Tai Chi for Stress Relief
Scientific Evidence
Scientific evidence suggests that three basic therapeutic principles underlie Tai Chi's effectiveness. These are the restoration of vitality, the storage of physical energy, and the massaging action of the visceral organs. Tai Chi practice provides physical therapy, a practice Western science has only recently begun to explore and appreciate. You will achieve better health through balanced limb development. Your breathing will become smooth, and your muscles will be relaxed. You will increase the flexibility of your joints and develop a better outlook on life, feeling healthier and maintaining a high spirit.
The Five Steps of Tai Chi
Tai Chi is designed for older individuals or anyone that needs to relieve stress and promote relaxation as they improve flexibility and muscle tone with gentle slow-motion low-impact easy to learn dance-like postures. Each class has 5 steps for relaxation:
Tai Chi Flexibility
(for total joint and muscle flexibility)
Tai Chi Rooting
(improves balance and lower body strength)
Tai Chi Breathing
(upper body, shoulder, arms, wrists and hands flexibility)
Tai Chi Massage
(uses the acupressure points to release trapped energy)
Tai Chi Postures
(a relaxing dance-like movement for energizing your mind and body
Step 1 - Tai Chi Stretching
These are unique Tai Chi exercises that loosen the joints and muscles. What makes these exercises unique is that they use a gentle motion to stretch the entire body at once. This is a natural way the body stretches. I’m sure that after sitting down for a long time, you’ve stood up and stretched by raising your arms and gently tightening your body. It feels great! That is Tai Chi natural stretching.
Step 2 - Tai Chi Rooting
Rooting serves two purposes. 1) It develops leg strength and improves muscle tone. At the same time, it strengthens the lower back and improves balance. 2) Tai Chi moves smoothly like water in a country stream. Moving your body gracefully and smoothly requires knowing how to shift your weight from one leg to the other. Walking requires the same action. In fact, just after a few weeks, you’ll find walking easier, and you’ll feel lighter on your feet.
Step 3 - Tai Chi Breathing
Hand Expression & Breathing – One of the first places many people develop arthritis is in their hands. The joints become inflamed due to poor circulation and lack of stretching of the fingers, wrists, elbows, and shoulders. Tai Chi Hand Expression improves circulation with specific circular hand and arm movements, thereby enhancing blood flow and joint flexibility. In fact, many people with arthritis have achieved a 90 percent improvement.
Step 4 - Tai Chi Massage
You’ve heard of acupressure, acupuncture, and therapeutic massage. Tai Chi Massage uses all three of these simultaneously, employing specific methods that target a variety of acupressure and acupuncture points. Have you ever had a headache? Most people have, and one of the first things that everyone does is massage their temples. This is a prominent acupuncture point used to relieve headaches and relax the mind. The Tai Chi massage will show you the proper way to massage these points for the maximum benefit.
Step 5 - Tai Chi Postures
They are dance-like movements that combine the previous four steps into one smooth, fluid action. These postures are performed slowly, without tension, and accompanied by deep rhythmic breathing. Each Tai Chi posture, in itself, is a gentle physical exercise and a form of stretching. Each posture flows into the next without pause, keeping your body in constant motion, like water flowing in a country brook. Tai Chi postures are rooted in the feet, directed by the waist, and expressed with the hands. You learn to coordinate the hands and feet, which reduces the tension of everyday activities such as walking. Alleviating stress has a profound effect on your health and attitude.
Your Professional Team
Master Rothrock and his team of Professional Black Belt Coaches have over 45 years of experience. They know how to keep you motivated and on track to achieve your goals and get the best workout you've ever had. Classes are based on three pillars for success: Physical Workout (aka Kung Fu Fit), the Mental Workout (Focus and Discipline), and Motivation (personal Black Belt trainers in every class). When you get started in the Beginner Kung Fu Fit Program, you do not have to be in shape. The program, designed by Master Rothrock, will gradually improve your conditioning, flexibility, and muscle tone, and help you burn fat to lose weight.