Holly teaching tai chi sword at the The Montclair, New Jersey, Yang Chengfu Tai Chi Chuan Center

Why Study Tai Chi?

Tai Chi (more correctly, “Tai Chi Chuan”) was developed in China as a martial art at least 500 years ago.

You may say: ‘Why would an average person like me want to study an ancient martial art? What relevance is there in learning how to fight, I don’t plan on doing any fighting?’

BUT, you ARE FIGHTING every day against two formidable opponents: STRESS and AGING.

The study and practice of Tai Chi will help your odds in the day to day struggle to maintain your health in the face of hectic schedules, conflicts at work and at home, and the inevitable ticking of the clock.

Numerous research studies have supported the health benefits of Tai Chi. Lowering blood pressure, delaying the onset and reducing the severity of osteoporosis, improving balance and thereby preventing fall-related injuries are some of the known benefits of Tai Chi practice.

More difficult to quantify in research studies but widely recognized is the value of Tai Chi practice in managing stress. Why is this? What is the relationship between Tai Chi study and stress management?

The mechanism that drives stress is conflict. Feeling conflicted is feeling stressed. ‘ My boss thinks I should do it this way but I think I should do it that way’ … ‘I need to get to work on time but my kids need more time with me in the morning’… ‘I don’t think we have the money for that right now but my spouse thinks we do’…And, the longer we experience conflict without finding a solution, the more stressed we get. Resolving conflict is what martial arts is all about and when we examine the martial strategies of Tai Chi, we discover that Tai Chi is a martial art perfectly adapted for the 21st century.

The philosophical principles of Tai Chi do not view conflict with a win/lose attitude. Win/lose attitude makes for rigidity in mind and body, robs us of perspective and creativity, and stresses us out! Through Tai Chi we learn that “not losing” is more important than “winning”. There is a huge conceptual difference between “not losing” and “winning.” Think about it.

Behavior driven by the attitude that all conflicts and contests are to be won or lost inevitably leads to burn out, negativity, and damaged relationships. In the lexicon of Tai Chi, this type of attitude makes us direct our energy in a “hard” way, using force to accomplish our goals. The philosophical basis of Tai Chi theory states that “soft energy” overcomes “hard energy.” Learning to embody “soft energy” is what the study of Tai Chi is all about but “soft energy” is not to be confused with having a weak body or dilute resolve. Anything but!

Through the practice of Tai Chi, we gain a whole new perspective. We begin to realize how we deplete and damage ourselves by using unfocused erratic forceful bursts of energy as we go about our daily lives. The physical training of Tai Chi teaches us how to move slowly and continuously, how to relax our mind so that we can sustain focused thought for long periods of time, how to modulate the use of our energy. I like to call it “learning the slow burn.”

“The slow burn” of Tai Chi practice creates a true strength within us. It gives us an arsenal of skills for the 21st century: physical training which promotes even muscle tone, good joint health and ability to balance; philosophical ideas which make us more effective in resolving conflicts; and mental training that helps us learn how to quiet our minds and sustain concentration.

These are great life skills to have and we can learn them by studying Tai Chi. Tai Chi can teach us how to go the distance in life, how to “not lose” when we encounter conflict, and how to manage the process of aging intelligently.

Tai Chi IS a long term study, there is no quick way of learning it. However, with a well qualified teacher, the study of Tai Chi is a time investment that will give you tremendous returns.