the healing spiral

Develop the body
calm the mind
cultivate the heart

Master Moy Lin-shin

tai chi

the purpose of practising Tai Chi is so you can still enjoy life when you're old enough to know what it's for
- Cheng Man-Ch'ing

Tai chi is a in martial art from China with its origins in Daoism. Today it is often practiced for health reasons.

In China, Tai Chi is referred to as nei-gung (internal work). With this phrase, Tai Chi practitioners indicate that the aim of their practice is to work on the inside of the body from the outside. In the West, the main emphasis in exercise is on muscular effort. In Tai Chi, equal emphasis is placed on exercising tendons, ligaments, and even bones, as well as the internal organs of the body, which are gently massaged by the movements.

Practitioners soon discover that working on the body in this way affects the whole self, not just the physical.

I've been involved with Tai Chi since 1988, first only as a student, and now also as an instructor with the Taoist Tai Chi Society. It's a wonderful way to learn about your body and improve your health , whatever your age.

Links

• Taoist Tai Chi Society

Articles

Some articles relating to Tai Chi and the Chinese understanding of the human body

• The Chinese view of the human energy system
  • The three treaures
  • The Dan Tian
• The Tai Ji Tu (Yin - Yang symbol)

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