Did you know the Yang style Tai Chi Chuan form can have up to 108 postures? This ancient Chinese martial art is known for its graceful movements and health benefits. It has many forms and styles, including Yang and Chen, two of the most well-known. Tai chi forms vary in complexity and number of postures. … Read more
Although developed as a martial art, tai chi the past several decades has seen Western nations develop it as a form of physical fitness and exercise. The meditative, overall health benefits that tai chi offers have been focused in many cases to treat certain debilitating conditions, both mental and physical. The following ailments, issues and … Read more
Each of the five traditional schools of Tai Chi taught a slightly different style of the art, rooted in the unique styles of the Yang, Chen, Wu (Hao), Wu, and Sun families. These five families, also known as schools, influenced the various forms of Tai Chi, as we know it today and they all stem … Read more
Did you know Tai Chi book publications in the U.S. have grown by 300% since the 1980s? This rise is due to more Chinese teachers coming to America and Westerners traveling to the East for training. Now, finding the right tai chi instruction books for beginners is both easier and harder. The best beginner-friendly books … Read more
While mind-body exercise and fitness are relatively new to the West, many of the formats used here have much longer histories. Some of the most popular mind-body exercise formats, yoga, Tai Chi chuan, Qigong and other martial arts, emerged in the East approximately 2,000 to 5,000 years ago as part of integrated spiritual, medicinal, philosophy … Read more
Beginners considering taking up tai chi for its many mental and physical benefits may be wondering what specific movements they should try. A good starting place is with Tai Chi Chih, a set of 19 movements and a single pose for meditation. This focuses on your development of natural, intrinsic energy known as chi. Beginners … Read more
The Taoist monk Zhang Sanfeng is believed to have founded Tai Chi Chuan, although many scholars debate whether he was simply a legend or an actual person. Scholars even debate the time period of his life. Some believe that he lived and founded Tai Chi in the 12th century (when Neo-Confucian principles spread among intellectuals), … Read more
Affiliate Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases made through the affiliate links in this article at no extra cost to you. Devoted tai chi practitioners should definitely own a pair of leather or canvas Tai Chi shoes with rubber soles made specifically for this ancient Far East physical practice. The same … Read more
Tai Chi offers a wide variety of health benefits and is both a preventive and a complementary therapy for a wide range of conditions. In fact, many people are drawn to Tai Chi for this very reason. From arthritis to depression to heart failure, Tai Chi improves many physical and mental disorders and diseases. Some … Read more
Affiliate Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases made through the affiliate links in this article at no extra cost to you. Tai chi is perfect as a physical and mental fitness regimen for older adults. The low impact form of exercise is also ideal if you have a problem with strength … Read more