Kick stress in the face

If the daily grind is getting on top of you then a session of the Chinese martial art t’ai chi might be exactly what you need.

T’ai chi is often used as a complementary medicine and is said to be beneficial to health and relaxation, however because of its slow pace it’s more commonly used as a form of exercise for the elderly or infirm.

As an instructor working to bring more people into the art, David Clyant says that the practice can be used to “promote the circulation of qi (life force)… and enhance a practitioner’s overall health.” So if it’s almost exam time and you could use a bit more qi then remember to check the right bar for t’ai chi workshops in Cardiff.

T’ai chi has been gaining popularity in the West since it first came to the public’s attention in the 1990s.

Although the rules underpinning t’ai chi are based on the systems of ancient Chinese medicine, modern medical tests have revealed that t’ai chi does indeed have health benefits. Tests are on-going to discover what effects the various aspects of the art have on the body.

Modern t’ai chi focuses much more on its healing and meditative properties rather than the martial applications of the art; an important part of this is the practice of qigong which literally means “life energy cultivation.” Qigong involves synchronising movement, spacial awareness and breathing techniques for the purposes of healing, meditation and exercise.A large part of what is referred to as t’ai chi, particularly in the West, is actually qigong.

If you feel like having a crack at inner peace then there are a number of opportunities in Cardiff to try out t’ai chi, follow these links for just a few examples. 1. 2. 3.

China, Chinese, Exercise, Martial art, Qigong, Qijong, Stress relief, T'ai Chi Ch'uan, Tai Chi