Friday, August 17, 2007

T'ai Chi Chih

After making the previous post I was asked, "What is T'ai Chi Chih?"

Here is a website: http://www.taichichih.org/index.htm.

T'ai Chi Chih was developed from T'ai Chi Chuan, a martial arts form also known as "meditation in motion." There is extensive peer-reviewed research demonstrating a broad range of health benefits available through the practice of T'ai Chi Chuan. Benefits include improved balance, with a reduced risk of falls and fractures, improved bone strength and improved immune function, among others.

T'ai Chi Chih was developed as a simpler, non-violent form. (Frankly, I never found any violence in t'ai chi chuan, which I studied when I lived in Phoenix.) It is easy to learn and easy to do, yet it engages the entire body.

"Balancing the chi" is simply a paradigm upon which the form was developed. It is not necessary to believe in chi for the practice to yield benefits.

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