| ic example of this is the bone density that Tai Chi | | | | Another reason that often students in the USA |
| is known to develop that helps prevent falls in the | | | | do not get the Tai Chi health benefits is that |
| elderly. The way to obtain this Tai Chi health | | | | there is simply a lot of unqualified Tai Chi |
| benefit and part of the way that this actually | | | | instructors in the USA today. This is mostly due |
| occurs is that the practitioner must align their | | | | to the amount of weekend certification |
| upper body weight over the legs and then relax | | | | workshops whereby someone with no real prior |
| the entire body so that the weight of the entire | | | | knowledge of Tai Chi can go to a weekend |
| body presses down through the structure due to | | | | workshop and leave as a fully certified Tai Chi |
| gravity. This alone will increase the thigh bone | | | | instructor. This person (often an occupational or |
| density and mass over time and increase the | | | | physical therapist or nurse) then goes home and |
| muscle mass and strength through the entire leg. | | | | starts teaching Tai Chi classes using their Western |
| The problem is that most people do not like the | | | | medical credential to try to legitmize their Tai Chi. |
| muscle soreness and work that this requires one | | | | This current state of affairs is very unfortunate |
| to go through so they do not get the Tai Chi | | | | and Tai Chi in America as a whole suffers as a |
| health benefits because of it. This alignment does | | | | result of this rip-off scam of Tai Chi by unqualified |
| more that just increase the bone mass in the | | | | instructors where real Tai Chi and the Tai Chi |
| upper thigh and is important for other Tai Chi | | | | health benefits can not be found. Who will want to |
| health benefits as well as being a component in | | | | do Tai Chi if the consensus is that it does not |
| the proper use of Tai Chi for self defense. | | | | work? And, what other opinion will the public |
| Another reason that a lot of people do not get | | | | come to about Tai Chi if most of the Tai Chi that |
| the physical Tai Chi health benefits is that, all to | | | | is available is incorrect or poorly taught and people |
| often, highly qualified instructors are teaching large | | | | are not getting any of the substantial Tai Chi |
| groups of people in order to make a living and | | | | health benefits? I and we as an organization are |
| they can not take the time with their students to | | | | working very hard to try to prevent this from |
| make the smaller and more specific corrections | | | | happening. Please see our article on what a |
| required to help the students really obtain the Tai | | | | legitmate Tai Chi instructor should know and do |
| Chi health benefits. This is why all of my Tai Chi | | | | your diligence (by being an informed consumer) |
| instruction is performed one on one or with very | | | | even when just looking for Tai Chi health benefits. |
| small groups with a lot of one on one attention. | | | | |