When I was younger, I lived near a great big park planted in the middle of a large, bustling city. When I’d strap on my roller-blades and head out to the park with my dog, Zoe, I loved circling the park and checking out what other patrons of the park were up to. There would, of course, be hoards of other people walking their dogs, children running around the playground slides, nannies with strollers, compulsive joggers armed with pedometers and Walkmans, and the occasional group of Dungeons & Dragons fanatics acting out roleplaying games. But the folks who fascinated me the most were those serene individuals who assumed a regal position in the middle of the park, and began swaying in trance-like movements that I could not exactly pinpoint or define at that time.

I wasn’t exactly sure what these curious folks were up to, but I couldn’t look away. After a while, I finally mustered up my courage and proceeded to question one of the lone swayers, trying to find out what it all meant.

“Tai chi,” he explained, “is an ancient internal Chinese martial art. It brings me balance.”
And with that, he continued to gaze right through me, serene as a Yogi, moving his hand through the air like an imaginary thread.

So, what is Tai Chi, exactly? Tai Chi descends from Qigong, an ancient Chinese discipline that has its roots in traditional Chinese medicine. The Chinese characters that spell out Tai Chi Chuan can be roughly translated as “supreme ultimate force” - cool, huh? In essence, Tai Chi can be perceived as a crossroads between yoga movement and meditation. Tai Chi includes a number of forms, or position sets, and although it is considered by many a natural extension of Chinese martial arts, the movements in Tai Chi are actually very slow and gentle, exercised with grace and precision. The emphasis in Tai Chi in not about the brute force typically associated with other forms of martial arts, but rather on the internal power that can be exercised.

Aside from the health benefits of shifting your body into movement, Tai Chi training is also recommended as a form of stress management, similar to Yoga. Chi is ancient Chinese notion referring to a form of energy. According to Chinese medical philosophy, one becomes sick when there is a block preventing the flow of chi through the body. The Chinese also believe that Tai Chi also has far-reaching psychological effects - practiced as a form of meditation, Tai Chi is supposed to help us understand ourselves and interact in better ways with those around us.

Moreover, unlike some other forms of physical activity, which may not be right for everyonbe, Tai Chi has much to offer for a wider audience. A major reason for this is that the movements involved are low impact, and put minimal stress on the muscles and joints. Unlike running or hitting the gym, the risk of injury is extremely low, and you can practice it almost anywhere, at anytime. Tai Chi requires very little space, no equipment, no special clothing or uniform, and allows you to set your own pace.

Ready to let your Chi flow without constraint? Instructor Scott Cole of beYOU.tv is here to whip your Chi into shape and guide you through the 5 elements of Tai Chi.