Why should a modern day person like you practice a centuries old Chinese art like Tai Chi?
Perhaps you feel that you have everything you need in your life, that your life is complete?
However, if you are like most people and are living a hectic life, constantly chasing that ‘to do’ list, over stimulated and bombarded with information, underperforming, constantly drained? Although, we can become used to living these stressful lifestyles that does not lessen the harmful mental and physical effects of long term stress.
Today, more than ever, our busy hectic lifestyles demand us to learn skills to switch off and cleanse our minds, and we all fear ‘burn out’.
Tai Chi is a complete holistic therapy that synchronises mind, body and spirit. It can balance and harmonise you physically, emotionally and mentally whilst promoting health and wellbeing. In Traditional Chinese Medicine it is believed that if one is out of balance that it will affect the others.
And we are all guilty of neglecting ourselves, physically, emotionally and spiritually.
How often do we take the time to check in with ourselves to measure how we really feel? Physically? Emotionally? Spiritually?
Tai Chi balances all of these and the joy of Tai Chi is the multi-faceted aspects of these ancient art.
Physical Aspect: Both Tai Chi and Qi Gong movements are low-impact, weight bearing and aerobic involving slow gentle movements combined with breathing and awareness for the purpose of enhancing physical and mental health.
The Martial Arts Institute describes the physical movement as “combining relaxation in motion with precise breathing to stimulate the inner energies of the body, strengthening the immune systems, nervous system and regulating the metabolic processes” (http://www.hsing-i.com/tai chi/index.html). The slow physical moves that may look easy but are cleverly designed to receive and increase energy flow in the body
Psychological Aspect: For centuries, Tai Chi is described as a meditation in movement and calming the mind is one of the main objectives of practising Tai Chi and Qi Gong. The feeling of relaxation and a state of inner peace are among the two benefits that students report that they initially experience. Tai Chi is truly a holistic practice like no other that emphasises whole mind and body relaxation, while energising the whole system.
You should sit in meditation for 20 minutes a day, unless you are too busy and then you should sit for an hour
Old Zen Saying
Breathing: The breathing techniques involved in Tai Chi and Qi Gong focus on the effective use of the lungs and respiratory system to increase lung capacity to release toxins and tensions. It can also activate your mind resulting in enhancing your mental alertness. By gaining control and awareness of your breath, you can gain control of your inner self by truly connecting the mind and body leaving you grounded and centred.
WHY PRACTICE TAI CHI?
Tai Chi offers the unparalleled opportunity to unplug from the fast pace of life and today’s demanding schedules and to re charge our batteries.
Tai Chi teaches us to slow down with its slow controlled movements our mind slows down too.
Tai Chi is the vehicle to assist us to quieten our minds, increase our energies to ensure we are revitalised and refreshed.
The benefits of Tai Chi are endless and include
- Physical exercise
- Increase energy
- Health benefits
- Meditation
- Martial art applications
- Better posture
Once started you will it soon becomes a habit and eventually it becomes an integral component of your life.
Why Practice Tai Chi? Why not?