Tai Chi

What is tai chi?

Tai chi is an ancient Chinese tradition that is often described as meditation in motion. Although tai chi is a martial art it is more widely practiced as a graceful form of exercise. It involves a series of movements performed in a slow, focused manner and accompanied by deep breathing.
Tai chi, also called Taiji, is a noncompetitive, self-paced system of gentle physical exercise and stretching. Each posture flows into the next without pause, ensuring that your body is in constant motion.
Tai chi has many different styles. The most widely practiced are Yang, Chen, Wu, Hao and Sun. Yang is the most widely practiced. Within Wutan we teach all five. We also teach the complimentary arts of Bagua and Xing-i. To help students gain a better understanding of tai chi, we explain the martial benefits as well as the health aspect.

Who can do tai chi?

Tai chi is low impact and puts minimal stress on muscles and joints, making it generally safe for all ages and fitness levels. In fact, because tai chi is a low-impact exercise, it may be especially beneficial if you’re an older adult who otherwise may not exercise.
You may also find tai chi appealing because it’s inexpensive and requires no special equipment. You can do tai chi anywhere, including indoors or outside. And you can do tai
chi alone or in a group class.

Why try tai chi?

When learned correctly and performed regularly, tai chi can be a positive part of an overall approach to improving your health. The benefits of tai chi may include: