Are you thinking of learning Tai Chi from the comfort of your home? You are most likely searching the internet for videos on YouTube. Maybe you bought or rented a DVD and are following along with the instructor. I feel this is not the best way to learn Tai Chi. Just because you can follow along with a video doesn't mean you are doing Tai Chi. In fact you are probably just following along the movements of the instructor. A Tai Chi form learned at home in this way will be missing most of the health benefits. As someone practicing Tai Chi for thirty years I have tried to learn different forms fr ..read more

  Ozzy Osbourne made a surprise announcement to his wife, son, and daughter on their podcast. Ozzy said he will practice Tai Chi to help treat Parkinson's disease. His family was so happy and excited to hear the news and thought it was an excellent idea. When a celebrity or someone famous promotes something, it exposes it to many people who may not know about it. If you know about it, it may help you try it as well. It may give someone the idea that if he can do it, so can you. If Ozzy does try Tai Chi, I hope that he seeks to find a knowledgeable and proficient Tai Chi teacher. He certa ..read more

Better. Because you want to be.™ I remember my father giving me a button when I was young. It was an old-fashioned metal button, the kind of button with a straight pin on the back. The words were white on a red, orange background. The button read something very similar to Better. Because you want to be.™ I remember attaching the button to the middle of my wooden bedroom door. At night, I would close my bedroom door lay in bed, and read this positive daily reminder. I feel like these words kept me from getting sick. These words gave me willpower and motivated me to exercise and work out regul ..read more

My first Yang-style adult education Yang Tai Chi class was almost thirty years ago. From day one, I could not learn enough about Tai Chi. I have continued to practice Tai Chi daily and rarely miss a day of my Tai Chi practice. I practice Yang and Chen Tai Chi forms daily. I am like a kid in a candy store when it comes to anything Tai Chi-related. I have no trouble staying motivated to practice Tai Chi every day. Understandably, the average person learning Tai Chi may not be as motivated as I am. I know the benefits and value that Tai Chi brings to my life, so I want to keep you motivated to l ..read more

Are you looking to begin a low-impact exercise routine to lose weight? Incorporating Tai Chi into your health and wellness routine can be highly beneficial and even aid in weight loss. Recent research published in the Annals of Internal Medicine found that participants who practiced Tai Chi for three months lost weight and maintained this weight loss after six months when compared to those who exercised differently or not at all. The words of Bruce Lee offer inspiration, "Flowing water never goes stale, so keep on flowing." Daily exercise, including Tai Chi, can help build muscle, increase bo ..read more

When I was a teenager, I trained in Jiu Jitsu. Whenever the class was nearing the end, we would kneel and meditate for five or ten minutes. I learned to breathe and was mindful of the hara point. The Japanese believe the hara point is the center of the body. These classes were my first introduction to meditation. I found it to be very relaxing. Many years later, I began learning Aikido. I started learning how to meditate from my sensei Edgar. Edgar was a Zen monk. He would conduct Zen meditation classes at 5 AM once a week in his home. I remember when I first tried a Zen meditation class, The ..read more

I recently purchased and watched The Power of Chi the movie. Being a practitioner of Tai Chi for many years, I did enjoy watching this film. The Power of Chi was a high-quality movie done in a Netflix fashion which showcases the power of Tai Chi Chuan. Tai Chi has been such an added benefit to my life. I hope this movie helps to popularize the art of Tai Chi Chuan. The study of Tai Chi can only enhance your life and improve the quality of whatever sport you play. Give this movie a try maybe it will motivate you to try Tai Chi. The Power of Tai Chi, the movie is narrated by Morgan Freeman. Th ..read more

Is there a difference between Tai Chi and Tai Chi Chuan? In my opinion, Yes and No. Tai Chi vs. Tai Chi Chuan Many people, myself included, refer to Tai Chi Chuan as Tai Chi. Tai Chi can be a short nickname for Tai Chi Chuan. For example, the name Jim is a nickname for James. Tai Chi Chuan, known as the "supreme ultimate fist," is a Chinese martial art. Tai Chi Chuan is a mindful series of individual martial Qigong movements. When these movements are applied can be an effective form of self-defense. These Martial Qigong movements seamlessly flow together. Each posture has an expansio ..read more

When I started learning Tai Chi in 1993, I was very motivated to practice Tai Chi daily. I found every Tai Chi class interesting, and I was eager to learn. My teacher taught me one Tai Chi movement each week. He would not teach me the next posture until I memorized the first. It was my job to remember the previous week's class. I wanted to show my teacher I was serious and willing to do the work. I always did. One day after Tai Chi class, my first Tai Chi teacher, sensei Howard had us all sitting seiza in a circle. He was answering questions. I remember his voice was almost a whisper. There ..read more

Not able to find a Tai Chi instructor nearby? Consider practicing Chi Kung instead. It offers similar health benefits as Tai Chi. There are many ways to learn Qigong, including in-person and online instruction, and there are plenty of free videos on YouTube to help you get started. Practicing Chi Kung improves balance, relaxation, flexibility, breath awareness, anxiety relief, mind-body connection, and overall well-being. It's generally easy to learn, and there are various ways to do so, including through a teacher, books, or videos. For example, I practice Eight Pieces of Brocade daily. It is ..read more