Let's talk about Tai Chi and Qigong and how it can help you to a life of good health and wellness. Tai Chi is both a martial art and a healing art. It originates in China and has been around for hundreds of years. There are many different styles of Tai Chi taught around the world. The style I teach is from the Yang family and there are a great variety of Yang forms both modern and traditional. The form I teach in my classes is the Rushing Water Yang 24 step form which is a modern form performed in a traditional style which was created and taught to me by my teacher Sifu Ian Houghton. Sifu Ian has been doing Tai Chi, Qigong and Kung Fu for nearly 50 years and his knowledge of Tai Chi and his expression of the various movements within the forms is exceptional and quite beautiful and mesmerising to watch. This form is especially good as a health and wellness form and suitable for all ages and levels of fitness. For those with problems standing it can be adapted to be done seated.
My three year teacher training with Sifu Ian was on a one to one basis with personal training sessions two mornings a week, plus group lessons within several group classes of Tai Chi and Qigong where I helped organise the classes and assisted in teaching as required. Nowadays I teach my own classes specialising in health and wellbeing. My background over more than 25 years is in meditation, Reiki and the Toltec tradition Shamanic path, so very much about physical, mental and emotional wellness.
So what is the difference between Tai Chi and Qigong also spelt Chi Kung. They are two parts of the same, with there being hundreds of different Qigong exercises for a teacher to choose from which are simple and easy to learn and can be taken home and practised right from the first lesson, which to me is very important as remembering even one simple movement and being able to practice this in your own time will bring you confidence and a sense of achievement. Each Qigong exercise has specific health benefits and the movements are graceful and flowing like a soft moving meditation. Most Qigong are done standing on the spot, although all the Qigong movements can be done seated if necessary.
With Tai Chi you move slowly around the room as you learn the Tai Chi steps as part of the Tai Chi form which is a series of Qigong movements which follow on from each other in a set pattern that you will learn gradually over the weeks and months of practice. My Tai Chi classes are usually an equal mix of the Qigong and the Tai Chi form. The Qigong teaches you how to move in Tai Chi and without Qigong there would be no Tai Chi form.
Whilst the Qigong each each have specific health and wellness benefits the Tai Chi form is known for its all round health benefits. The combination of the two will bring better health, relieve stress, bring calm and clarity and help with mental health issues, improve physical strength and balance, correct posture, improve sleep, help with weight loss, digestion, improve aches, pains and arthritis, increase flexibility, brings co ordination of mind and body and much more. If you would like to try Tai Chi for yourself then please do come along to a class. New people and beginners are always very welcome. See class schedule for details.
Comments