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Traditional Chinese
Medicine (TCM) incorporates acupuncture, Chinese Herbal
Medicine (CHM),
Tuina (thereputic massage), Medical Qigong and Tai Chi. It is a 5,000 year-old healing art based on empirical data
accumulated over the millennia through simple
observation of natural phenomena, practical experience
and good old common sense.
All this
knowledge has been transmitted from generation to
generation via the Chinese written tradition which has
basically remained unchanged for thousands of years. For
more information you can go to the
British Acupuncture Council
or to the
Register of Chinese Herbal
Medicine
web sites
The foundation concepts of
Tai Chi Chuan, which come from Taoism and Confucianism,
go back to the beginning of written history in China.
They come from Lao Tzu's monumental text, Tao Te
Ching, from the
I Ching and from various
other health-promoting and breathing exercise
treatises. The actual art can be traced back only 300
to 700 years, however. The founder is said to be Chang
San-feng (Zhang Sanfeng).
Tai Chi Chuan was originally taught as a martial
art and longevity exercise. In the early 20th
century the health benefits were discovered and it took
on a new persona as a preventive medicine or wellness
exercise.
It was later promoted by the
Chinese Government to keep the citizens healthy. The
martial art aspects then took a back stage to it being a
health exercise in
China.
Smooth continuous movement is probably the most
recognizable characteristic of traditional
most
styles
of
Tai Chi Chuan. Anyone who has ever
witnessed a Tai Chi player remembers this distinctive
quality of their practice.
What is the benefit of
“practice
continuously and without interruption” from a scientific
viewpoint? There are unique results that occur as a
result of applying this principle from the Ten
Essentials. Slow, smooth, continuous movement produces
special conditioning effects for nerves, muscles, and
tendons.
Benefits
Consumer Reports (CR,
Feb 2000, p 45) calls Tai Chi the "Ultimate low-impact
exercise", an exercise that can be done by any one who
can walk, the only caveat being people with knee
problems may have problems doing it.
CR
claims Tai Chi can improve cardiovascular endurance as
well as improve posture, strength and balance.
CR
sites a 1992 Australian study that found it had the same
effect as brisk walking on heart rate, blood pressure
and stress hormones.
Scientific
studies have found that it can lower blood pressure,
improve balance, improve circulation and make seniors
feel empowered.
According to Dr Robert Whipple, a gait and
balance expert, "Tai Chi has come up with the best
possible biomechanical scenarios for keeping a person
stable.
Tai Chi Principles
Relaxation
Not
relaxation as we tend to think of it - true relaxation
is a nice deep sleep. This is more a controlled
relaxation of the body, where only necessary muscles are
working. As a consequence, the few muscles that are
working, work extremely hard. Most Tai Chi postures are
very strenuous on the thigh muscles.
Body Movement
Moving the
body as a unit is easier said than done... but
necessary. Tai Chi stresses using the whole body all the
time.
Tai Chi masters teach Tai Chi in three stages:
First they teach the routines; second the torso methods
and martial art's application; lastly methods to
cultivate qi and increase internal strength. Most Tai
Chi students learn only the routines. Some manage to get
to the second stage and can benefit from doing Tai Chi.
Only a very small number are lucky enough to learn the
top secret of Tai Chi - how to build Qi and increase
internal strength.
Please look around around
our site, there is a lot of information, and if you can
not find what you are looking for, or have any questions
mail me.
Tian Zhao Lin Tai Chi Association is an
international promoter of Tai Chi with HQ in Shanghai,
China, Phoenix Chinese Medical
Centre is a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) centre
of excellence based in Peterborough, Cambridgeshire in
the U.K.
Alternative sites:
www.weiqi.demon.co.uk
or
www.simplytcm.co.uk
or
www.simplytuina.co.uk
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