| For many people, long-term practice and study of | | | | knock the wind out of an opponent or knocks an |
| Tai Chi Chuan is the answer to previously | | | | opponent off his balance. Now, if you are just |
| insurmountable issues, such as poor balance, | | | | thinking about grasping a bird's tail, how likely are |
| arthritis stiffness, stress management and even | | | | you to put your entire body into the move? But |
| hormonal and blood-sugar issues. But is this | | | | if you are trying to pull Bluto in for a head-on |
| practice any better for your health and well being | | | | collision with your strike, or knock him down in |
| than walking, weight-lifting, boxing or aerobics? | | | | order to prevent grievous bodily harm to |
| As a teacher of the martial arts for 20 years, | | | | yourself, you might tend to use your hips and |
| and practitioner of healing arts nearly 20 years, I | | | | legs in grasping that bird's tail! |
| say, yes! Other forms of exercise are great, and | | | | So tai chi, rather than offering only one or two |
| can help with a number of health issues. But there | | | | aspects of exercise, involves the entire body, |
| are aspects to tai chi that set it apart from all the | | | | mind and spirit and offers all by itself more than |
| others. | | | | most other forms of exercise combined. |
| First, tai chi offers the major benefits that other | | | | Second, Tai Chi Chuan offers additional benefits |
| forms of exercise offer, including: | | | | that many other sports or workout programs do |
| * core strength development, important for spinal | | | | not. As we age, most of us cannot continue to |
| health; | | | | engage in full-contact kick-boxing with the |
| * weight-bearing exercise, which helps to stave | | | | 300-pound, ham-handed neighbor, perform feats |
| off osteoporosis; | | | | of gymnastic wonder, and otherwise leap tall |
| * controlled, beneficial joint manipulation, helpful in | | | | buildings in a single bound. These things require |
| slowly regaining mobility of stiff, arthritic joints; | | | | external strength - that is, muscles, fascia, and |
| * gradual hip- and leg-muscle development, | | | | rubber bones. You know - vigorous youth! Internal |
| important for maintaining and regaining | | | | strength, however, can be cultivated by |
| independent mobility in a sedentary lifestyle or in | | | | centenarians, and can help young athletes maintain |
| seniors; | | | | their ability to leap taller buildings and take punches |
| * improved circulation, developed by the | | | | from Bluto. Practically speaking, this means if you |
| movements, breathing patterns and internal-organ | | | | fall or are in a car accident, your chances of |
| massage integral to tai chi practice; | | | | escaping with minimal injuries are much higher. If |
| * balance and coordination, developed with your | | | | you are a young athlete, your skill and technique |
| feet on the ground; | | | | can be significantly enhanced by developing |
| * better daily energy, enhanced by oxygenation, | | | | internal as well as external strength. Golfers swear |
| improved circulation, and improved muscle tone; | | | | by tai chi. And your internal organs seem to work |
| * aerobic fitness, particularly when practiced at | | | | better and maintain their functioning longer with |
| combat speed (tai chi is not necessarily slow, or | | | | internal development. This benefit includes your |
| soft); and | | | | brain - something we can all use more of! This |
| * self-defense. | | | | kind of fortitude can be cultivated in conjunction |
| Yes, self-defense! Tai Chi Chuan literally means | | | | with heavy exercise or while sitting still. Tai Chi |
| grand ultimate fist, reflecting its roots as a very | | | | Chuan offers a form of moving qigong meditation |
| effective martial art. When combat applications of | | | | that provides the best of both worlds. The level |
| this art are taught as a part of the form, the | | | | and focus of practice can be easily adjusted to fit |
| movements are inevitably performed more | | | | individual needs and limitations. It also offers a |
| correctly and with better energy, thus affording | | | | base for the healing arts and a depth of study |
| the practitioner all the health benefits offered by | | | | suitable for anyone on a scholar-warrior path. |
| tai chi practice. Without knowledge of what the | | | | So - is tai chi just another pretty dance? I think |
| moves are supposed to do, the practitioner | | | | not! It does provide a unique combination of health |
| cannot reap all the benefits that lie richly within | | | | benefits. Whether you seek gentle movement |
| the cultivation of skill and energy in practice. | | | | and breath work, a serious self-defense art, |
| For instance, Grasp the Sparrow's Tail is a move | | | | exercise, or just fun, Tai Chi Chuan - properly |
| common to a number of tai chi styles. This | | | | instructed - has a wealth of wellness to offer |
| movement actually either breaks an opponent's | | | | your mind, body and spirit, now and throughout |
| arm, or blocks a punch and strikes to break ribs, | | | | your lifetime. |