Clichés about Tai Chi indicate that it is either an aggressive martial art or a mellow fitness routine in a tranquil park. What Tai Chi is blends the physical and spiritual halves of a body. Tai Chi promotes flexibility, excellent core strength, balance, improved muscle tone, breathing and digestion. Tai Chi helps a person achieve all around better immunity, sleep, and posture and stress management.
Tai Chi is a fantastic form of fitness that calms the mind and stretches the body’s core strength. All the writing in the world cannot demonstrate the strength and allure of Tai Chi. It must be experienced. This Chinese art form (make no mistake, it is definitely a form of art) is rooted in the ancient Chinese dynasties. The different forms of Tai Chi can trace their history back to the great masters that developed them in the different periods for different reasons.
You should explore the different forms of Tai Chi to find the one that best suits your personality. Remember, Tai Chi is about the journey of self. If you treat it with expectation and invest yourself, you will reap the benefits. The movements should be performed to maximize your body’s ‘qi’ (energy). You focus internally and externally rather than just on your muscles such as you would during weight training.
Do not be fooled into thinking that Tai Chi is easy. Within about 10 minutes of most Tai Chi workouts, you will begin sweating profusely as you practice the positions that will challenge your balance and generate heat. Your heart rate will increase and you’ll feel the burn in your muscles as you flow through the motions.
What makes Tai Chi ideal is that there is little to feel self-conscious about when you are practicing Tai Chi. There is no rolling around on the floor. Tai Chi is not a miracle workout. You cannot leapfrog from a beginning level of Tai Chi to an advanced one. If you practice regularly, concentrating on your form and your feelings, you will feel the change.
Tai Chi can be performed at all ages and stages. There are numerous tapes, DVDs, books and classes available in the different styles of Tai Chi. Many who have begun Tai Chi, never look back. A year later, they feel different physically, mentally and emotionally as their overall well being is dramatically improved.
