Complete Wellbeing with Tai Chi

Tai Chi Chuan, Tai Chi or Taijiquan is one of the most ancient forms of Chinese Arts or Wushu. Today millions practice it for its many health benefits.

Tai Chi is a traditional program for developing the internal energy of the body. Mixed Martial Arts, Karate, Kung Fu, Jujitsu, Boxing, etc. treasure the power its principles generate. In fact, Tai Chi is known as the ‘master blueprint’ for all the martial arts. Traditionally it is taught in ‘forms’, a preset series of movements designed centuries ago to teach how to coordinate the internal energy every physical body has with the external body and the environment.

The Chen family style is the oldest and, in fact, the original form. It has many unique characteristics, such as focus complementing softness, fast movements being intermixed with slow movements and, in particular, it makes much use of spiral force and silk drawing force, both of which have great therapeutic value. Chi Gung, or Qi Gung, are present in every movement.

What does Tai Chi do for you?

Tai Chi is sometimes known as moving meditation; having the benefit of both exercise and meditation. Exercise improves muscle tone, balance, reduces cholesterol, and improves blood pressure. Meditation has many psychological effects including decreasing stress, depression, and anxiety, reducing pain and insomnia, and increasing quality of life. You can get all of these benefits in one 45-minute session of this gentle yet invigorating activity.

Reduce Stress and Improve Brain Health

Even just eight weeks can change people’s brains for the better. One study on meditation found there was thickening in several regions of the brain, including the left hippocampus (involved in learning, memory, and emotional regulation); the TPJ (involved in empathy and the ability to take multiple perspectives); and a part of the brainstem called the pons (where regulatory neurotransmitters are generated).

Plus, the brains of the new meditators saw shrinkage of the amygdala, a region of the brain associated with fear, anxiety, and aggression. This reduction in size of the amygdala correlated to reduced stress levels in those participants.

Improve Blood Pressure

Learning Tai Chi may be just as effective as popular methods for lowering blood pressure, such as weight loss and lowered sodium intake. According to this study, participation significantly affects blood cholesterol, related lipids and inflammation. This means that regularly practicing may lower your chance of heart disease.

Improve Balance

Research has found that balance may falter with age. Frontiers in Neurologyreports that after age 40, the body’s vestibular system — which controls balance — starts to decline. One of the health benefits of tai chi is it may counteract this natural process. During tai chi movements, the body moves fluidly as if it is opposing energy forces to create harmony. This involves shifting your weight back and forth from leg to leg, which helps improve balance. Who says you can’t turn back the clock?

Increase Muscle Tone

Make no mistake, “gentle” does not mean “non-toning.” You can definitely build muscle doing tai chi. Harvard Medical School compares the effects of its deliberate movements to those of resistance training or brisk walking. Flowing between movements, you must engage your core, back, and arm and leg muscles, making this a great low-impact exercise option.

At Shaolin Arts students of all ages and genders enjoy private and groups lessons.

Our Belief System

As we develop in our personal lives, we consciously and unconsciously create inner views or mental models of the universe that become part of who we are. This is commonly called our personal belief system. As we move through life this model or belief system is continually challenged, at times falsely and at times correctly. In order to maintain our physical, mental and spiritual health, we must successfully adapt to these challenges and assimilate new understanding.

In most North American education we are taught the Scientific Method as the process and means to discover truth and thereby have understanding. As we move through life we often experience things that cannot be completely explained by this scientific method, but none the less, we still use what degree of knowledge we have on the topic.

For example, is light a particle, a wavelength or both? What is electricity? The common answer, for electricity, is electron flow. But the electron flow idea just creates more questions and theories with more questions and more theories etc. All of which doesn’t bother most people as long as the light bulb works when you turn on the switch. As we talk about Qi or energy flows within the body we may be challenging belief systems. But, like the light bulb, if it works, it works!

Some cultures are more concerned with why things work while others are more interested in how things work.

Systems of Energy – Qi

In the Western scientific traditions we are asked to objectively analyze data and events external to ourselves; in the Eastern tradition we are asked to subjectively investigate the internal world through contemplation, meditation and body control. The conclusion and constructs from Eastern traditions provide models of reality that are different from that of the west or so it may seem at first.

Tai Chi directly affects the flow of qi – the “vital energy” or “life force” of the body – which is necessary to maintain health. This energy flows through the body through a network of 20 pathways (meridians from acupuncture). When these pathways are blocked, qi does not flow properly which gives rise to illness. It stimulates and moves qi through the body and organs through relieving energy blockages. In essence, it is like as acupuncture from the inside.

Learn Tai Chi through Shaolin Arts and open a wonderful world to discover and enjoy along the way.

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