How does Tai Chi Work? What does the Beginning Class Include?

Unlike forms of yoga that may cause stress and strain, Tai Chi is constant movement in a gentle flowing motion. It promotes strengthening the body gradually. The movements that make up Tai Chi were created by watching animals in nature. It is from nature that Tai Chi derives it's healing and preventative power.  Each movement activates a clearing of the channels in the body known in Chinese Medicine as "Meridians".  When we are in good health energy flows freely through these channels. Stress from modern life accumulates in our body and can block the natural flow of energy causing illness. Acupuncture also stimulates the free flow of energy through these channels. Tai Chi uses the deep breathing components of the practice QiGong. Deep breathing is a natural way to reduce stress and promote well being. 

Classes taught at the Bodhidharma Philosophical Martial Arts Institute begin with progressive levels of concentration exercises. The goal is to teach the student over time how to quiet their mind and learn to cultivate an "inner peace". According to Chinese philosophy, "Chi" is the energy that makes up everything in the universe. During the first level course, the student is taught how to use "chi" to cleanse and re-energize their mind, emotions and body. After the concentration exercise students normally feel more relaxed and renewed. It could be described as pressing the "pause" button on all the obligations and stresses of life. 

The next part of the class includes different warming up exercises from the ancient art of "Pautan Chin".   Each class the exercises progress to gradually build strength, flexibility and balance. A "tapping" technique is taught to release any blockages of stress in the body at different meridian points. The "tapping" accelerates the movement of the molecules in the muscles and literally, "gets the energy flowing". After the warm up students are alert and ready to learn the movements.

Level 1 was specifically designed in order to teach people in the West the basic movements that make up the traditional forms of Tai Chi learned in the East. It is called, "Continental, Yang -Style." Yang Style is the only style of Tai Chi currently being taught at our institute. It is known as the "water form" because there are no harsh or sudden movements, as in martial arts like Karate. It teaches the student the power of control and flow. Each form is taught by being broken down into steps. All the forms in Tai Chi have their base in the martial art of Kung Fu and each movement is explained from the combat perspective in order to help the student remember. Also the student is taught how to keep the "chi" flowing during the movements. After a Tai Chi class students often find instead of being tired, they feel full of energy and their level of vitality has risen.

Students are asked to practice what is learned in class at home. Each week's lesson builds on the steps learned from the previous class. If a student needs additional instruction they are free to meet with an instructor for a review. Currently I am available every Saturday at the Central Farmer's Market from 10:30 a.m to 1 p.m. I tell  students Level 1 teaches patience for ourselves and others. Tai Chi teaches us to enjoy being on the journey of life and provides us with the vitality to grasp opportunities to grow, learn and transform ourselves for the better. 

Thank you for taking the time to learn more about the benefits of practicing a philosophical martial art. I hope to see you at one of our events very soon.

Be Well!

Erin M. Wilson

Level 1 Instructor/Public Relations Coordinator

To learn more check out:

www.taichiphoenix.com

Stress Management and Well Being through Tai Chi

By Sifu Ben Serpas

There are several techniques one can use to manage stress, but I have found one which includes all the others, Tai Chi, a form of QiGong (Chi Kung), considered the Chinese form of yoga. Some of these techniques are: Biofeedback, Deep Breathing, Massage, Meditation, Progressive Muscle Relaxation, Thought-Stopping, Visualization and Yoga. Tai Chi is a mild form of exercise that uses slow, fluid body movements. It's not a jarring form of exercise. 

Tai Chi had its origin in China, especially in mountain temples such as Wudang and Shaolin, where monks used different forms of martial arts for well being and for self defense. Today, Tai Chi is practiced all over the world as an anaerobic exercise for body, mind and spirit and is practiced by all age groups.

Many would think that Tai Chi is only for young people, but it has been practiced for more than a thousand years by young and old alike with the same benefits. Recent studies in the U.S.A. favor Tai Chi as an alternative and also as a complementary exercise for seniors, either to keep good health and/or to attain overall well being.

Here are some examples:

• The Boston Globe published an article by Don Aucoin (Globe Staff / December 11, 2007) titled “A poet forged in heartbreak” referring to poet Michael Weaver and in one paragraph wrote “Along the way, he (Michael Weaver) also survived a major medical scare: He was diagnosed with congestive heart failure in 1995, and his condition was so severe that one doctor gave him only five years to live. But he recovered through a combination of medication, a reduction of stress (which he attributes to his practice of Tai Chi), and major weight loss after a complete transformation of his diet.
• Tai Chi practitioners fall only half as much as those practicing other balance training, as reported by an Emory University study, and others.
• In 2003, the Journal of Alternative and Complimentary Medicine’s Oct. 9th issue reported a study finding that Tai Chi “could decrease blood pressure and results in favorable lipid profile changes and improve subjects' anxiety status. Therefore, Tai Chi could be used as an alternative modality in treating patients with mild hypertension, with a promising economic effect.”
• This concept of Tai Chi being an effective tool for reducing or even avoiding incidence of high blood pressure or other illnesses all together, is echoed in many other articles published by well known institutions. The Mayo Clinic also recommends Tai Chi for relaxation training in an article entitled, “Tai Chi: A Gentle Way to Relieve Stress."

Tai Chi is proven to be a beneficial therapy that not only has no bad side effects, but dramatically improves immune function, respiratory function, lowers the incidence of anxiety and depression, and profoundly improves the balance of practitioners. This is very important, considering that hospitalization for falls costs about $270 million a year in Arizona, not including the cost of doctors, rehabilitation or long-term disability…

We should ask ourselves what the best way/product for our health is. If Tai Chi is an alternative, the next question is, why isn’t every physician offering it as an option to their patients as a prescription? And why aren’t all insurance policies covering such prescriptions for Tai Chi? In the end, we must all suffer the consequences of our life style. So why not include in it something that could benefit us so greatly, like Tai Chi? Well, I don’t think we should dwell on it so much and make this year’s resolution to bring contentment to our lives. Just try Tai Chi and you will love it! I did and there is just no going back.

Be well!

Ben Serpas