Your Tai Chi

When I introduce someone to Tai Chi, my goal for them is always to have their own practice, or habit of daily Tai Chi. If you only do Tai Chi in class, you will get some benefit, but nowhere near what you can with regular practice. So, initially, I suggest a goal of just 20 minutes, 5 or 6 days per week. You must have a time and a place to enjoy your Tai Chi and it does take a bit of room, so look for a spot around 6’ x 10’. I have come to believe outdoors is best,…
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Tai Chi Chuan

Tai Chi Chuan Tai Chi Chuan is the full name of what is now usually called Tai Chi or Taiji. The translation of Tai Chi Chuan is Supreme Ultimate Fist. This definitely is a Martial Art term, meaning an ultimate form of fighting. Tai Chi Chuan is said to be an Internal Martial Art, meaning that it is performed from the inside outward. Tai Chi is at least 700 years old; it originated at Wudang Monastary, by the monastary’s founder, Zhang Sanfeng. He is said to have watched a snake and a bird fighting and was struck by the fluid,…
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Tai Chi Walking and the First 5 Moves of Yang 24 Tai Chi

Tai Chi Walking. Get into a bow stance with the back foot turned out and the front foot straight, with a 1 foot lateral distance between the heels. There are then 5 steps to start Tai Chi Walking: 1. Shift the weight back so that the front toes have no weight on them. 2. Turn the hips so that the front foot turns out. 3. Stand on the front foot and bring the back foot up. 4. Continue to bring the back foot forward and place the heel on the channel line. 5. Land the front straight and continue forward…
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What is Qigong?

The word Qigong literally means Energy Work. Qi = Energy and gong = work. I was told that this word only came into being during the 1980’s, but in fact many Chinese Qigong movements are quite ancient. Qigong movements can be very slow and Tai Chi like, or can be quite vigorous like sit-ups or push-ups. When performed as Qigong, there is always an emphasis on the energetic aspects of the movements. The movements can be internal and sometimes only internal, as in Meditation. Some basic sets of Qigong are called Tai Chi Qigong, and they look very similar to…
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