Basic Tai Chi Stance

Series Summary

Tai Chi is an ancient practice that originated in China. It has been practiced and adapted throughout the years to encompass many different styles. Tai Chi is now taught through out the West but mainly as a form of exercise and meditation. Since Tai Chi is grounded in martial arts it does have some martial application but is now mainly taught for its other rewards. By learning to do Tai Chi you can improve numerous things. You can improve you balance and flexibility while taking in the therapeutic benefits. In this video series our expert will demonstrate Tai Chi and its assorted stretches, forms and exercises. He will teach different breathing techniques that will be used in while doing Tai Chi. The videos will instruct you how to then shift your body weight, have correct body posture, and visualize as you do Tai Chi. Once you have these basic you will then be ready to learn the various forms and exercises.

Video Transcript

"Hello. My name is Jason and I have been teaching martial arts Tai Chi and meditation in the Austin area for the last six years. I am going to be talking a little bit about Tai Chi and what it's all about and how it differs from other exercises like yoga and maybe some of the similarities. And maybe after a couple of clips we'll start to understand that Tai Chi is a lot more than just moving slow. Whenever you start your Tai Chi practice, it's good to get a good base. Starting off, have your feet just shoulder width apart and slowly rock back on your heels, then come close to your toes, back on your heels. And slowly let it settle to where it's nice and even. Then with the knees, all the way back, bend them slightly. Find that medium place where your knees are not locked out but they are not completely bent and require strength from your legs to keep them so. Take your hips, tilt them forward, relax your shoulders. Find a nice place for your head to rest. And you should feel like your body is stacked on top of each other, like your torso is stacked on your legs; your head is stacked on your shoulders. Take in a nice, deep breath. Now with Tai Chi, whenever I breathe in, I am pushing my stomach out. Whenever I breathe out, I am trying to push my stomach in. Whenever I breathe in, out. Breathing in, and out. Tai Chi needs to be timed movement with the breath. If I bring my hand up, I am going to breathe in. If I am putting it down, that is the time to exhale. Try timing it so that your hand reaches its point at the same time that your lungs are full of air. At the same time when your hand reaches its point down, you should be completely out of air. This is how your time how slow or quick a movement should be. You should always be trying to hold breaths longer, making a longer inhale and a longer exhale. "