Description:
T'ai Chi is a 2,000-year-old Chinese martial art that is becoming an increasingly popular exercise trend in the U.S. Its appeal is in its calming, destressing, and energy-boosting qualities. It also improves balance, coordination, strength, and flexibility, and is credited with many health benefits, such as lowering blood pressure. Author Bill Douglas has studied T'ai Chi and QiGong for 20 years and teaches at colleges, medical universities, and corporations. He describes the myriad benefits, how to prepare for your first T'ai Chi experience, its different styles, and how and where to practice. Douglas presents 64 T'ai Chi movements in photographs and instructions. Recurring boxes give tips for living the principles, definitions of Chinese terms, special cautions, and anecdotes. The difference between T'ai Chi and QiGong is not clearly explained, however: "T'ai Chi's goal of relaxing the mind and body to encourage the flow of energy through us makes it QiGong. However, not all QiGong is T'ai Chi." Then he tells us to "forget about it" because the differences will become obvious as you learn the exercises. Douglas admits that no book is a substitute for a live class with a live teacher: "The ability to see an instructor move and to ask for clarification or hear the questions of other students is invaluable. Also, it's easier in person for instructors to explain things in stages while you relax, whereas when using a book, facts must be remembered because the instructor isn't there to remind you." Still, this book is a useful introduction to the principles of T'ai Chi and QiGong, and an interesting supplement to what you'll learn in a class. --Joan Price
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