| T’ai
Chi is a non-combative martial art that
uses various forms (slow movements) for
self-defence as well as mental clarity.
Yang is the style most commonly practised
in the West, which takes the form of a rhythmic
series of movements performed slowly and
linked into one long, flowing exercise.
It can take anything from 5-10 minutes (24
movements) to 20-40 minutes (108 movements),
and the sequences have interesting symbolic
names, e.g. “snake creeps down to water”
and “stork cools its wings”. The result
is a very relaxing therapy, that calms breathing
and brings body and mind together to balance
qi. It is not surprising that t’ai chi is
sometimes described as “meditation in motion”.
T’ai Chi should ideally be practised outside
so the universe qi can combine with the
body’s qi. |
