tai chi (tai chi chuan, Tai Ji, tai ji chuan, Tai Ji Juan, tai ji quan, Taiqi): A variation of self-healing. Tai chi is an ancient, yoga-like Chinese system of ballet-like exercises designed for health, self-defense, and spiritual development.

Practicing tai chi facilitates the flow of chi (life energy) through the body by dissolving blockages both within the body and between the body and the environment. Traditional tai chi involves about 108 to 128 postures, including repetitions. The difficulty lies in concatenating the postures into circular movements. Quan means boxing.

(See also: Tai chi, Body Mind and Soul, Alternative Health, Alternative Health Dictionary)

Tai Chi-Chi Kung (taiji qigong): path to self-mastery that consists mainly of Chi Kung exercises and tai chi. Its key is dynamic balance of the mind and body energy.

Tai Chi-Chi Kung includes Chi Kung Meridian exercises, Chi meditation, and Five Element Energy Balancing exercises. The Chi Kung exercises release very potent healing energy in the body for dramatic health benefits.

(See also: Tai Chi-Chi Kung, Body Mind and Soul, Alternative Health, Alternative Health Dictionary)

TAI CHI

Tai Chi (pronounced tie-chee) emphasizes complete relaxation, and is essentially a form of mediation, or what has been called "meditation in motion." Unlike the hard martial arts, Tai Chi is characterized by soft, slow, flowing movements that emphasize force, rather than brute strength. Though it is soft, slow, and flowing, the movements are executed precisely. 

Tai Chi history is not well documented; however, aspects of it date back at least 2000 years B.C. in ancient India. In the 13th century A.D., a Taoist (pronounced DOW-ist) monk, Chang Sang Feng, developed what is known as Tai Chi. Then Tai Chi came to be associated with different families in China, and each family’s name designated a different style of Tai Chi. The Chen family developed the Tai Chi style upon which all other modern styles are based. A man by the name of Yang, who studied with the Chen family, later modified the Chen style, thus developing the Yang style of Tai Chi Chuan. The Yang style is the most common traditional style of Tai Chi Chuan practiced today. The Yang style has three different forms that are practiced: Simplified form, short form, and long form.

Chi is an ancient Chinese concept that designates a form of energy. The term literally means "breath," as does the ancient Greek word from which we get the word "spirit." According to the philosophy of Tai Chi, this energy, which flows throughout every body, can become blocked. Tai Chi philosophy states that illness is due to the flow of the chi through the body becoming blocked. The Chinese recognize several means for freeing up the flow of chi. Two of the more commonly known forms in this country are acupuncture and Tai Chi.

Tai Chi, as also used as form of meditation to develop self-understanding. Learning to control oneself enables one to deal with others. This self-control can come about through two principal notions found in the Tao Te Ching (pronounced DOW tay ching) and I Ching (pronounced EE- ching). These two notions are the fundamental concepts of yin and yang. The philosophy of Taoism (DOW-ism) understands everything in terms of these two opposing principles. Though these two principles are seen as opposites, the one necessarily merges into the other, creating the natural balance of self and world, hence the classic symbol of Tai Chi . The Tai Chi form is meant to enable one to bring the principles of yin and yang back into their fundamental, natural harmony. The ultimate effect of this harmony, according to Taoism and Tai Chi, is one's physical and spiritual well-being.

(See also: TAI CHI, Alternative Health, Holistic Health, Body Mind and Soul)

Tai chi:

through this form of movement, one achieves health and tranquility while developing the mind and body. Tai chi teaches the individual how to control the nervous system in order to put the entire body to rest, believed to be an effective way of staying healthy.

(See also: Tai chi, Alternative Medicine, Body Mind and Soul)

TAI CHI: Part of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Flowing slow movement and breathing techniques stimulate and regulate the flow of Chi energy.

(See also: TAI CHI, Alternative Health, Body Mind and Soul)

Tai Chi: This Chinese Taoist martial art form combines mental concentration, coordinated breathing and slow, graceful body movements to increase well-being, lessen stress, and strengthen the body.

(See also: Tai Chi, Alternative Health, Body Mind and Soul)

Tai chi (other names: Tai chi chuan, Tai Ji, tai ji chuan, Tai Ji Juan, Tai ji quan, Taiqi): Variation of self-healing. Tai chi is an ancient, yoga-like Chinese system of ballet-like exercises designed for health, self-defense, and spiritual development. Practicing tai chi supposedly facilitates the flow of chi through the body by dissolving blockages both within the body and between the body and the environment. Traditional Tai Chi prescribes about 108 to 128 postures, including repetitions.

(See also: Tai chi, Alternative Health, Body Mind and Soul)

TAI CHI

Also Known as TAI CHI CH’UAN, and is part of the Tai Chi Ch’uan System, which, originally, was a formidable martial art operating on several levels of awareness. It embodies Taoist Philosophy, and accordingly is extremely beneficial to good health.

Tai Chi is a comprehensive series of gentle physical movements, and breathing techniques, with mental and spiritual intent, which allows you to experience a meditative state. It is calming and rejuvenating, and assists the body and mind to maintain balance, and exercises the body, mind and spirit, together with the internal organs.

It includes both the inner and outer expressions of the body and mind. Here we are able to balance the Yin and Yang life force energy of Chi. In this way this system develops the ability to balance the “yielding and attacking” aspects in martial art combat. It has also been such a major influence in all the martial arts we see today.

SEE CHI KUNG.

(See also: TAI CHI, Alternative Health, Holistic Health, Body Mind and Soul)

Tai Chi: A system of non-combative martial arts movements that are expected to increase energy and improve the flow of vital life energy or qi. It can relax muscles, improve posture and enhance mental control. Tai Chi finds its roots in the 13th century when Taoist monks practiced this form of movement.

(See also: Tai Chi, Alternative Health, Body Mind and Soul)

Tai Chi Chuan

Traditional Chinese non-aggressive martial art based on awareness and yielding which is practiced in slow motion; a meditation technique for grounding and centering, that is based on Taoist philosophy.

(See also: Tai Chi Chuan, New Age Spirituality, Body Mind and Soul)

TAI CHI CHUAN: The objective of tai chi chuan is to achieve health and tranquility while developing the mind and body, through movement. It teaches an individual how to control her nervous system in order to put the entire body to rest, which is an effective way to stay healthy.

(See also: Tai chi chuan, Alternative Health, Body Mind and Soul)

T’ai Chi: An ancient Chinese meditative and martial art – often referred to as “meditation in motion” – that promotes mental and spiritual development. It involves slow movements and breathing to improve balance, muscle control, breath awareness and concentration. Used to treat back problems, stress, cancer and other chronic conditions.

(See also: T’ai Chi, Alternative Health, Body Mind and Soul)

Tai Ji , T'ai Chi, Tai Chi, Tai Chi Chuan , Tai-ji, Tai Ji Quan, Taiji, Taijiquan:

One of the MARTIAL ARTS and also a form of meditative exercise using methodically slow circular stretching movements and positions of body balance.

(See also: Tai Ji, Alternative Health, Body Mind and Soul)

somatic therapy (somatic disciplines, somatic methods, somatics, somatic techniques, somatic therapies): Field that encompasses aikido, the Alexander Technique, applied kinesiology, Arica, Aston-Patterning, Awareness Through Movement, bioenergetics, Body-Mind Centering, Capoeria, Continuum, CranioSacral Therapy, Eutony, Focusing, Functional Integration, Hakomi, Hellerwork, judo, karate, kundalini yoga, kung fu, Lomi (see lomi-lomi and Lomi work), Oki yoga (see Oki-Do), Process-Oriented Psychotherapy (process psychology), rebirthing, reflexology, Resonant Kinesiology, Rolfing, Rosen work (see Rosen Method), sensory awareness, SHEN, somasynthesis, tai chi, Touch for Health, Trager, Trans Fiber, yoga therapy, and Zero Balancing.

Subtle-energy elements are a commonality of somatic therapies. Thomas Hanna, founder of the journal Somatics, coined the word somatics.

(See also: Somatic therapy, Body Mind and Soul, Alternative Health, Alternative Health Dictionary)

Chen style (Chen style T'ai Chi, Chen style T'ai Chi Chuan): prototype of tai chi. It combines gentle and explosive movements.

(See also: Chen style, Body Mind and Soul, Alternative Health, Alternative Health Dictionary)

I Liq Ch'uan: An internal martial art. it is a way to align one's body and to harmonize one's energy. Its theory posits chi, yin, and yang and encompasses certain tai chi principles and certain Zen concepts.

(See also: I Liq Ch'uan, Body Mind and Soul, Alternative Health, Alternative Health Dictionary)

Chi-Therapy (Gestalt energy work): Apparent mixture of bioenergetics, Ericksonian Hypnosis, Gestalt psychotherapy, inner child work, NLP, and tai chi promoted by John Mastro, C.S.W., and Robin Mastro, M.F.A. Its principle is that when chi (life energy) flows more freely, belief systems, emotions, memories, and messages from one's true self can emerge into consciousness.

(See also: Chi-Therapy, Body Mind and Soul, Alternative Health, Alternative Health Dictionary)

Chinese Wushu (gongfu, kung-fu, martial arts, Martial Qigong, Wu Gong, Wushu): Variety of fighting methods that encompasses neigong (inner exercises) and tai chi. Its philosophy emphasizes traditions, experience, and rational understanding.

(See also: Chinese Wushu, Body Mind and Soul, Alternative Health, Alternative Health Dictionary)

Feeling Light: Holistic approach to wellness and weight management. It encompasses ear acupuncture, Qigong, tai chi, and the use of flower essences (see flower essence therapy).

(See also: Feeling Light, Body Mind and Soul, Alternative Health, Alternative Health Dictionary)

Oki-Do (Master Oki's way, Okido, Okido way of living): organic way to ultimate health developed by the late Masahiro Oki. It rests on Chinese Chikwando, macrobiotics, tai chi, Tibetan medicine, yoga, and Zen, and it encompasses Oki-Do Shiatsu, Oki-Do Yoga, and Shinkiko.

(See also: Oki-Do, Body Mind and Soul, Alternative Health, Alternative Health Dictionary)