Move over Kung Fu and Karate, Tai Chi is the new martial art to try out. It will teach you how to enjoy yourself whilst conquering external opponents and inner demons, one hand-push at a time. This ancient form has picked up a lot of practitioners who are not after defence techniques, but better health.
What is Tai Chi?
Tai Chi is a consummate art, which can be practised alone or with a partner. In the solo version, you go through a series of slow movements, with emphasis on keeping a straight spine and focusing on abdominal breathing. When practising it as competitive sport, the focus shifts on meeting force with a level of soft acceptance. In contrast with traditional fighting, Tai Chi routines are about how energy is emitted from you to the opponent and vice-versa. Pushes and open-hand strikes are more common than punches.
What are the Benefits?
According to the Journal of the American Geriatric Society, Tai Chi helps in improving balance, control, flexibility and cardiovascular fitness. Tai Chi practice eliminates hyperactivity in teenagers. The symbolic movements combined with purposeful breathing have been shown to reduce depression and anxiety. Tai Chi has also become of special interest for those suffering from varying degrees of arthritis. As the postures are based on focusing your own centre of gravity, it helps in reducing the risk of falls in elderly patients.
In an exercise conducted at Shrimad Rajchandra Ashram, Dharampur, participants were encouraged to perform the awareness-filled Tai Chi walking. A distance that would generally be covered within a matter of seconds was intentionally slowed down; making each person aware of various aspects of their body and mind which would otherwise never have come to surface. This walking meditation brings about great peace and stress release.
Who is it for?
“It is open to all ages for practise,” says Ms.Radhika Jhaveri, a Tai Chi practitioner and instructor. “In children and youngsters, it helps diversify and concentrate their energies better. I have seen seniors who could not sit on the floor, practise cross legged sitting after they’ve done Tai Chi.” While it guarantees transformative powers for the body, Tai Chi brings harmony to the mind, as well.
Tai Chi draws from your internal strength and as a result does not use great physical energy. This is one reason why the exercise has boomed within senior community centres and clinics and as a unique fitness option for the youth today.
How can you learn it?
Tai Chi is best practised under the guidance of an instructor, says Ms. Jhaveri. Books, CDs and several online articles are available, but if you want to solidify the practise, an instructor or a Tai Chi centre is most beneficial.
So don’t wait for old age to slow you down, slow down your life at the right age.
Ms. Radhika Jhaveri is a sixth degree black belt and has been teaching martial arts for twenty-one years. For those interested in learning more about Tai Chi practise, you may reach her in Mumbai at +919819374861 or [email protected].
