Tai Chi Postures
About Tai Chi Postures
Tai Chi Postures are what you see when you see people practicing Tai Chi. They go through a series of single postures that are done in a dance-like routine. Each posture connects to the next one without pause. The idea is to move slowly from posture to posture without hesitation like water flowing in a country brook. Beginners start with learning the 24 Postures and at the advanced stages learn the 108 postures. The 108 postures takes approximately 30 minutes to complete. Each posture has colorful names like Brush Knee - Push or Single Whip. These names give you an indication of how you do that posture and the self-defense application for that posture. The word Tai Chi Chuan means Grand Ultimate Fist. That's because Tai Chi is considered the highest form for self-defense.
Balance
Balance is improved as you learn the postures. The reason for this is because you are constantly shifting the weight and moving from posture to posture. Tai Chi postures improve your balance because you must be constantly aware of where your weight is and the variety of the different types of positions.
Muscle Tone
Many people do not think that Tai Chi is an exercise because of its slow-motion and low-impact movements. However, unlike traditional activities such as weightlifting, you are exercising what I call the internal muscle fibers. Not only are you improving the lower body strength, but also the lower back and the arms. You do Tai Chi postures bilaterally. That means what you do the right side you do on the left. That gives you a complete body exercise.
Joint Mobility
Every Tai Chi posture uses all the joints. From the tips of your fingers to your toes. Each position uses the joints in different ways. In one pose, you might have your front knee bent, and back leg stretched and straight. In another pose, you might have all the weight on the back leg with the front toes just touching the ground lightly. Each pose has a different arm and hand movements. In one pose, your arms might spread. In another pose, one arm extends to the front and the other to the arm to the rear. This is improving your overall blood flow and joint flexibility in the shoulders. Fingers, wrists, and elbows are always in different positions. These different positions aid in the flexibility and blood flow in those joints.
Tai Chi Circles
Circles are an essential aspect of Tai Chi. My teacher, Grandmaster Shum, told me emphatically that good Tai Chi is circular. The Tai Chi ancestors believed that since every part of your body is circular, that Tai Chi should be circular too. That works naturally with your body rather than against it. Without understanding circles, you can never use Tai Chi for self-defense. The basic Tai Chi premise for self-defense is to absorb an attack and redirect it away from you. Think of a hurricane. The wind is usually mild, but when it becomes a circle, then nothing can stand in its way.
Breathing
Breathing plays a significant role in every posture. All the breathing is done through the nose to the lower abdomen and then out through the nose. Each posture has an inhale and exhale. Since you are moving your arms and legs differently with each posture, the lower abdominal breathing exercises various internal organs by gently massaging the organs to keep the organs healthy and vibrant.
Very Relaxing
I found tai chi to be very relaxing. My first class was great. After I left, my drive home was peaceful, and mind and body were relaxed. My first class was great.
Linda
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