| Tai Chi, Chi Gong and other meditative styles of | | | | internal Chinese martial arts. These arts, if |
| martial arts have been around for quite sometime. | | | | practiced correctly, can also be used for |
| These meditative styles of martial arts are | | | | self-defense. Tai Chi uses push hands, search |
| sometimes called internal styles. Styles such as | | | | hands, and sticky hands drills for learning how to |
| BaGua (or 8 palms), is based off of the | | | | knock someone off balance, find the center of |
| numerology of works such as the I Ching. These | | | | someone else's balance, and disable them from |
| styles of martial arts focus on deep breathing, | | | | doing the same to you. It is quite a tricky skill to |
| meditation, relaxation, and proper body alignment | | | | learn, but can be quite handy in a fight if you |
| and posture. For the purposes of this article, I will | | | | know how to use it properly. |
| be speaking mostly of Tai Chi, but really any | | | | The focus of Tai Chi lessons is often cultivating a |
| internal Chinese art could apply to what is being | | | | healthy spirit, in other words, reducing stress and |
| said here. | | | | improving concentration and body control / will |
| Tai Chi is excellent for stress relief and | | | | power. Not everyone uses Tai Chi for fighting. In |
| encouraging proper posture. Many practitioners of | | | | fact, most don't. Because Tai Chi is typically |
| Tai Chi Chaun claim that they never see, or need | | | | practiced slowly, the movements may not be |
| to see, a chiropractor. Tai Chi is heavily influenced | | | | suitable for children, who are restless and can |
| by Chinese medicine, which is a holistic approach | | | | easily become bored (adults often enter the |
| to well being which incorporates what westerners | | | | "zone", or a zen like state. This is where the real |
| might call physiotherapy, massage, and | | | | stress relief benefits can come in). In places like |
| homeopathy, but also acupuncture and theories of | | | | China or Taiwan, Tai Chi and Ba Gua are often |
| how the body works. Many highly priced and | | | | the last arts a practitioner will learn after other |
| sought after medical doctors are also homeopaths | | | | more external (punching and kicking) styles of |
| and naturopaths and study eastern medicine. | | | | Gung Fu (sometimes also called Kung Fu). |
| Tai Chi sessions last about an hour. Students are | | | | If you are looking for an unparalleled way of |
| encouraged to relax and focus their attention on | | | | reducing your stress level, improving your |
| the basic movements which are formulated to | | | | strength, concentration, balance, posture, and all |
| improve strength, flexibility, coordination, body | | | | around health, Tai Chi and other related internal |
| awareness, and balance. Deep breathing exercises | | | | martial arts would be an excellent addition to any |
| are also a major part of Tai Chi, and other | | | | work out routine. |