Jeet Kune Do Straight Lead

Taoist Tai Chi For a Change, Getting Real Peace

Author: Samuel Oliver
Date Posted: February 06, 2008

Taoist Tai Chi is a gentle martial art, (called an internal art in China) which ensures the well-being and health of people of all dispositions.

Millions of people both Asian and otherwise are enjoying the health benefits of taoist tai chi practice. It is estimated that there are over 500 specific training sand schools for this particular style located in twenty-five countries from across the world. Although it has been around for hundreds of years in China and Japan taoist tai chi was brought to North America by Master Moy Lin-shin in 1970.

The fundamental intention of Taoist tai chi is to promote and restore health. It is one of the gentlest forms of tai chi and is ideal for the elderly and those in recuperation to practice. The movements are slow, deliberate and graceful and their design is to help the student develop strength and flexibility.

Practicing taoist tai chi also assists with painful joints and muscles as it emphasizes delicate turns and stretches. It is also good for increasing weak muscle strength and improving circulation in the body. It also helps people that are shaky or dizzy regain their sense of balance.

The exercises are also designed to help you release stress and worries through delicate action. Sometimes it is called "meditation in motion" as the continuity of movements combined with a sense of mindfulness help to heal and rejuvenate both mind and body. As the practice is so grounded in meditation and working out at the same time, Taoist tai chi is also known as an anti-aging form of gentle exercise.

The physical component of Taoist Tai Chi consists of the basic principles known as the 'Foundations'. The entire set of the Foundations consists of one hundred and eight movements. Some of these movements emulate the postures of the military or of animals found in nature as is typical of all tai chi. However the movements are not necessarily as aggressive as the very Old Frame styles such as the Chen style of Tai Chi.

The overall spiritual intention of Taoist tai chi is to develop an inner sense of peace, wisdom and knowing that puts one in the spiritually powerful position to extend compassion and generosity to others. The supreme aim of it is to lose all ego and self-centeredness through the practice of this ancient art of "meditation in motion."

Taoist tai chi can be compared a bit to the Alexandra Technique in which the emphasis is on relaxation, breathing, balance, posture, lining up the spine, correcting angles, watching the transfer of weight, turning in spirals, opening and closing the limbs, centering the tail bone and stretching and aligning the spine. The movements are gentle and circular and are done with a focused but relaxed state of mind.

A key aspect to Taoist Tai Chi is the adoption of a spirit of selflessness, kindness and the removal of selfishness. Taoist Tai Chi is not just practiced but lived, your life can change...Perhaps lasting change will not happen overnight and may be taught best by example by demonstrating a live in harmony, in compassion and in service to others.

About The Author

Samuel Oliver has an website about Tai Chi and Qigong including, Tips, Secrets and Information moving towards discovering Chi Essentials for relaxation, health and wellness at: http://www.TaiChiEssentials.com
Taoist Tai Chi

Article Source: JKD Street Combat - online collection of Tai Chi articles.

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