What is Tai Chi?

When you practice Tai Chi, you are endeavoring to balance all the forces within your body and mind in order to attain robust good health and a calm mind.

Tai Chi is best known for the series of  slow, smooth exercises called the Tai Chi solo form. The purpose of performing the Tai Chi movement slowly is to ensure good posture and body alignment in order to increase relaxation and support circulation. There is a saying in Chinese medicine that the body affects the mind and the mind affects the body. By disciplining the body to move in a slow smooth motion the mind does the same. After 15 minutes practice of the Tai Chi form generally the mind feels very quiet and peaceful.

You can verify the relationship yourself between how the body and mind affect each other. For example, if you are sitting gazing at a slow-moving river on a sunny afternoon you feel very quiet and very peaceful. On the other hand, if you’re watching a very exciting film you may find your shoulders tensing as you watch the action. Tai Chi sets out to deliberately make use of this natural reaction between mind and body for the betterment of the person practicing in a disciplined way.