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BENEFITS OF TAI CHI

1. Due to the focus and precision required for the exercises it naturally leads to a calm and tranquil mind, another key area of focus for the Tai Chi practitioner.

2. When one learns to master the movements, it improves balance, posture, and motor control.

3. The meditative nature of the exercises are relaxing and calming and can greatly contribute to stilling the mind and achieving a sense of ‘inner peace’ at least for a while, so that after practice the mind and emotions have also had a break and can see things from a better perspective.

4. The practice of Tai Chi Chuan benefits the metabolism of the body, and adjusts the nervous system.

5. Tai Chi also integrates and harmonizes the breathing and circulation, as well as harmonizing the function of the muscles and the internal organs. The intense concentration needed to do Tai Chi prevents the mind from staying involved with everyday thoughts.

6.  As Tai Chi does have an element of martial arts to it, it provides an opportunity to explore these martial arts in a slow tempo combat. Many who have become very adept at Tai Chi have also become quite proficient at Martial Arts. However, in Tai Chi the martial arts aspect is to develop the skill in such a way that potentially destructive energy, like a punch or kick is channeled away from one where the energy is no longer a threat or will dissipate.

7. It is beneficial for high cholesterol, arthritis, rheumatism, hypertension, anemia, insomnia and digestion.

8. The body becomes strong and flexible in a way that is different to most other types of exercise

 

Tai Chi has various styles, each named after the families that developed them for eg.  The Yang-style, Chen-style, Hao-style.