Tai Chi more details

Thai Chi Health - Tai Chi Exercises a Passport to Better Health & Lifetime Fitness

"In a nutshell, tai chi can keep you healthy and happy. Besides that, it's fun!"
Dr Paul Lam.

More about Tai Chi

As noted tai chi is a great way to improve and maintain health. Find out more about it below:  

What are the benefits? 

Over the last decade, tai chi has been gaining recognition as a very useful health exercise, especially since more scientific studies have validated its many health benefits. Tai chi has been shown to: 

•  build muscle strength and stamina; 
•  improve and maintain flexibility; 
• increase circulation, heart and lung function;
• improve balance, coordination;
• improve and aligns posture;
• build up immunity to disease;
• improve mental illness and depression;
• increase relaxation and confidence;
• improve concentration and memory;
• relieve stress and depression;
• enhance sleeping patterns;
• integrates body and mind;
• help control conditions such as arthritis, diabetes, and back pain;
• help people with respiratory disease and other chronic diseases.

Why Tai Chi?

"Why do T’ai Chi"? This is a frequently asked question and difficult to answer simply because the answer lies within each individual. However here are some reasons to think about: 

• almost anyone of any age can learn tai chi;
• it's does not require any special equipment;
• it can be practiced almost anywhere;
• the movements are slow and gentle;
•  it is low impact and safe if practised correctly;
• it can be adjusted for all level’s of fitness;
• it helps reduce falls;
• it enables people to get together socially;
• it is something you can do for yourself;
• it is enjoyable and fun!

Experience the gentle flowing, movements of Tai Chi and treat your whole body to a gentle and relaxing workout. Say goodbye to sweating, puffing and panting. Say hello to feeling cool, calm, refreshed and energised. 

How Does It Work?

An effective exercise program for health should incorporate exercises that improve muscular strength, flexibility, and fitness.

• Muscle strength is important for supporting and protecting joints and is essential for normal physical function.
• Flexibility exercises enable people to move easier, facilitate circulation of body fluid and blood which enhance healing.
• Fitness is important for overall health and proper functioning of the heart, lungs, and muscles. 
  

Tai Chi is a form of exercise that can improve all of these components.

PLUS Reducing Falls! 

Balance and transference of weight is the core training for tai chi. There have been a number of randomized studies showing that regular practice of tai chi reduces the rate of falls in older people. (See www.taichiproductions.com for articles and references). 

Where does Tai Chi come from? 

Originating in ancient China, tai chi is an effective exercise for health of mind and body. Although an art with great depth of knowledge and skill, it can be easy to learn and soon delivers its health benefits. For many, it continues as a lifetime journey.

There are many styles and forms of tai chi, the major being Chen, Yang, Wu, and Sun. (Sun Style Short form is more suitable for people with mobility problems, especially joint or Arthritis). Each style has its own unique features, although most styles share similar essential principles. The essential principles include all the health benefits.

Tai Chi is practised in almost every corner of the world. It is one of the most popular exercises today with more than 300 million participants.

As we are surviving longer than our ancestors, chronic diseases such as arthritis affect more of us, diminishing the quality of our lives. Increasing scientific and epidemiological evidence indicates that exercise is essential for prevention and management of these chronic diseases. Tai Chi goes a long way toward this end.

© Copyrights Dr Paul Lam. 

"It is comforting for me to know that no matter how old I am, I can still practice tai chi, enjoy it and still benefit from it."
Sybil Wong

Which class should I go to? 

Like many other things in the modern world, we are overwhelmed with many choices. When you go to the grocery store, you see twenty or more different types of breakfast cereals and each one is advertised as the best! Tai chi encompasses many forms and styles, and exposed to this diversity Tai Chi can be like having too many choices, it can be confusing, it can be so overwhelming it may put you off learning Tai Chi. Don't let diversity overwhelm you. Venture out, try it out, test it out, use your mind to figure it out. You will be fascinated by different styles, forms and interpretations and discover what suits you best.

Sometimes you'll hear people talk about "playing" tai chi. I really like the literal inference of that word that it is ok to actually play with the movements and not take ourselves quite so seriously sometimes. 

I's important to look for the right teacher for you and what you want. It may help to visit the class, and maybe sit and watch first. Ask the Instructor about his training and qualifications to teach tai chi for health. You can also ask around for recommendations. 

What should I wear to practice Tai Chi?

Basically you should wear ordinary clothes that are loose and comfortable and flat shoes.

Cotton is the best type of clothing to wear for everyday practice because it allows your skin to breath and absorbs sweat. The ideal practice shoes should feel light, comfortable and soft and have some shock absorbency and have broad base support in the sole to help you balance. Some people like to practice in bare feet, but shoes can give you good support and enhance balance. 

IT IS STRONGLY RECOMMENDED THAT YOU CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR BEFORE EMBARKING ON ANY FORM OF EXERCISE

AGE CONCERN STOCKPORT is involved in promoting the health benefits of Tai Chi in a number of ways: 

THE OVER TO YOU TAI CHI WELLNESS PROJECT 

STOCKPORT

 

Funded through the multi agency Health Innovations Fund the project financial support is available to help people train through a recognised programme and set up further tai chi groups in and across the Borough of Stockport for the benefit of more people.

TAI CHI CLASSES 

Age Concern is also involved in providing and organising classes in the Borough. Sessions are provided at the new Outpatients and day Hospital at Stepping Hill Hospital. Though these instructors specialise in different forms for health (see below) classes are also available at an increasing number of venues. 

For details of current classes contact Laura at Age Concern Stockport on 0161 480 1211. 

Calling Tai Chi instructors who hold classes that provide a focus on health/ Please provide us with details to enable us to liase with you and hopefully list your classes here. We do ask that you alow any of our clients to attend and try one class free.

TAI CHI FOR HEALTH - AND ARTHRITIS, DIABETES, BACK PAIN 

The Age Concern Stockport Chief Officer, Margaret Brade, leads the organisation’s support for Tai Chi by acting in a voluntary capacity as one of the UK organisers for well recognised Instructors workshops to enable people to teach specially designed forms created by Dr Paul Lam. Dr Lam, a family physician in Sydney, is a leader in the field of Tai Chi for health improvement. He has given lectures in scientific conferences on the subject of tai chi for health, has produced many instructional tai chi videos and is the co-author of the book "Overcoming Arthritis". Dr Lam runs such workshops in Australia, Asia, across the US as well as some in Europe. 

This association has brought Dr Lam directly to Stockport in 2003 and 2004 enabling more people with an interest to learn and a willingness to share the benefits with others to qualify as instructors. More plans are already underway for 2005. If you are interested in these workshops contact Margaret Brade. 

Tai Chi for Arthritis is a form of Tai Chi, specially designed by Dr. Paul Lam in conjunction with Tai Chi associates and a team of medical experts. Based on the Sun style Tai Chi, Tai Chi for Arthritis is easy to learn, effective and safe, and increases flexibility, muscle strength and fitness. Specifically it: 

• helps to relieve pain and stiffness;
• relieves stress and depression;
• improves concentration and memory; 
• builds muscle strength and stamina; 
• improves and aligns posture and biomechanics;
• increases circulation, heart and lung function;
• improves balance and coordination to help reduce falls;
• enhances the flow of Qi;
• integrates body and mind.

Scientific studies conducted by the Korean and Taiwan National Universities in 2001 have shown this program to relieve pain, stiffness and improve physical function. Further details and references are available at www.taichiforarthritis.com 

Tai Chi for Diabetes is a form of Tai Chi, specially designed by Dr. Paul Lam, in conjunction with Tai Chi associates and a team of medical experts. Based on Sun and Yang style Tai Chi, Tai Chi for Diabetes is easy to learn, effective and safe. It is designed to improve the management of diabetes. Regular physical activity can aid people with diabetes by improving blood glucose metabolism. As a form of exercise, Tai Chi will help improve cellular glucose uptakes and glucose metabolism. Many studies have shown that Tai Chi improves fitness, and the program will help to increase flexibility, muscle strength, and increase heart/lung activity, align posture, improve balance, and integrate the mind and body. The mental training of Tai Chi is effective for relaxation, which is especially beneficial to people with diabetes.

Tai Chi for Back Pain is based on the program Tai Chi for Arthritis. It is designed with different kinds of disabilities in mind so that learners can start with a sitting, standing or lying down position. It incorporates up-to-date medical research for back pain and is suitable for wheelchair bound and other chronic conditions.

Some useful Tai Chi sites: 

www.taichiforarthritis.com
A site dedicated for the program Tai Chi for Arthritis by Dr Paul Lam, as taught by a number of trained staff and volunteers from Age Concern Stockport. 
 
www.taichiproductions.com
a site with many interesting articles about tai chi for health and also includes useful resources. (Some resources are also available through Age Concern Stockport - please contact the Chief Officer). 

www.everyday-taichi.com 

www.moderntaichi.com