TAI CHI

Taijiquan (Tai Chi) is a centuries old Chinese healing exercise suitable for all people, the old and the young, the sick and the healthy. Therefore, it has not only found its way into every corner in China, but has also began to appear and be popularized in other countries.

Taijiquan (Tai Chi) was pregnant with the abstruse philosophical idea of Yin and Yang and was characterized by the perfect integration of inhalation and exhalation patterns, along with body movement.

Taijiquan(Tai Chi) is nothing but the Qi (chi) grown in the Chaos and also the parents of all things. and its principles consider the Heaven and Earth as a macro Tai Ji and Human body as a micro Tai Ji, therefore when the whole body stays without any motion, it is right to possess the nature of Tai Ji, however, a slight motion with the body will destroy the balance and let the Yin and Yang come into being. The words Yin and Yang which are frequently appeared in the Taijiquan books are, in fact, another way expressing emptiness and solidity. Yin responds to the emptiness while Yang to solidity. The interaction of Yin and Yang creates the existence of all things in the Universe, wherease the mutually echo of emptiness and solidity results in endless form of changes in all matters. The Yin changes will be changed into Yang when it comes to the end of its existence, and likewise, the Yang will be replaced by Yin at a time when it goes to vanishing point. This is right the place where the unfathomable nature of emptiness and solidity lies.

The human body performance just resembles the dynamic state of Tai Ji (Tai Chi). Tai Ji great master Chen Weiming noted “ I will respond my opponent’s solid state with an empty approach, conversely, I will change into solidity to fight back my opponent’s Emptiness ; to change surprisingly and promptly between emptiness and solidity will certainly help you know your enemy completely, and drive your enemy into a corner where he knows nothing about you. In this way, you can fight a hundred battles with no danger of defect. By following correctly the exercise principles, the Taijiquan practitioner will enjoy a dramatic harvest in terms of health improvement and character development. Taijiquan does not need a dramatic amount of space, but may even be practiced in a small room.

Taijiquan ( Tai Chi) allows the practitioner to keep him or herself in a state of mental tranquility and physical relaxation, which is very beneficial for the regulation and adjustment of the central nervous system. Experts find that the regular practitioner of Tai Chi shows synchronous and sequencial state dominated by alpha waves. The power of alpha waves is increased 12 times if conducted under a condition of overwhelming quietude and awakening ( the practice of Tai Chi).

There is much research by many medicine and hygiene departments in China that shows the exercise of Tai Chi can be beneficial to the development of the central nervous system, digestive system, skeletal and muscular system and metabolism.

When you practice Tai Chi, you should always imagine that a forcing the Crown of the Head (the top of the head) to go upward and accordingly, you should let our head follow that rising force consciously. Meanwhile, you should draw the chin inwards and stretch the muscles on the back on both sides of the body, while keep the waist and spine upright and sinking your shoulder and elbows. Furthermore, you should finish all movements with a gentle and slow manner, making the action appear in a circular orbit, using a deeper and thinner breathing pattern. You should then let your consciousness guide each movement. Put the mind power and Qi into every posture and have the empty and solid movement respond to the relevant exhale and inhale patterns, so that all parts of the body will be able to echo each other during the movement, thus making the overall body postures into an harmonious entirety. Therefore, adhering to the Tai Chi exercise will make it possible for the physique, muscles, joint and even the brain, nerves and internal organs to receive a complete training. As a result, the body inside and outside, will be treated with an excellent repair and maintenance program.

Again, Tai Chi is slow and soft seeking tranquility in movement that does not depend on gravitation as does other sports.

It has been found that practicing the simplified 24-form has little effect enzyme “p” in the saliva, but has obvious effect on the “E2”. The secretion of the enzyme “E2” increases significantly following the practitioner’s second routine performance during the same day. (There is an inverse relationship between the increase of “E2” and the decrease in senility.) Also, in a study of elderly people, the age of menopause for the Tai Chi practitioner, has been found to be later than that of the control group who never practiced any physical activity. By promoting the menstrual periods, the practicing Tai Chi woman will stay young for a longer period.

Tai Chi is featured by its easy, quiet and slow movement and is characterized by its unique appearance, circular and continuous, just like the floating clouds or flowing water.

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