The Life Benefits of Tai Chi

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Friday, September 21st, 2007 Subscribe To Our Feed

Those who teach tai chi are very quick to proclaim the sheer volume of benefits of tai chi to the consumer public. These benefits of tai chi include increased health, wellness, peace of mind, etc. Needless to say, all of these perceived benefits can greatly enhance a person’s ability to increase his or her quality of life. Of course, such quality of life can only be realized if the system of tai chi truly provides what it claims in can provide. As such, there needs to be a critical examination in regards to the actual positive elements of the system and whether or not the person who studies the art will actually achieve the promised benefits. So, let’s get on with the examination.

Examining the Benefits of Tai Chi vs. the Falsehood of Mysticism

What needs to be immediately understood in regards to the benefits of tai chi is the fact that these benefits are based on basic cardio vascular conditioning and isometrics. In other words, the positive benefits of tai chi come from basic physiology and biology. The origins of the benefits due not derive from quasi mysticism such as iron fist training, chi power, meridians or any of these dubious concepts. However, many people continue to prescribe a belief in the mystic aspects of the art as opposed to looking at the science of it.

Many of the mystic notions of tai chi originate from the early history of kung fu which is to say that these mystic beliefs can trace their origin many hundreds of years prior to the inception of tai chi and carried over into tai chi when tai chi became incorporated into the collective whole of martial arts. In other words, many mystic beliefs derive from a time period prior to an understanding of physiology and science. While tai chi is based on physiology and science, as the system became part of the world of “kung fu” a number of kung fu myths slowly entered the world of tai chi over the course of many decades. Hence the science of the system becomes lost and people start looking at esoteric concepts as chi power as the ‘source’ of tai chi’s benefits.

Of course, to truly gain the benefits of tai chi it is critical to understand the science behind the benefits. To believe in weird mysticism will undermine success and should be avoided. Sadly, many do not avoid it. Rather, they embrace it. Do not fall into this trap. Stick with logic and disappointment will be avoided.

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