The Encyclopedia of Crystals, Herbs, and New Age Elements: An A to Z Guide to New Age Elements and How to Use Them - Adams Media 2016

Tai Chi
The Power of Movement

ORIGINS

Tai chi is a Chinese martial art that is closely related to Qi Gong (see entry in this chapter) and practiced in various styles, from fast-paced self-defense techniques to slow-paced meditative movements. The term tai chi comes from the Mandarin tài jí quán: tài jí, meaning “great, ultimate,” and quán, meaning “boxing.”

HISTORY/LORE

The origins of tai chi are largely unknown. One legend says that a Taoist monk named Chang San-Feng created tai chi based on the movements of animals. (In fact, some of the movements are named for animals and various natural phenomena—for example, “embrace tiger, return to mountain.”) It is more likely, though, that tai chi is rooted in a combination of Chinese philosophy (such as the concepts of chi and yin/yang) and martial arts such as kung fu. Today, the practice of tai chi continues in China and beyond. World Tai Chi and Qigong Day (www.worldtaichiday.org) is celebrated on the last Saturday of April each year in hundreds of cities across the globe.

USES

The three main reasons to practice tai chi are health, meditation, and self-defense. Tai chi is an excellent stress reliever that has been shown to ease anxiety and depression, lower blood pressure, and improve the quality of sleep. As a meditative practice, it serves to keep you grounded in your body and in the present moment. And while the slower styles of tai chi may not seem very helpful in the realm of self-defense, the movements are the foundations of powerful, fast, and effective martial arts techniques.