The slow, graceful movements of Tai Chi are a powerful, relaxed and balanced form of meditation and exercise. Developed in China in 1247 AD by the Taoist sage Chang San Feng, this art unites the mind and the body, combining aspects of meditation, exercise, visualization, and martial prowess. Once learned, a Tai Chi form may take ten minutes to perform, but done once or twice daily, it provides extraordinary health benefits, improving balance, flexibility, and strength, while calming the spirit and reducing stress, and alleviating many serious ailments. The art of Tai Chi consists of perfecting several skills. The most fundamental and best-known of these is the Tai Chi form, a classical series of movements which the student memorizes, much like a music student might memorise a piece of classical music. Once the movements are memorized, the real work of refining the movement can begin. The study focuses on the subtleties of relaxation, breathing, and body alignment. Movement is caused by internal pressure changes rather than muscular tension. The mind must be flexible, so that the body will be supple.
With study, Tai Chi can undo tension, release fear and anxiety, and help ease illness.
- ISBN10 184732472X
- ISBN13 9781847324726
- Publish Date 7 January 2010
- Publish Status Cancelled
- Out of Print 28 November 2009
- Publish Country GB
- Publisher Welbeck Publishing Group
- Imprint Carlton Books Ltd
- Format Paperback
- Pages 128
- Language English