Activities - Tai Chi

« Back to Activities

The Ultimate Exercise

Tai Chi originated in China as a martial art and in translation means 'ultimate exercise'. This is because it integrates mind and body and develops both simultaneously.

Tai Chi as it is practised in the West today can best be thought of as a form of exercise and meditation combined. Many of the movements are originally derived from the martial arts and they are performed slowly, softly and gracefully with smooth and even transitions between them.

However, these slow, relaxed and harmonious movements, known as ‘the form’, require practice and patience to master, with the emphasis on accuracy, slowness, stillness, lightness, relaxation and concentration of the mind.

What are the benefits?

The concept of ‘chi’ is central to the Chinese view of the world and can roughly be translated as ‘vital force’. The main aim of Tai Chi is to develop the circulation of this ‘chi’ within the body on the understanding that by doing so the health and vitality of the individual are enhanced.

Another aim of Tai Chi is to foster a calm and tranquil mind, focussed on the precise performance of these exercises. Learning to do them correctly provides an opportunity to develop balance, correct alignment of the body, fine motor control and co-ordination of movement and in this process there are many observable health benefits. Regular practice of Tai Chi helps to promote improved muscle tone and posture, mental concentration, co-ordination and balance, general levels of vitality, increased flexibility and spatial awareness. There have been a number of detailed studies of these health benefits and there is currently a lot of interest in the use of Tai Chi to help with rehabilitation of patients after serious illnesses (particularly heart problems and debilitative long term conditions) as well as in preventative health care such as reducing stress levels or helping to reduce incidence of falls in elderly people.

What are classes like?

In the first half of the session CHI GUNG exercises are practised. These are designed to relax the muscles, slow down and regulate the breathing and generally begin the process that the form will develop.

During the second half of the session you will learn the movements of THE FORM. This is a series of slow and controlled movements performed very accurately in a pre-determined sequence.

Could I learn Tai Chi?

Because there is low cardiovascular exertion and no high impact movement Tai Chi is equally suitable for those of any age or level of fitness although because of the concentration initially required to learn the moves, it is not ideally suited to younger children.

The essence of this martial discipline is that you develop your own skill at your own speed. You can begin at any time and no special clothing or equipment is required.

Wu Chian Chuan Tai Chi Chuan & Chi Kung exercises.

Tai Chi Chuan is an exercise that has been developed over hundreds of years of study of various health regimes in China. It is now internationally recognized as a suitable exercise for various diseases and other age related problems such as improving balance particularly in those prone to falls, for cardiovascular benefit in those recovering from heart attacks and for the infirm elderly. The series of exercises that make up the Tai Chi Form take time to learn, so various sub-routines have been developed called ‘Chi Kung’ which allow for beneficial effects to be produced in a relatively short time.

Since various diseases require deferent exercise protocols for successful treatment, the Chi Kung & Tai Chi exercises normally taught require modification and refinement so as to make them an effective treatment option, each disease type generally requiring its own specific exercise routine. Such specific exercise routines are developed through clinical trials not so different than those to test the safety and efficacy of various drugs. Such clinical trial have been conducted by ourselves at the Royal Hallamshire Hospital since 1993 including studies of the effects of Wu Tai Chi/Chi Kung exercise in Cardiovascular Disease, Balance Disorders, Diseases of the Elderly. Other work is presently in progress in various other diseases.

« Back to Activities

Information for Health Professionals | Member Access
© 2008 Surehealth (Integrated Healthcare) Limited, All Rights Reserved Website designed by greymatter