Tai Chi
Nowadays, Tai Chi exercises are taught more for their therapeutic purposes than for the exercise itself. While some enjoyed meditating with Tai Chi, others did Tai Chi as a compliment to their dancing which is much like ballet. The Tai Chi exercises are executed slowly in a series of slow dance steps, and could require a substantial amount of effort, both physical and mental. That is the main reason Tai Chi exercises are highly regarded since it harmonizes the coordination of body and mind.
Chi Exercises
Working on breathing is a simple Tai Chi exercise. Chi is the most well known spelling, but it can also be spelled ‘Qi’. Tai Chi is supposed to be meditative, but you do not need to be trance-like while doing it. You begin the breathing exercise by getting into the ‘Horseback Riding’ position. Stand with your back completely straight and a level chin. Have your legs around 3ft apart and gently bend legs until they are around 90 degrees, no more. This may be tough on your legs when you first start, but it maintains the best balance overall for your body. Next hold both of your arms straight in front of you, and exhale calmly and deeply. Do this until you no longer have any breath at all within your lungs. Next you slowly bring your arms in towards your chest, turning your palms inwards you are left with your hands almost touching your chest. Inhale smoothly.
This exercise has been found effective for several things. When I was a student of Kung Fu, my teacher instructed me to master this practice early on in my lessons. I have found many uses for it. Once used as a conditioning tool for lessons, I now use it a calming tool for interviews. It’s also an excellent exercise for cardiovascular health. By inhaling deeply and slowly, you are able to completely fill your lungs, and when you slowly force out all the air, you also force out the bad elements that are trapped in your lungs. However, even this will not do much to clear actual carcinogens from your lungs.
The Grinding Corn Exercise
This exercise is commonly practiced by monks, and it can be used as a warm up or to aid in meditation. To begin you must again attain the ‘Horseback Riding’ position. While in this position you must hold your arms in front of you and turn them as if you were grinding imaginary corn with an old stone grinder. Do this movement slowly, and change directions from time to time.
You thighs will feel the strain with this exercise, but you will also find your core muscles working to keep yourself solid. Once you become adept at this exercise you can hold weights to make it more difficult and give yourself more of a workout.
Learn more about Tai Chi Exercises. Stop by Leslie Glanville’s site where you can find out all about benefits of Tai Chi and what it can do for you.
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