| Tai Chi started off as a martial art form | | | | Chinese medicine in the traditional sense regards |
| introduced by the ancient Chinese in totally | | | | humans as a tiny part of the universe, and like it, |
| different form, from where it evolved down the | | | | they are thought of as existing on a constant |
| centuries to what we know and love as the | | | | interface of 5 life-giving elements (namely water, |
| smooth, graceful and almost poetic movements | | | | fire, metal, water, wood, and the earth). This |
| followed by masters of Tai Chi today. Some of | | | | theory links all the bodily organs in much the same |
| these masters are not even Chinese, in fact, | | | | way as the 5 aspects of Qi (pronounced 'chee') in |
| many are of European origin but with a deep and | | | | the universal sense. Qi is regarded as life force or |
| intrinsic love and dedication to this extremely | | | | the inner bodily energy that flows through all the |
| mystical and healing physical discipline that helps a | | | | intrinsic channels, known as meridian and when the |
| total mind, body and soul connection to be made | | | | qi is balanced through proper interaction of all |
| for rejuvenation, toning, improving balance and | | | | these elements in the body, optimum health is |
| increasing inner peace. | | | | achieved. |
| Almost meditative in certain movements but | | | | What is Qigong? |
| powerfully strong in the sense that only a quiet | | | | Tai chi (Qi) is said to have originated from Qigong, |
| energetic smooth burst of pure dynamics can be, | | | | which is the mind, breathing and movement |
| this 2,500 year old descendant of qigong, the | | | | integrating discipline creating a natural balance of |
| original Chinese medicinal self-defense discipline | | | | calm energy that can be applied to leisure, |
| helps to promote inner peace, say Tai Chi | | | | professional endeavors and self-defense. Just like |
| historians. In fact, potential attackers can be | | | | Yoga, a primary meditative form of exercise and |
| sensed and effectively dealt with, their aggressive | | | | holistic health principle, Qigong has 3,000+ varieties |
| movements counteracted by an alert and | | | | in addition to 5 chief traditions, namely Taoist, |
| experienced tai chi master who is trained in the | | | | Buddhist and Confucian besides martial arts and of |
| art of using internal energy for deflecting | | | | course medical. It can be further sub-divided into |
| offensive movements by only calling upon a small | | | | 2 main types, "soft" and "hard" of which the |
| amount of his or her own energy for neutralizing | | | | former qigong (described inner qigong) integrates |
| larger amounts of force used by the attacker | | | | tai chi as one form. |
| What is Qi? | | | | |