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Tai Chi
Tai Chi or Tai Chi Chuan refers to an ancient Chinese martial art that is translated
as the Supreme Ultimate Force. An activity that is heavily rooted in Taoist
philosophy, Tai Chi has a number of health benefits that emphasize both physical
and spiritual health. A major component of the philosophy of Tai Chi is based
on the principles of yin-yang, or the notion of dynamic dualities. Therefore,
unlike many other martial arts, Tai Chi exercises stress suppleness and elasticity
over hardness and force. Its emphasis on supple movements have made Tai Chi
a popular martial art, and many Tai Chi participants partake in the activity
for the health and meditative aspects of Tai Chi rather than for its martial
applications.
Like many other ancient martial arts, Tai Chi has split into a variety of different
schools and styles. The principle schools of Tai Chi currently are: Chen Style,
Hu Lei Style, Sun Style, Zhao Bao Style, Wu Style, Yang Style, and Hao (Wu Shi)
Style. However these different schools of Tai Chi all emphasize the practice
of sets that comprise of slow moving exercises that use specific gestures. General
principles in performing these sets include:
- The suspension of your head.
- Moving the mind and body together as a single unit.
- Relaxing the waist and hips.
- Keeping the elbows dropped while sinking your shoulders.
- Emphasis on performing actions with intent instead of force.
- Raising your back while keeping your chest hollow.
Deeply rooted in Taoist philosophy, there are thirteen fundamental postures
in Tai Chi that correspond with the eight basic trigrams of the I Ching, the
classic Taoist text, and the five elements. The eight postures that symbolize
the trigrams are: ward-off, roll back, press, push, pull, split, elbow strike,
and shoulder strike. The five postures that correspond with the five elements
are: advance, retreat, look left, gaze right, and central equilibrium.
As a classical Chinese martial art, Tai Chi’s health benefits can be viewed
within the ideas of Traditional Chinese medicine. In Traditional Chinese Medicine,
the theory is that in each healthy individual there is a balance of qi (energy/life
force) that flows through the body’s meridians (pathways). Consequently, Tai
Chi aids in the circulation of qi within its practitioners. Additionally, each
movement in Tai Chi, if performed properly, is designed to be a training of
your jing, qi, and shen or your body, energy, and mind. These three principles
are considered your three treasures.
For individuals that do not subscribe to Traditional Chinese Medicine or do
not understands its philosophy, Tai Chi still has a substantial amount of health
benefits that correspond to a person’s physical, emotional, and spiritual health.
As an exercise that ensures that body alignment and motions works with the body
and not against it, Tai Chi is often more beneficial to your health than other
exercises. The health benefits of Tai Chi include:
- The reduction of muscle tension.
- Increasing strength and flexibility.
- An effective cardiovascular exercise that improves lung function.
- Can be used as a complement to conventional Western medicine to reduce discomfort
caused by chronic diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, Parkinson’s
disease and multiple sclerosis.
- Can beneficially alter the lipid profile and can possibly prevent atherosclerosis.
- Aids in the regulation of the immune system.
- Improves postural alignment and therefore reduces spinal degeneration.
- Improves balance, particularly for the elderly.
- Reduces stress, while improving your internal strength.
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