding the circulatory process of the heart can be remedied by involving oneself in Tai Chi. By practicing Tai Chi, it can enable the heart to pump enough blood throughout the body and thereby improving the system’s circulation.

Multiple Sclerosis

Through Tai Chi, a person can reduce the risk of having, in time, multiple sclerosis. This was stated under foremost studies that Tai Chi can improve the mental and physical well-being of a person.

Stress

Studies show that stress is one of the major causes of numerous diseases and disorders that is why there have been ways used to lessen a person’s stress. One of which is engaging in Tai Chi. As a meditation function, Tai Chi can reduce the production of toxins and hormones that contributes to stress reflected into the organs in the body.

For your Tai Chi experience to become more reproductive and effective, choose a practitioner that is a master of the different aspects and knows what is best for your present day situation.

There are no age limits when it comes to practicing Tai Chi. Everyone is welcome to join. Although, if you are really old and can no longer take such vigorous activities, better consult your physician on what is best before engaging in Tai Chi.

Always remember to inform your instructor of any health problems that you have so that he or she can make certain measures to provide you with the ability to do such movements. Tai Chi must not make you feel any pain. If you do feel any pain, tell your instructor right away.

Core training has two features primarily: the solo form, which emphasizes slow sequence of movements maintaining a straight and firm spine, range of motion and fine abdominal breathing; and the Push Hands which involve training of the principles of movement in a more practical and convenient way.

As the word implies, the solo form of Tai Chi, requires only the one person to conquer the movements. It would take the students through a natural and complete range of motion over gravity’s center. If repeated accurately, the practice of the solo form can retain posture, maintain honest flexibility going through the joints and muscles, encourage proper circulation from any point of the student’s body, and let students be more familiarized with some of the important martial art application sequences that are usually implied by the different forms.

Major styles of traditional Tai Chi have forms that somewhat differ from the others, cosmetically. Some differ in the wave of the hands, in the position of the legs, the reaction of the body and the pace of the movement. But these are all irrelevant because what is important to Tai Chi training is that it benefits not only the body but the mind as well. Although, there are many similarities coming from the point of their common origin that are obvious enough to recognize.

Solo forms, weapons and empty-hands are movements that are commonly practiced individually in martial arts application and pushing hands. Scenarios like these are intended to prepare the students for training of self-defense.

The philosophy goes: if one becomes stiff and equally uses hardness in attending to violence, otherwise resisting it, then it is expected that both sides can be injured at a certain degree. An injury like that is a Tai Chi theory that coincides with the consequence of fighting brute with brute, which, in Tai Chi is far beyond the right attitude and style.

Unlike in other martial arts wherein force is applied to some measure, in Tai Chi, students are taught that instead of battling it out or directly resisting an incoming force, they should meet it with the must subtle movements and softness, following every attacking motion and in the end, exhausting the attacking force. This is all done while remaining at a close contact manner. This is the principle wherein the yin and yang is applied. If this method is done correctly, the yin-yang balance in combating is the primary goal of training Tai Chi.

Aside from that, Tai Chi schools also focus their attention on how the energy of a striking person affects his opponent. For example, the palm can strike physically looking the same and performing the same but has a different and dramatic effect on the target.

A palm can strike and push the person either forward or backward. It is done in such a way that the opponents are lifted vertically from the ground thus breaking and deforming their center of gravity.

After which, this technique can literary terminate the striking force within the body of the person with the dearest intention of causing traumatic internal damage.