Taiji (another spelling is Tai Chi) consists of sequences of slow low-impact movements, which train the body and mind. It improves health and mental wellbeing and contributes to similar levels of fitness as more strenuous exercise. Practitioners find it both relaxing and invigorating.
The many health benefits of taiji have been proven through plenty of research. My own experience of practicing taiji for nearly twenty years has resulted in my physical confidence improving enormously, as well as my understanding of myself and others.
Practicing Taiji on a regular basis can:
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increase flexibility, balance and coordination
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build muscle strength
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relieve stress and anxiety
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improve focus and concentration
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help prevent illness and injuries
The slow movements of taiji relax the muscles and release tension, improving blood circulation. It requires us to remain focused, thereby achieving a state of mindfulness and calm.
While most practitioners train in taiji for health benefits, its origins are a martial art, and many people practice it as such. Its proper full name is "taijiquan", which means "supreme ultimate boxing". It is useful to understand the self-defence applications of the movements in order to perform them correctly.
Tajiquan is an internal martial art. It focuses on the use of internal power, achieved through intention and the cultivation of "qi" - a Chinese term which roughly translates as "energy". Through its internal focus, It helps us understand our bodies better and how we can move in both a relaxed and efficient way.
According to a previous system for transcribing Chinese characters, taiji used to be known as tʻai chi chʻüan, usually abbreviated to t’ai chi. This is the spelling most people recognise but I use the word "taiji" which comes from the modern Pinyin system now used in China.
Taiji is different from qigong, which means “energy work”. Qigong consists of exercises specifically designed to develop and balance the flow of qi within the body to improve and maintain health. While the term qigong is quite recent, healing exercises working with qi have been documented as far back as the sixth century B.C.
In my classes, we usually do a little qigong as an additional “warm up” and to prepare the mind and body before practicing taiji.
While the practice of taiji has been documented for more than three hundred years, its origins stretch back even further.
As records are not very consistent, there are many theories and myths regarding its beginning and development.
Some of the most popular stories relate to the Daoist monk Zhang San-Feng who lived in the thirteenth century.
One legend says he dreamed that the Emperor taught him martial arts. Another tells us that he invented the art of taijiquan after observing a fight between a crane and a snake.