Whenever I perform tai chi I bring to mind the image of a tiger. The tiger is an animal that embodies many of the principles of tai chi. It uses its weight very well and constantly relaxes down into the ground. It holds no excess tension in its frame. It blends into and is completely at one with its environment. When it moves it is a poem of grace, balance, […]
Tai Chi is a Chinese martial art that has often been adapted to improve the health and balance of its many practitioners. Tai chi is best known around the world for its forms. These slow, beautiful, graceful, flowing movements are associated with calmness of mind and physical control. They are a form of moving meditation with all the health and wellbeing benefits that implies. Although tai chi is mostly associated […]
Tai chi is a profound martial art and exercise system that has become universally popular because tai chi health benefits are so wide-ranging. What’s more ongoing research is constantly showing new areas where tai chi is beneficial. One year it is in the news for treating anxiety and the next year for helping hugely with fibromyalgia. So what makes it so beneficial for such a wide range of physical and […]
The term tai chi (taiji) refers to the constant interplay between the forces of yin and yang. Tai Chi Chuan (taijiquan) is the martial art that uses those forces to develop extraordinary power. Very few tai chi schools now teach the development and use of these forces. This is a huge shame and is leading to the gradual decline of tai chi and the loss of the treasures it contains. […]
Are you tired during the day and wide awake at night? Use breathing for stress relief and sleeping. This is a very common experience and one I’m sure is familiar to you. As humans we have evolved, like most animals, to be awake during the day and to sleep at night. Our sleep cycles are governed by the day/night cycles and by the seasons. Generally we need more sleep during […]
One of my main goals in this blog is to help your release the tension that is imprisoning your body and poisoning your mind. There are several different ways of doing so. One of these is to shake out your tension. In these posts you will learn to change the way you stand so that you aren’t holding onto the tensions you did previously, you learn to stretch so as […]
Would you like to be more focused in whatever you do? Have you tried meditating but couldn’t control your racing mind? Would you like to be calmer and feel in more control of your emotions? Then learn to control your errant monkey mind. Most people have a mind that is unfocused, untrained and prone to creating misery in their life. Modern life is undoubtedly stressful. It gives us so much […]
Your posture is all about the way you hold and move your body. A good posture makes you feel alive, nimble, full of energy and puts minimal strain on your body. A poor posture makes you feel sluggish, drained and puts excess stress on various key joints and other systems. It also plays havoc with your mental health. Your posture plays a huge role in your physical and mental health. […]
Qigong (pronounced chee-gong) is a key element of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). It has been practiced for thousands of years albeit under different names. The word literally means exercises that boost your natural energy. Qi – life giving energy and gong literally mean work or exercise. Qigong consists of various practices chiefly breathing exercises, standing postures and mindful movements. The aim is to build up your energy levels and learn […]
The Chinese term qi (pronounced chee) refers to universal life energy. This energy has been investigated and written about by most cultures in the world. The Japanese call it ki, the Indians call it prana, the Greeks pneuma and so on. But what is it? Qi is an energy that surrounds, permeates and sustains every living thing. All movement and energy in the universe can be thought of as manifestations […]
The Chinese word tai chi (taiji) refers to the ancient concept of yin and yang. Yin yang theory is one of the most important concepts in Chinese culture and has been hugely influential all around the world. The Chinese see the yin yang theory as the governing principle behind all movement, all energy and all life in the universe. It explains how everything relates to everything else from the expansion […]
Tai chi, or to give it the full name tai chi chuan (also spelled taijiquan) is not an easy art to quickly define. So what is tai chi? The Chinese term tai chi (taiji) refers to the universal balance of the forces of yin and yang. This is seen as the overriding principle in the universe that governs all movement, all life and all energy and how everything relates to […]