Tai Chi, the traditional Chinese health-preserving exercise, has a variety of practice forms, far beyond what ordinary people imagine. From vigorous and fast practical routines to self-flowing health-preserving exercises, each practice method is like opening a different door, leading practitioners to explore their own bodies. The secret of heart harmony has been revealed through personal practice over the years. Different types of Tai Chi exercises can meet the different needs of modern people. Whether it is to relieve the pain caused by sitting for a long time or to improve mental concentration, it can be said that there is always a way that resonates with you.
Why is Tai Chi divided into different schools?
When you first come into contact with Tai Chi, you may be confused by the names of schools such as Chen Style, Yang Style, and Sun Style. In fact, this is similar to Tai Chi And Arthritis in calligraphy. Although it comes from the same source, each has its own characteristics. Chen-style Tai Chi retains the force-generating movement, which is like thunder suddenly appearing; Yang-style Tai Chi is like an unfurling cloud, which is more suitable for middle-aged and elderly people to practice. I once coached a designer who suffered from frozen shoulder. After comparing the movement characteristics of different styles, he finally selected the upright posture of Wu-style Tai Chi. After three months, he happily found that the stiffness of his cervical spine that had lasted for many years had been significantly improved.
How to Choose Tai Chi for Beginners
It is recommended to start with the simplified twenty-four postures of Tai Chi. This is a set of routines compiled by the State Sports General Administration. It removes the repetitive movements from the traditional routines. It seems like a streamlined classic book specially tailored for modern people according to their own characteristics. Remember that when educating people in the community, I always ask students who have just started learning to give priority to an action like the Cloud Hand Single Pose to experience and try it out (this means asking the students to stand with their feet parallel, and asking the students to alternate their hands to draw arcs) , to say that this action seems to give people a seemingly simple impression, but in fact it can test the flexibility of the shoulder joint in the same process, and can also be used to check the stability of the core, and can also measure the breathing time at the same time. Many people at work gave feedback after practicing this movement for two weeks, saying that the soreness and swelling in their lower backs caused by sitting for long periods of time could be alleviated. This is exactly the initial stage of the wisdom in Tai Chi's "conquering hardness with softness".
What is the special value of practicing Tai Chi equipment?
When freehand practice is at a certain stage, Tai Chi sword, Tai Chi fan and other equipment training will bring a different experience. The hand-held equipment is like an extension of the arm, which can significantly improve the coordination of the body. When teaching Tai Chi sword last year, a student had difficulty in mastering the coordination of the sword and fingers until I asked her to imagine the image of the sword cutting across the water and causing ripples. Tai Chi Online , she instantly realized that this state of concentration where body and mind are in harmony can allow people to temporarily get rid of daily complexities and get spiritual healing, especially the practice of Tai Chi fan. The sound of opening and closing echoes the rhythm of the movements, which combines martial arts momentum and artistic beauty.
How do modern people integrate Tai Chi into their lives?
I have witnessed a nurse using "fragmented Tai Chi" to improve sub-health without being limited to practicing at fixed times every day. She practices shifting her weight while waiting for the elevator, practices breathing pranayama between filling prescriptions, and relaxes her shoulders and neck with the "rising posture" after a night shift. Three months later, she discovered that this broken-down practice method allowed Tai Chi to truly integrate into the rhythm of her life. Modern urbanites can use their commuting time to practice seated Tai Chi, or practice "standing for five minutes" during work breaks. These small persistences can accumulate into significant health benefits.
Have you ever tried some kind of Tai Chi exercises? In the fast-paced life, which form of Tai Chi attracts you the most? Please share your experience in the comment area. If you think these methods are inspiring to you, don’t forget to like them so that more people can see this ancient wisdom.