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

Even though the actual  oxygen fraction in air stays 20.9% , the effective  oxygen available to your body decreases with altitude because air pressure drops. Refer to the chart and recommendations. Talk about this with your health care professional before you start an exercise program or plan to exercise in a new location. 🌬️ Oxygen Concentration by Altitude Oxygen tables from Higher Peak and FlyMall: Altitude (ft) Effective Oxygen % 0 ft 20.9% 1,000 ft 20.1% 2,000 ft 19.4%

This holiday season, if you know some tai chi (24, 40 or even the 108 form) here is a short practice video by Open the Door to Tai Chi. Ah, the calm and relaxed feeling for those of us that practice tai chi during a busy holiday season. Pay attention to your columns, your support leg and empty leg, and keep yourself grounded. Important principles covered in 11 minutes. Happy Holidays! Peace

Here’s a clear, grounded explanation of what a VO₂ test is and why it’s widely considered the gold standard  for measuring aerobic fitness. 🌬️ What a VO₂ Test Measures A VO₂ max test  measures the maximum amount of oxygen your body can use during intense exercise . It’s expressed in milliliters of oxygen per kilogram of body weight per minute (ml/kg/min). During the test: You wear a mouthpiece connected to a metabolic cart  that analyzes the oxygen you inhale and the carbon

Older adults that are students of the Tai chi Moving for Better Balance practice often wonder if the Balance Practice is really Tai chi. It is. It's a modified version of the Yang Style Simplified 8 Form, which is a modification of the Yang Style 24 Short Form which is a modification of the Full Yang Style 108 Form! In between there is also a 40 Form. Whew! In other words, it encapsulates the principles of Tai chi with the purpose of improving balance. Some Balance Form

If you are new to this website or any exercise website or in person program, this blogger has posted reminders in the past but it's time to repeat the best way to approach any exercise program under consideration, in this case, tai chi. Talk to your health care provider. Do you have high blood pressure, a bad knee or knee replacement, scoliosis, a breathing or balance issue, a back injury, a heart condition, diabetes, etc. etc. etc. ? Maybe you are pretty healthy but have not

Tai Chi Silver Sneakers Edition This official video, available for free on YouTube (it's 4 years old at least) is a good introduction for seniors interested in improving their balance and following a short (less than 15 minutes) routine daily. Commercials are for the benefit of and inserted by the poster on YouTube and in no way affiliated with this blogger. This is a very easy and relaxing introduction to Tai Chi/Balance inspired exercise!

Read: Article in PhilaPlace : Forget Walking and Running. Harvard's Best Activity to Stay Fit After 60. https://www.philaplace.org/lifest...

There are various Qigong videos on this website. Sometimes you need to find just the right one for you to stay committed and focused....

A good first step if you want to see if tai chi is for you is to set 10 minutes a day aside to practice the Simplified 8 form. Anybody...

Here is a reminder that the slow movements of Western "exercise" tai chi are rooted in the fighting form of tai chi. Every movement has...

Mindfulness and meditation are like two sides of the same calming coin—each powerful on its own, but even more transformative together....