Tai Chi

• Is a very low-impact exercise for body, mind and spirit
  
  
• Has been around for over 1,000 years
  
  
• Has been shown to improve overall health, reduce stress, and help one to achieve a state of inner peace.
  
  
• Increases flexibility and ability to move the joints in the body, as well as improve balance and cooRDInation
  
  
• Helps improve muscle strength and body posture
  
  
• Is a good exercise program for people of all fitness levels, even for those who have not exercised in the past.
  
  
• Is even suggested as a good form of exercise for the elderly
  
  
• Is safe throughout one’s entire pregnancy
  
  
• Has been called meditation in motion because it combines meditation and physical activity
  
  
• Also offers a philosophy of life that helps you learn the principles of balance, moderation, and respect for nature.
  
  

Tai Chi means the “supreme – ultimate” form of exercise.

Tai Chi originated as a form of martial arts, but is also used to improve health and increase longevity.

Tai Chi teaches the principle of “meridians”, which are our body’s energy systems. AccoRDIng to Chinese Medicine, Tai Chi is thought to be able to improve the functioning of your brain and internal organs. Furthermore, Tai Chi is thought to help regulate your body chemistry by aiding in hormone release and improving the function of your endocrine system. This can be especially beneficial during pregnancy when hormonal imbalances may be more common.

Tai Chi is often thought of as Chinese Yoga, but in actuality they are performed in different ways. Tai Chi is done while standing, while Yoga involves bending down, lying on the floor, and holding postures for extended time periods. For this reason Yoga is not recommended during all stages of pregnancy and may be difficult for those who are older.

In Tai Chi practice, movement is always slow and you are always standing upright. This helps to decrease the chance for injury, is safe throughout pregnancy for most women, and even most elderly people.

Because Tai Chi is a Chinese cultural art form, it is best to learn it from a Chinese Tai Chi master or by another instructor who has been properly trained by a Chinese Tai Chi Master.

Tai Chi is much more than fitness exercises; it is also a philosophy of life that teaches us about the essence of life. To properly learn Tai Chi and it’s philosophy one must spend years studying under an actual Tai Chi Master. One must also study Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu and the I Ching in order to fully learn the philosophy of Tai Chi and be able to teach it properly. This is why choosing the right instructor is so important. Before becoming a true Master of Tai Chi, one must study it for about 20 years. It is also preferable that your teacher also be trained in other Chinese martial arts, in addition to Tai Chi, such as Qigong and Kung Fu.

Also, because Tai Chi is part of Chinese Medicine, your teacher should be trained in the practice of that as well.

There are several names and styles of Tai Chi, such as Chen, Wu, Yang, and Sun. These names reflect the different villages where the styles were developed. It is believed by most historians that the first style of Tai Chi was the Chen style, other styles came from the Chen.