Restore and Maintain Your Health with Tai Chi Chuan

Tai Chi Chuan improves your health in many ways but the majority of people who practice it only gain a small percentage of the possible benefits. Here are some points to consider in order to optimise your health through Tai Chi.

The benefits of Tai Chi for your health are not obvious until you try it. People who have seen it on television sometimes refer to it as shadow boxing or slow callisthenics. Even those who practice Tai Chi for health may only be experiencing a small percentage of the gains they could be making. Even by practicing the sequence of movements or form, on a daily basis, the effects can be remarkable.

You can very quickly say goodbye to lower back pain caused by poor posture. Your movements become balanced and poised. Muscle tone and strength improve despite the apparent lack of effort. It is now recognised that dieting does not work in the long term and that exercise is required to achieve permanent weight loss. Tai Chi aids this by helping to remove fat, even from problem areas like the stomach and thighs. This may sound marvelous but this is only the beginning.

It may be for this reason that even some of the people who practice Tai Chi for health, especially in the west, do not realise that it is one of the most effective martial arts. Its full title is Tai Chi Chuan where Chuan means boxing and Chi means energy, the vital energy of the body. Tai Chi differs from other martial arts in its emphasis on the control of the flow of this energy and the control of breathing over hard mechanical exercise.

It is this internal aspect of Tai Chi that produces the real health benefits and an appreciation of the martial application of Tai Chi is vital for health. The technique of Pushing Hands, a kind stylized sparring practiced in pairs, helps you to learn to sense the intentions and emotions of an opponent. This connection with your partner is one of the best aspects of Tai Chi for your health. It helps you to feel and control your own chi. Through diligent practice, you develop an inner calm and confidence that influences all aspects of your life.

If you have never thought of or wanted to take up a martial art, don’t let that put you off taking a look at Tai Chi. It is accessible to people of all ages and levels of fitness. It can even be adapted for the less able. No special equipment is required and any comfortable clothes and flat shoes will do. Find the right teacher and you can look forward to a lifetime of continuous development in Tai Chi and vibrant health and longevity.