| When I began practising Tai Chi in 1991 the thing | | | | so graceful and elegant can be used for self |
| that struck me about it was its power or at least | | | | defence too, but then again there is an old |
| the promise of its power. What I went on to | | | | Chinese saying that 'the best fighters never fight' |
| witness and discover was that there was nothing | | | | i.e. if you have no enemies internally or externally |
| mystical or particularly esoteric about the power | | | | then there is no need for conflict. The philosophy |
| of tai chi it was more just a case of doing it, | | | | behind Tai Chi (Taoism) is really useful too and |
| following tai chi's unique set of principles and just | | | | includes the theory that if you fight force with |
| witnessing what arose within me. When I practice | | | | force any conflict will get worse. It teaches |
| my form (sequence of movements) it is never | | | | yielding and flexibility to overcome any situation. |
| exactly the same but it is always beneficial. | | | | This can diffuse a situation leaving room for |
| Tai Chi means "the supreme ultimate" and Chuan | | | | negotiation and dialogue. When you take |
| means, "fist" so Tai Chi Chuan is in fact a martial | | | | something like that into your daily life then you |
| art despite it's reputation for just being a gentle | | | | have gained a distinct advantage. Yielding |
| meditative exercise. When practiced as a martial | | | | encourages listening and when you listen you gain |
| art Tai Chi is both effective and powerful (but this | | | | more information and it is easier to see where |
| takes a lot of practise to even glimpse especially | | | | someone is coming from. In the workplace such a |
| when you learn that in Tai Chi, the main focus is | | | | strategy would create less stress for everyone! |
| to use the power of the mind in unison with the | | | | Part of the physiological aspect of tai chi includes |
| energy and power of the body to release force in | | | | the effect it has on our brain, our lymphatic |
| whatever direction you want). | | | | system and our joints. Recent neurological |
| The benefits of Tai Chi are immense and include | | | | research has found that tai chi practice |
| improved co-ordination, circulation, posture, | | | | encourages the brain to perform more |
| balance and well-being. Because tai chi is practised | | | | effectively. This is partly due to the brain |
| slowly and with a relaxed focus the nervous | | | | receiving more oxygenated blood (as the |
| system becomes calmer and so do you. This | | | | breathing technique in tai chi improves lung |
| meditative effect gives you a clearer perspective | | | | capacity and elasticity) but also because the |
| mentally and in today's fast and hectic world this | | | | meditative, calming effect of tai chi changes the |
| can only be a huge resource. In fact the stress | | | | brains frequency from beta (active normal waking |
| relieving attributes are one of the main reasons | | | | waves) to alpha (receptive between sleep and |
| why people start Tai Chi as it gives them a calm | | | | awake waves which are related to improved |
| mind and real sense of physical emotional and | | | | ability to learn and remember). |
| spiritual health | | | | The lymphatic system is partly responsible for |
| Tai Chi started a long time ago so it's had time to | | | | detoxifying the blood and is stimulated by the |
| develop and evolve into what we see today. This | | | | gentle muscular work in tai chi. The soft relaxed |
| slow process of change which has happened to | | | | movements of Tai Chi massage the lymph nodes |
| tai chi over the centuries is mirrored in the way | | | | improving their function and boosting the immune |
| tai chi is practised i.e. at a meditative pace with no | | | | system. The joints of the body are often where |
| rush to complete it's intricate and engrossing | | | | aches and pains first creep in so maintaining |
| movements. The softness and flow of tai chi | | | | healthy active joints is important at any age. |
| make you relax (you just can't help it!) but it's a | | | | Because the load bearing joints of the body are |
| rejuvenating kind of relaxation. At the end of a | | | | kept in strong alignment throughout Tai Chi and |
| Tai Chi class people are buzzing with Qi | | | | are never abused nor greatly impacted upon, their |
| (life-force), as the practice encourages your | | | | health and function is protected whilst the |
| energy to flow and tension and blockages just | | | | circulation of blood in and around the joints is |
| seem to dissolve away. It all sounds very blissful | | | | increased. |
| and beautiful, which it is but you do have to put a | | | | All in all Tai Chi offers us a unique way to combat |
| little effort in to get the results. | | | | stress and learn new and valuable skills. |
| It's hard to get your head around that something | | | | |