One Leg Balance Most people can stand on one leg, but the ability changes a lot with age — and that’s actually expected. The short answer: yes, everyone benefits from practicing one‑leg balance, but no, it’s not realistic to expect the same performance at every age. 🧠 Key takeaway Balance naturally declines with age, especially after 60, but being able to stand on one leg for some amount of time is considered a meaningful marker of lower-body strength, proprioception, and fa

Quiet Joy There’s a special kind of joy that comes from moving slowly. In a world that pushes us to hurry, multitask, and squeeze productivity out of every minute, tai chi invites us to do the opposite. It asks us to soften, to breathe, to feel our feet on the ground, and to let movement unfold like a quiet conversation between the body and the mind. Practicing tai chi isn’t just an exercise routine — it’s a way of living more peacefully, more intentionally, and more joyfully

This performance at the World Cup 2026 is amazing. I highly recommend that you turn off the audio and skip through the opening commercials, both distractions to a wonderful demonstration of athletic ability (first video). The second and third video are short clips. - Peace

Snake Creeps is one of the hardest moves for new and intermediate students. Here are three videos by three different masters/instructors to help people of various abilities learn the movement. Watch all three and decide what works best for your practice. Each video may open with an ad that you can skip through. Peace

Practice with Vivien Chao. These are beautiful videos and easy to follow. The movements are listed on the screen and the music is gentle and perfect for meditation in motion. Please rate this blog (and other blogs) to help us decide what is the best content for our audience. Thank you for sharing stars! Peace #taichi #8piecesofbrocades #vivienchao

Watch Jackie as she demonstrates Moving for Better balance at the YMCA. Turn up the volume to catch the music and hear the directions! Learn about Moving for Better Balance on the Balance Page. https://www.bcalmbzen.com/taichi/moving-for-better-balance This class or a version of it is offered at YMCA locations across the country for free. You don't need to be a member of the Y. If your Y doesn't offer this class, request it and they will bring in a specially trained instr

Get started with your exercise of choice while sitting in a chair. The only equipment you need is a sturdy armless chair (no wheels) and a phone, tablet or laptop to watch and follow the videos. Once you become familiar with the routines, you won't need the videos, just some relaxing music. Peace #chairyoga #chairtaichi #chairgigong

If you've heard terms in different practices but don't really know or understand what they mean, here is a short list... with short explanations. 🪷 Mind/Body, Energy, & Martial Arts 🔮 Chakra Stones Crystals aligned with the seven chakras. Used for grounding, clarity, and energetic balance. More... 🔮 Chakras Energy centers along the spine. Seven points from root to crown. Harmony of body, emotion, spirit. More... 🥋 Karate “Empty hand.” Japanese striking art. Discipline, pr

Senior Group Tai Chi In case you missed it: If you or a loved one are 65+ or disabled (45+) did you know that the YMCA offers free Moving for Better Balance classes across the United States? You do not need to be a member of the Y to join this class. The entire class can be performed from a sitting position. with a chair for stability or standing without any assistance. "Moving For Better Balance is a 12-week evidence-based group exercise program developed by researchers at

This is an introduction to a simple qigong exercise for your morning routine.

Here is your memory‑friendly cheat sheet for the Yang Style 24 Short Form, written so you can recall the entire sequence at a glance. It’s compact, pattern‑based, and designed to stick in your mind without (too much) effort. Keep in mind that you cannot learn the moves or the principles from this cheat sheet. It just helps you to remember the order of the moves in this particular form. Other forms use the same moves plus more but in different or repeating order. ⭐ THE WHOLE F

Tai chi is such a wonderful martial art with so many benefits. Unfortunately, YouTube, Google, streaming commercials, books and more are flooding the zone with AI produced commercials and impossible claims. This blogger has always, for free, sifted through the videos and books to provide my readers with suggestions to review honest and proven recommendations. To sign up for a tai chi walking class via an AI commercial may buy nothing but pain. An introductory charge could en

If you are bored with your tai chi or qi gong practice, you've forgotten what makes a practice worthwhile. It's time to review the tai chi Principles. It takes a lifetime to come close to perfection, so don't fool yourself into thinking that you don't need to work on every Principle. Pick one to start and as you become more confident, choose another. The Principles are explained here. Move on to the Four Main Energies. If you would like a pep talk, not flashy but helpful, wa

Yang Style Chi Walking 1. Set your posture before you move Feet: Stand with feet hip-width apart, toes pointing forward. Knees: Slightly bent, never locked. Pelvis: Gently tucked so your low back feels long, not arched. Torso: Spine tall, crown of head lifted, chin slightly tucked. Shoulders/arms: Shoulders relaxed; arms can hang loosely at your sides or float in front of you as if holding a soft ball. Gaze: Look straight ahead, soft focus. Take 3 slow breaths here, in

Here’s a clear, practical guide to choosing a good Tai Chi or yoga instructor —the kind of process that helps you feel confident, safe, and supported in your practice. I’ll break it into steps you can actually use, whether you’re evaluating someone online or in person. 🌿 How to Choose a Good Tai Chi or Yoga Instructor 1. Check Their Training and Credentials A strong instructor doesn’t need a wall of certificates, but they should have: Formal training in a recognized lineage

If you are a beginner or even if you practiced Qi Gong or Tai Chi for a while, you may not understand the difference between them. Some instructors mix them together with qi gong as a warm up and cool down with tai chi as the main exercise. The following video provides a good explanation. Calming qigong for beginners. The most detailed chi walking video we could find. It's a long video! Our favorite version of chi walking. Starts at 3.:33. Easiest to follow and a great way to

A blended approach is a smart way to build a Tai Chi practice—especially for someone who values back‑friendly movement , clear structure , and confidence‑building teaching . You get the gentleness and joint‑protection of Sun Style plus the flowing, expressive qualities of Yang Style without overloading your spine. A discussion with a Sun style and a Yang style instructor, followed by a discussion with your physician can help you determine the best way to protect your back wh

Follow along with Diane at Open the Door to Tai Chi and learn about "posture." To get the most out of your practice, the principles must be your guide. Peace #taichi #posture #yangstyle24form

Chen Tai Chi traces back to the Chen family of Chenjiagou, where Chen Wangting (17th century) synthesized: • Existing Chen family martial arts • Daoist philosophy • Qigong, Daoyin, and meridian theory • Long Fist routines and Cannon Fist forms All other major Tai Chi styles — Yang, Wu, Wu (Hao), Sun — ultimately descend from Chen. This video demonstrates the Chen 74 form, preformed in a park in the usual way that tai chi is practiced in China - outdoors, in a park. The fo

Here are some tai chi walking videos for your review. They are very different from each other while at the same time, provide instruction that leads to the same place: balance, calmness, the principles. Watch each one, first to last and decide what is right for you and your tai chi goals. You talked to the doctor, correct? They told you this is okay, correct? If not, just watch for now then get some professional advice about what you can physically and mentally do when it com