Tai Chi is an ancient and powerful Chinese martial art that originated nearly 1,000 years ago.
Derived from the philosophy of Taoism, Tai Chi was designed to achieve the optimum degree of harmony
between body and mind, and between the individual and Tao (the Order of the Natural Universe).
Originally, Tai Chi was taught only to family members but starting in 1820, it was formally organized and
taught by the Chen family to the Yang family.
The started the Tai Chi phenomenon.
Today, the art is
practiced by people of all ages in China and throughout the world.
Unlike physical training such as gym exercises and weight lifting, Tai Chi is an internal art that
emphasizes the strengthening of the internal body, the muscles, tendons, bones, and internal organs,
and it follows a quiet, meditative training that allows the body to work without forcing it to physical
fatigue.
Tai Chi works on the whole body and mind as one. Tai Chi might not be as flashy as other
martial arts because there are no high jumps or kicks, but it is very powerful, offering a more practical
and economical approach to fighting.
It is also a soft style martial art, an art applied with complete relaxation or “softness” of the musculature
that distinguishes it from that of the hard martial art styles which use a degree of tension in the muscles.
Tai Chis is often practiced as a martial arts therapy for the purposes of health, stress reduction and
longevity and several recent medical studies have supported the health benefits of practicing Tai Chi.
TAI CHI AND YOU
What Tai Chi can do for you is help you improve your health, be your structure for meditation and be
your form of self-defense.
Health:
The art allows students to cultivate their chi (gi) – the internal energy or life force of the body.
The circulation of chi revitalizes the body and all of its internal organs and systems; acupuncture works
on this same principle of the flow of chi.
Tai Chi and acupuncture can be therapy for many ailments.
Also, practicing the exercises develops flexibility and strength of joints, muscles and ligaments, so we are
less prone to injuries.
Meditation:
Active meditation is an integral part of Tai Chi.
It promotes calmness of mind and body that
allows students to find relief from their stress of work, family and life.
As a result, students will find
that they are better able to deal with internal conflicts and stress from the outside world.
Stress causes
constriction of blood vessels in the body and has been attributed to high blood pressure and other
health maladies.
Meditation and the soft movements of Tai Chi promotes the relaxation of constricted
blood vessels.
That is why mediation and health benefits go hand-in-hand.
Self Defense:
Tai Chi is non-aggressive in spirit, yet a powerful form of self-defense.
Students will learn
how a few ounces of an individual’s strength is possible to defend against many pounds of an opposing force.
FURTHER BENEFITS OF TAI CHI:
- Reduces anxiety, depression and stress
- Slows bone loss in women after menopause
- Lowers blood pressure
- Improves cardiovascular fitness
- Relieves chronic pain
- Improves balance and coordination
- Prevents back and knee pain and injury
- Better sleep
WHO CAN PARTICIPATE?
Teens 14 years old and above, women and men.
