| Have you seen that old man or woman exercising | | | | we are sick. Yang qi, being fiery, contributes to |
| in the garden with slow and soft movements that | | | | the natural degradation of our bodies hence we all |
| look like they are just weaving their bodies | | | | age. However, if we are always Yin, our bodies |
| around slowly? That's Taijiquan, the Chinese | | | | become weak and we still die though not through |
| internal martial art that look weak but yet can | | | | aging but through poor health. |
| strike you with the power of a whip. | | | | Simply put, if there is an imbalance in the Qi |
| You might be thinking, "Wait, that old man is a | | | | system in our body, we get sick. Of course, we |
| martial artist?" The answer is, technically, yes. | | | | are initially unbalanced between we are always |
| Taijiquan was created as a fighting art hundreds | | | | too Yang. However, being Yang means our body |
| of years ago in China. It only became some sort | | | | is energetic but at a price: our bodies degenerate. |
| of fitness program in modern times when the art, | | | | When the body starts to turn Yin, that means |
| just like all other martial arts, were proven to be | | | | the balance has been tipped and we get sick. |
| effective at promoting fitness and health as well | | | | In line with this theory, we could see that there is |
| as prevent aging. | | | | a need to constantly balance the Qi in our body. |
| How Does Taijiquan Improve Health? | | | | That is what Taijiquan does. When you perform |
| Taijiquan follows the Chinese (Taoist) theories of | | | | its exercises, you learn to regulate your breathing |
| Yin-yang and Qi. Yin and yang is the Chinese | | | | as well as your Qi. What results is balance |
| philosophy concerning two opposite yet | | | | between the Yang Qi and Yin Qi. In a scientific |
| complementing forces, while Qi is the energy that | | | | point of view, there is a strong immune system |
| is found within all of us. | | | | that helps us resist sicknesses and diseases in a |
| To summarize it, in the context of Taijiquan, the | | | | natural way. Our internal organs, which are |
| Qi is defined as having two aspects: Yang Qi and | | | | thought to be reservoirs of Qi, are maintained |
| Yin Qi. Yang qi is described as vigorous, fiery and | | | | healthy and fit. |
| active. Yin qi, on the other hand, is weak, soft and | | | | So don't think that Taijiquan is for old people only. |
| passive. By default, the energy in our body is | | | | It's for the young, and it is best to start young in |
| always Yang qi, and becomes Yin qi only when | | | | the path of fitness and health. |