If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!

Taoist Philosophy
To
understand the purpose of the form it is important to understand its basis and
roots.

The origins of Tai Chi go back over 5,000 years and are based
in Taoist philosophy developed and refined by the great Taoist thinkers such
as, Tao Te Ching, Lao Tzu and Chuang Tzu.

The core concept of Taoism
and Taoist philosophy is that everything in the universe is subject to change
and when dealing with this change we should act not to fight it but work with
it and avoid conflict.

The core Of Taoism is that action should always
be effortless and come from spontaneous creativity, but this should not require
mental or physical effort.

According to Taoist philosophy change is constant
but, by understanding change and acting in accordance with the laws that govern
it, we can work effortlessly to achieve our aims.

Taoism is about working
within the laws of change, not struggling to oppose them, this is seen as futile
and a waste of energy.

In Tai Chi this manifests itself in that a posture
will always be difficult and a struggle, unless there is union of mind and body,
to make the move an effortless interaction.

Yin and Yang
Another
concept in Chinese philosophy related to change is yin and yang.

These
two opposing, yet complimentary forces are constantly at work in the universe
and in our lives.

Yin and yang are the basis of change but they also
come together in harmony to create a balanced whole.

The simplest example
of this is breathing. We breathe in and we breathe out - an opposing action
that comes together to create balance and harmony. Change and harmony, is the
basis of yin and yang and of Tai Chi.

The principles of yin and yang
are reflected in the form the sequence of movements that make up the Tai Chi
discipline.

The form is actually a sequence of movements that flow continuously
representing both change and harmony.

A movement begins, grows completes
and empties then another begins until the sequence is completed.

The
Tai Chi Philosophy
The aim of the Tai Chi form is to create streams of
energy to flow through the body.

In the philosophy of Tai Chi, it is
said Chi (life energy) follows the mind; each posture and movement creates a
different energy flow, which, has a beneficial overall affect on overall well-being.

Tai
Chi stimulates circulation, aligns the skeleton and joints correctly, stimulates
the organs of the body and helps digestion.

It increases muscle tone,
strength, improves balance and co ordination and improves breathing.

Tai
Chi does not just provide physical benefits; by raising energy levels, it also
affects the mind and the spirit.

Tai Chi focuses thought, so that mind
and body energy works together as one.

Tai Chi reflects both Taoism in
terms of effortless interaction and yin and yang in terms of reconciling two
opposing forces, to create harmony and equilibrium. This combination is the
very essence of the Tai Chi philosophy.

Re Vitalise offer a warm welcome to both novice and experienced pupils. In addition to offering, regular Tai Chi tuition there are several weekend breaks available. To learn more about our services go to:
http://www.re-vitalise.co.uk

Those of you that have either completed a one-on-one program, purchased an on-line program or have read anything else that I have written in the past have most likely determined by now and realize it is quite evident… I am a huge supporter and advocate of integrated and phase-based training as optimized methods of health and fitness technologies/systemologies. And it wasn’t until I started researching Tai Chi as an alternative form of exercise (I have been exercising for three-and-a-half decades consistently) did I understand how such a slow-velocity activity can help decrease blood pressure, reduce stress, help develop a greater degree of coordination and diminish the number of falls experienced by the elderly. The affects of resistance and aerobic type activities and their impact on health is unequivocal. Resistance training improves strength and the development of lean muscle mass, as well as an increase in bone-density and cardiovascular training improves the efficiently of the heart, lungs and circulatory function while decreasing mortality rates. However, over the past few decades, Eastern practices such as Tai Chi and Yoga have complimented mainstream fitness training programs by demonstrating comparable health benefits to traditional fitness training. A closer look at Tai Chi is warranted and yes this is coming from a fitness coach who intrinsically knows and has meticulously practiced and has been the recipient of the absolute benefits of weight bearing exercise for over 30 years.

So… What is Tai Chi Anyway?

Tai Chi is pronounced as “Tie Chee.” Tai Chi can be translated from Chinese to English as “moving life force.” Tai Chi is a form of Martial Art that focuses on cultivating the flow of energy in the body by performing a slow, gentle and precise sequence of movements that channel potentially destructive energy away from the body. As you could probably gleen, Tai Chi requires a high level of concentration when performing a sequence of moves, called Forms. Historically practiced as a martial art, today Tai Chi is used as an alternative form of exercise that requires a greater degree of movement than yoga and eliminates the impact nature of many aerobic or cardio-respiratory type activities.

Vitality: The Health and Well-Benefits of Tai Chi

Talk about Synergy… The life force or energy in Tai Chi is believed to be in the form of the Yin and the Yang. Yin and Yang represent two opposite halves that come together to create a unified whole. Tai Chi finds its roots in Taoist philosophy, which adheres to the principle that optimum health is achieved through a balanced Chi, or life force. Balance is maintained through the use of focused, mindful breathing, precise execution of movements and by keeping the muscles active but relaxed. Imbalance can result in an array of health problems and a decrease in the over-all quality of life. Tai Chi is a moderate intensity exercise where aggregate energy expenditure is comparable to walking at a pace of 3.5 mph. Overt health benefits such as decreased stress, improved cardiovascular fitness, balance, muscle strength, coordinative reflexes, arthritis relief and flexibility in people of all ages have been reported. The practice of Tai Chi has also been linked to a reduction of falls and injury for the elderly, an important attribute given that one in three adults 65 years or older fall each year. Recent research also suggests Tai Chi to be an effective program in the reduction of blood pressure and blood lipid levels.

Integrating Tai Chi and Strength/Training.

Ahh…yes, a typical Tai Chi session can last five minutes to an hour depending on the experience and fitness and primary conditioning level of the participant. All sessions begin with a few minutes of meditation to calm the mind as well as the body, followed by a warm-up to increase blood-oxygen flow and body temperature. The forms are completed very slowly and consist of many sequential and continuous postural changes from the beginning to the end of the workout session, including both double stance and single stance weight-bearing maneuvers. The forms can be performed in a quick controlled pace to raise the heart rate and induce a greater aerobic intensity. Similarly, muscular effort can be increased by emphasizing knee bends, arms swings, twisting of the trunk and overall body recruitment when carrying out and finishing the forms. While the movements may look simple, proper execution of forms take months of practice. Since Tai Chi creates a state of tranquility, calmness and relaxation it is best to perform the activity on days off from your regular workouts. Depending on how much time you want to dedicate to exercise per week, you have a number of options to consider when planning your session. For example, if you perform an integrated circuit training or peak-intensive workout every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, you can incorporate a Tai Chi session on Tuesday and Saturday. Alternatively, you may complete the circuit on Monday and Thursday, followed by a short 20-minute cardio session on both days, and practice Tai Chi on Tuesday and Friday. It is absolutely up to you. Just remember… Give yourself ample time for rest, recuperation and regeneration.

Traditions…

The ancient Taoists were renowned for their study of the arts of health and longevity. The gentle movements of Taoist Tai Chi convey the essence of this tradition to the modern world. In over 25 countries around the globe, people are enjoying the many benefits of practicing Taoist Tai Chi in friendly atmospheric locales. Life is about balancing tasks while nourishing your mind, body and spirit. Combined with a proper fitness training program and nutrition, Tai Chi can provide the alternative form of movement that you have been searching for. Using a phase-based training approach, Tai Chi is a valuable form of exercise to help relax your body and replenish your energy stores from the intense fitness workouts you are accustomed to, so good luck and may God bless each and everyone of you.

-To Your Absolute Health, Kurt Lee Hurley

Kurt’s website http://www.kreatefitness.com, as well as his Provo Utah Private Fitness Facility Synergy Fitness Systems, specializes in in providing leading edge exercise and nutrition programs and a super premium supplement line. All of these superior products offer superior results.

Learning Tai Chi
Tai Chi combines movement, meditation and breathing,
to enhance the flow of vital energy in the body, to increase both physical and
mental well-being.

Tai Chi is one of the most broadly applicable systems
of self-care in the world and is suitable for both young and old alike.

In
China, it is estimated that 300 million people alone practice Tai Chi.

Tai
Chi however is not just practised in China, in the 20th century it spread throughout
the world and as we enter the 21st century, it is more popular than ever.

Tai
Chi - The Form
There are several styles of movement and approaches to
Tai Chi, some of them historic and some developed in recent years.

Each
has its own individual charteristics and carries the name of the clan or family
who developed it i.e. Yang, Chen, Wu, Sun etc.

All the principles of
Tai Chi are put into practice in a non stop sequence of moves called the form.

Each
Tai Chi style has its own distinctive way of presenting the form in terms of:
The postures included, the order in which they appear, the way they are performed
and finally, how long the form actually takes to complete.

Although the
different styles of Tai Chi present the form in different ways, the purpose
and the philosophy behind them is the same.

Tai Chi & Health
When
Tai Chi is practised, the movement creates streams of energy to flow through
the body.

In the philosophy of Tai Chi, it is said Chi (life energy)
follows the mind, each posture and movement creates a different energy flow
that, has a benifital overall affect on overall well-being.

Tai Chi stimulates
circulation, aligns the skeleton and joints correctly, stimulates the organs
of the body and helps digestion.

It increases muscle tone, strength,
improves balance and co ordination and improves breathing.

Tai Chi does
not just provide physical benefits; by raising energy levels, it also affects
the mind and the spirit.

Tai Chi focuses thought, so that mind and body
energy works together as one. When practising Tai Chi, people find that they
are not just physically fitter but, happier, more alert, have greater mental
focus and are more creative.

It is this harnessing of mental and physical
energy that makes Tai Chi not just a form of exercise; it makes it a life enhancing
experience.

Learning Tai Chi
Tai Chi is an exercise for people
of all ages and all levels of fitness.

The movements of Tai Chi are non-strenuous,
relaxed, slow moving, soft, and flowing.

It has often been described
as moving meditation, as it relieves stress and improves concentration.

It
is the gentleness and slowness of Tai Chi that makes it so applicable to everyone
as a form of exercise.

When you watch Tai Chi being performed, it looks
effortless but this comes from a considerable amount of practice.

When
taking up Tai Chi it is best to pick an experienced teacher, who can guide motivate
and encourage you. Simply, go with someone you are comfortable with.

The
style of Tai Chi you pick Chen, Yang, Wu, Sun or any other form, is down to
personal preference; the benefits described however apply to all styles.

Re Vitalise offer a warm welcome to both novice and experienced
Tai Chi pupils. In addition to offering regular tuition there are several weekend breaks available.

To learn more about our services go to:
http://www.re-vitalise.co.uk