Any practitioners or followers out there?
I hope not being heretical, but I’m not attracted to the philosophy just the idea of gentle exercise. Am I missing the point?
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Errrr. Do you mean gentle exercise?
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Lol…
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Well yes and no … as I’m considering other alleged benefits, such as improvements to balance and energy.
I think spellcheck has let you down!
I have been attending a tai chi group for several years, all of us being people of more advanced years. Our teacher/leader doesn’t bother us with the philosophy, just the names of the various sequences of movements ( often with a smile). I find it has improved my balance and flexibility, and I recommend it.
But I hear that some tai chi practitioners can be quite serious about the philosophy. Depends on the group I guess.
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Thanks Marin - time for new spectacles.
I don’t fancy going along to a group event, a number of friends go to classes, or are self taught. I’m just trying to sift through the options.
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Do it safe, especially in groups.
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Ive been looking into this as I was looking at yoga, interesting topic for a 64 year old
Martin
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Still not been to the optician … Nor turned on the spell checker.
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I go to U3a, just the basics, a leaflet and video here Tai Chi Shibashi Qigong - Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust
I would argue that starting with classes where you can watch, be watched and shown how avoid bad habits is a good thing. Include warm up and cool down as well!
This might be near you? Tai chi - Stroud
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Yes indeed.
These classes have recently changed trainer. Waiting for feed back.
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10 years ago on a 5 night river cruise in China, they offered Tai Chi before breakfast, My wife and I had a go, and thoroughly enjoyed it. It has the discipline of a martial art (where it has its roots), maybe with a hint of yoga thrown in, but standing. Roll on a few years, and just after retiring we enrolled on a Tai Chi course at our local adult education centre. Whilst I enjoyed it in part, it didn’t have the same feel, which I think was down to the tutor, who was English with no hint of Chinese about him, and he talked mor about the martial art moves from which the different forms came. My wife felt the same, and we didn’t continue after that first term. Given a tutor like tge one in China I’d readily do again, or maybe one day when there is less pressure of time I might see if I can find something online.
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I noticed recently that YouTube is oozing with various Tai Chi ads, every time I watch anything I get hit with one, they’re all ridiculous as you would expect. I never searched for anything related to Tai Chi so not sure why the proliferation.
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I’ve been practising tai chi for about 15 years (I’m 77 now). The Chen Man Ching 37 form.
I’ve never bought into spiritual/Chinese medicine/energy side and our instructor doesn’t mention it much.
So a friendly group, some fairly gentle warm up exercises (some are more strenuous) and the mental and physical satisfaction of completing the form (the word for the set of moves) without mistakes.
The problem with self taught is that a lot of the moves in the form are quite subtle. Without someone pointing out mistakes it is easy to get into bad habits.
Edited to add another thought. Tai chi needs some dedication. We get new students all the time but I’d estimate 90% of them leave after a few sessions.
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Exactly, odd but I get the same thing
Martin
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I’ve practiced tai chi for some 25 years and currently study the Yang style 108 step long form and the short form sword style.
The three teachers I have had have had different approaches to learning and the importance of tai chi philosophy. I personally enjoy a basic understanding of the “spiritual” aspects of the practice as well as the martial arts background.
The spirituality helps me with imagining the energy flow in the body and the self defence roots help with following the “intent” of some of the moves and helps the body flow through the form.
Once you can control your body in the form, adding the sword requires even greater levels of control.
As a beginner it’s very easy to pick up bad habits and bad posture which can put unnecessary load on the joints (particularly the knees) so I think at least a few lessons can be a great foundation. If you can find a group that stays together, there’s nothing more satisfying than performing the form in silence together.
Another advantage of an organised class is there’s usually space for some Qi Gong which can be used as a gentle wind down.
Good Luck
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Funnily enough I’ve been considering looking into it, but if you have time and a local group I’d say go for it - it’s stood the test of time and become popular in the West for a reason.
Maybe doesn’t help my plans that I’m being bombarded with AI character presented adverts for it on YouTube recently. Makes a change from things I suspect the ladies of the house are browsing!
Around 15 years ago I got a Qi Gong DVD which was great with some simple exercises which immediately helped a painful shoulder. Simple turned to frightening as there was no way I could do the splits like the Shaolin monk demonstrating 
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…and there was me having missed the original error trying to work out what kind of rude word had replaced exercise
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