Tai Chi For Health

Tai Chi is a very ancient Chinese form of martial arts which focuses on the internal energy in the body more commonly referred to by the Chinese as “chi”. The aim of Tai Chi is to increase the flow of chi and integrate the mind, body and spirit promoting both mental and physical well-being.

Calisthenics or weightlifting also emphasize only on the individual muscles although they provide a wide range of motion to the muscles unlike Isometric exercises. All these exercises do not improve your overall physique. Only Tai chi helps building your physique totally.

Tai chi views the mind and body not as disconnected but as different aspects of life energy. According to ancient Chinese medicine our thoughts and emotions have a direct impact on our physical heath so it is essential to improve our emotional and mental health. The external factors such as the climate, the seasons and the weather also affect our wellbeing. So Illness is an indication of imbalance inside the body and the environment.

According to the tradition of Chinese medicine, the ?chi? is known as intrinsic energy and very essential to the body to keep you always fresh and healthy. If the cycle of chi is disturbed it results in various illnesses. Therefore the main objective of tai chi is to maintain the smooth functioning of this cycle at all times. Tai Chi is indeed an unique exercise program.

For centuries Tai chi was practiced in secret in Chan villages north china then in the mid 18th century ‘yang lu chan’ became the first outsider to learn Tai chi and it became popular. In 1930 ‘cheng man ching’ simplified it as a health exercise form and it spread in china. It became popular in the United States and Europe in late sixties when ‘cheng man ching’ came to New York and opened a large Tai chi school to non Chinese students.