Tai Chi:
Ironically the older we get, the more we need to exercise in order for our bodies to stay healthy, but the older we get the more difficult physcial exercise is to do. Tai Chi allows us to achieve the health benefits of physical exercise without the stress. Tai Chi oxigenates the blood and delivers it to all parts of the body. This is acheived by synchronized breathing while moving the body in a relaxed state. We use our chi, or mental power, rather than muscles that swell when doing regular exercise and constrict blood flow in the body.

Here are the Top 10 from Health Fitness Revolution and author of the book ReSYNC Your Life Samir Becic:

• Balance: Tai Chi movements are steady and slow, shifting from one side to the other with coordinating upper body movements. Theses movements help the core regain balance and reduces the risk of falling in elderly.
• Strength and Endurance: Research shows that individuals who practiced Tai Chi at least 3 times a week on the regular, had higher strength and performance level.
• Flexibility: In tai chi the range of movements helps improve one’s flexibility as well.
• Posture: helps one maintain a good posture from constant practice of Tai Chi
• Chronic Illness prevention: helps in the treatment chronic illnesses like heart disease, blood pressure, arthritis, digestive disorders, depression and a few others.
• Improves coordination: helps with hand eye coordination as well as upper and lower body coordination with the slow rhythmic movements involved.
• Regulates the respiratory system: Breathing is one of the three parts of Tai Chi. The deep breathing helps treat respiratory alignments such as asthma, bronchitis, and emphysema.
• Aerobic Capacity: helps improve one’s aerobic capacity- researchers say that Tai Chi is a form of aerobic exercise as well.
• Stress: The mellow rhythmic movements and breathing helps distract from a hectic lifestyle. The breathing coordination along with the hand eye movement is proven to promote calmness.

In addition to the health benefits we have found it to be good training for all combat sports as it teaches synchronized breathing and relaxed effortless movement using one’s chi.

We practice the 24 movement or short form as shown below which requires minimal space.

Wu Chi:
Wu Chi is a form of standing meditation. It’s purpose is to gain mind control. The goal of meditation is to achieve a relaxed state that is free of all emotion. Fighters use it to control fear, but we make better decisions in all aspects of life when our minds are calm. The value being able to remain calm in a stressful situation cannot be overstated. This is something that can be learned.