Tai Chi, The Great Ultimate, was found earliest in the Book of Change, or otherwise known as I-Ching. Legend said that this scripture was written by the first emperor of the Zhou Dynasty – Zhou Wen Wang. Thus I-Ching is also known as Zhou-Yi.

I-Ching, or the Book of Change, with its name implies, stated that life is in constant flux of change. The word I (Yi in pinyin) means ‘change’ in Chinese. It is formed from the characters of the sun and the moon, which represents yang and yin respectively.

It has a verse stating, “Changes has the Great Ultimate, which give rise to the Two Elements. The Two Elements give rise to the Four Phenomena, and the Four Phenomena give rise to the Eight Hexagrams…”

Let’s begin with the word Tai Chi – the Great Ultimate. It actually means the earliest, the beginning… of all events and things. In some case, it refers to the Universe by ancient Chinese.

In one of the scripture, it stated that “One yin and one yang is the Way…” This means that the all changes of events and things in the universe come from this opposing, yet united forces of yin and yang.

This is why in from Tai Chi, there arises in the Two Elements – yin and yang. Take a look at the Tai Chi diagram, which is better known as the 2-Fishes diagram in Chinese. It is a circle divided into 2 sections in proportion. The circle is representing Tai Chi, or the Universe Whole, and within this wholeness, there’s the Two Elements.

The division of the yin and yang in Tai Chi means that there are 2 opposing elements, represented by the black section and white section respectively. Yet, the division is not a straight division, but a curved division – meaning that the 2 opposing elements actually accommodate each other in order to form the complete circle.

Firstly, this means that while it is divided as opposing elements – it is united in a way to form the complete wholeness. The opposing yet united forces of yin and yang became the basis of the thinking in I-Ching. And Tai Chi uses the concepts in the I-Ching, the yin and yang elements as the core concepts to explain the both physical and meta-physical aspects of the world.

Secondly, the curved division gives a sense of balance. Here, we are talking about balancing the yin and yang elements here. There’s this statement in I-Ching: “When the yin goes to the extreme, the yang is born. And when the yang goes to the extreme, the yin is born”.

Look at the 2-fishes diagram again. If you go in counter-clock wise along the diameter of the Tai Chi circle, you will find that as one element grows more and more and reach its peak, the other elements will begin to grow in replacement. For example, if you move along the diameter on the black side, you will see that the ‘half’ represented by the black will become bigger and bigger and then suddenly shrink and the white ‘half’ will begin to grow instead. This means that if one element goes to the extreme, the other will begin to set in.

What does this mean to us then?

Simple: we have to balance our life in every aspect, and do not just focus only on one or a few. We have to balance between work and personal life, between family and friends, between material and spiritual, and the list goes on. Otherwise, there will be disharmony in our lives.

Thirdly, the movement growing or shrinking of the yin and yang elements within the Tai Chi diagram suggests that life changes constantly to and from between good and bad, joy and sorrow, happiness and sadness, high and low and between any two extreme qualities. This is the dualistic principles in I-Ching.

In any events or things, there are two qualities within. There’s no such thing as complete good or perfectly bad things. It is the degree of good, or bad that matters.

Take for example, can we say that a person is good because there’s no bad quality in him, or a person is bad because he or she have never done any ‘good’ at all??? A good person may at times been guilty of small bad deeds, and a bad person may at times have some good in him or her. Isn’t it?

A good thing may have some negative side in it. And vice versa, a bad thing may have some positive side in it. It depends on how we perceive the issue. That’s the dualistic principles in I-Ching.

This buy goes to the next concepts. In the diagram, within each element, there’s a dot in it. The black section has a white dot, while the white section has a black dot. What does this means? We move now to the next statement: The Two Elements give rise to the Four Phenomena. This means, in the yin element, there will be yang element and vice versa, in the yang element, there will be yin element.

What does it means to us?

In any events or things, there will be some good in the bad, and some bad in the good. Just like there’s some yin in the yang, and some yang in the yin. For example, when a person wins a race, others will lose the race. There’s bad news within the good news, there’s sorrow amongst joy, there’s losing among winning and so on.

In life, there will be mixtures of good and bad, joy and sorrow, happiness and sadness, winning and losing, high and low, and it all come in a ‘package’!

Therefore, we should learn to be more give and take – and accept the nature of life as it is. Enjoy the good things, and accept the bad one bravely and gracefully. This will then help us to achieve a more balance and harmonious life.

Tai Chi’s concepts of yin and yang became influential to the ancient Chinese, and found its way into the philosophy, theories, medicine, art of war, religion, arts and the way of maintaining life. It has found its way into Daoism, which in some ways, people claimed that Tai Chi is under the idea of Daoism, which is not quite true. It should be the other way round.

Whatever it is, understanding the principles of I-Ching does help us to understand the nature of life itself to better balance and manage our ups and downs to face our daily chores and challenges. And I wish all of you success and harmony in your life. May the Energy of Tai Chi be with you!

Written by:

C. Guan Soo

http://www.TaichiBreathing.com

*************** Note ***************
You may distribute or publish this article freely provide you do not make any changes or alteration on the article content, or remove my name and website from the article. Thank you!

C. Guan Soo
A Tai Chi Practitioner and love who practice meditation, martial arts, energy healing and Tai Chi Chuan since the age of 10. He has also strong interest in the eastern philosophies like I-Ching and Buddhism. He combined his understanding of I-Ching into Tai Chi Chuan practices to further enhance the effectiveness of the art.

Announcing…Basic Tai Chi Breathing: A Simple Step By Step Guide

The technique that I’m talking about: Basic Tai Chi Breathing – is a 5-steps system that will brings you through mastering the secret breathing techniques that will keep your health in tip-top conditions.

It’s like having a non-stop energy booster that you can easily turn on for 24/7. And this 5 simple steps are covered in Basic Tai Chi Breathing.

I was quite surprised when I began searching for research on Tai Chi’s benefits for diabetes . . . it was very difficult to come by. Because on its face, Tai Chi seems to possibly offer many benefits to someone with diabetes. Tai Chi is known to stimulate microcirculation in practitioners, and is a highly effective stress management technique, and very gently burns a significant amount of calories. In fact, Tai Chi may actually help the body find homeostatic chemical levels. For example, in a study on sex hormones Tai Chi was found to have a “balancing effect” on the hormonal chemistry of participants, lowering the abnormally high estrogen levels in older men, while raising the abnormally low estrogen levels in older women.

These findings in other research led me to believe that there had probably been substantial research done on Tai Chi & Qigong’s benefits for those with diabetes, given that these findings in other studies at least initially suggest Tai Chi & Qigong may offer much to the diabetes patient. But, as I said, it doesn’t appear there is much out there in terms of “tai chi & qigong as an adjunct diabetes therapy,” at least from Western institutions.

However, a couple of Chinese medical institutions studies had very exciting results. A Beijing University of Chinese Medicine and Pharmacology study found that blood sugar could be lowered successfully by doing QiGong exercises. 42.9 percent of patients in the study were able to take less medicine while having more staple foods. Also, a Nanjing University study found that Tai Chi exercise helped to regulate metabolic disorder of type 2 diabetes mellitus with geriatric obesity by regulating the nervous-endocrine system in the body. So, why isn’t there more Western medical research on this?

Unfortunately, less than one half of one percent of NIH funding goes to research all alternative or “complimentary” health techniques. Meaning that yoga, meditation, herbology, homeopathy, etc. etc. all share that tiny, tiny slice of the NIH funding pie. Until the NIH provides adequate attention / funding for Tai Chi & Qigong (Chi Kung) research, many of the benefits people with various maladies have enjoyed from Tai Chi & Qigong will not be enjoyed by the millions of others with such conditions. Because physicians will lack the knowledge necessary to inform their patients of Tai Chi & Qigong as a possible viable therapeutic option, until adequate research is done.

Never the less, you might ask your doctor to do some research on this for you. But, for now, let’s look at current recommendations for diabetes therapy, and then compare Tai Chi benefits systematically to see if it might be a good therapeutic match for diabetes. As always, I remind everyone not to self-treat. These articles are meant to stimulate a dialogue between you and your physician, and your physician and medical research institutions to lobby on your behalf to get powerful natural health therapies like Tai Chi fully researched so that you have the maximum possible options for your health protocol.

In an article posted on Post Graduate Medicine Online, Dr.s Adam B. Mayerson, MD; Silvio E. Inzucchi, MD, state that “Diet, exercise, and the attainment of ideal body weight are the central components of any therapeutic [type 2 diabetes] regimen . . .”. Tai Chi is proven to be an effective exercise that not only provides cardiovascular benefit (roughly equal to moderate impact aerobics), but surprisingly given Tai Chi’s gentle low impact nature, burns a significant number of calories, in fact more than surfing, and nearly as much daily 5mg as downhill skiing. To achieve such caloric burning benefits, and cardiovascular benefits, with such a gentle exercise as Tai Chi may be important to those with diabetes.

The health site Top5plus5.com’s information on diabetes explained that the type of exercise a patient practices is crucial to their well being, stating “Patients with active diabetic retinopathy should not participate in exercises involving straining or heavy lifting since these activities can provoke eye damage. Patients should also be aware that nerve damage caused by high blood sugar levels can lead to a loss of sensation in the feet, with a subsequent increased risk of blistering and ulceration. Patients with progressive heart damage from high blood sugar should be warned about the risk of sudden heart failure and death.” Tai Chi may offer promise regarding heart health so important to diabetes sufferers. On the 9th of October, 2004, BBC News – Saturday, reported “Tai Chi ‘can treat heart failure.” The British Heart Foundation said the study was “excellent news” and Tai Chi could be adopted into treatment programmes in the UK in the future.” news.bbc.

Again, one should never self-treat, and should always approach all possible therapies in conjunction with their physician. Our articles at World Tai Chi & Qigong Day are meant to stimulate discussion between you and your physician, and hopefully between your physician and health institutions. Our hope is that this will lead to a more realistic apportionment of medical research funding towards Tai Chi & Qigong (Chi Kung), and other natural health therapies. One caution is, we hope that researchers will approach Tai Chi & Qigong with a desire to find out “why it helps many people” rather than with an agenda to prove that it doesn’t work. The way that studies are done is just as important as if studies are done.

Our vision for the future is that physicians too, will begin to discover for themselves what Tai Chi and Qigong health technologies have to offer on a personal level as Tai Chi is increasingly offered through medical universities to aspiring nurses and physicians. The future of healthcare should not be a war between alternative therapies and standard therapies, but an expansion of standard therapies to include whatever works best for the patients. Many in the medical field are great advocates of such a vision, and World Tai Chi & Qigong Day celebrates their efforts.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Bill Douglas is the Tai Chi Expert at DrWeil.com, Founder of World T’ai Chi & Qigong Day (held in 50 nations each year), and has authored and co-authored several books including a #1 best selling Tai Chi book “The Complete Idiot?s Guide to T?ai Chi & Qigong.” Bill?s been a Tai Chi source for The Wall Street Journal, New York Times, etc. You can learn more about Tai Chi & Qigong, and also contact Bill Douglas at http://www.worldtaichiday.org

Perhaps, the most important factor to take into consideration, when buying a Tai Chi DVD is the video’s content. If you have already started searching for a Tai Chi DVD, you may already know that there are an unlimited number of Tai Chi DVDs available for sale. These DVD are often similar in nature, but their contents will be different. It is advised that you purchase a Tai Chi DVD that involves a professional Tai Chi expert or one who has been practicing Tai Chi for sometime now. Purchasing a Tai Chi DVD with a Tai Chi expert is likely to mean better instructions and, in the end, better results for you.

In keeping with the content of a Tai Chi DVD, you will also want to examine the types of Tai Chi forms that are available for learning. A large number of Tai Chi DVDs will actually outline these forms for you on their covers or at least let you know how many Tai Chi forms you can learn by purchasing the DVD. It might also be a good idea to examine the length of each Tai Chi DVD that you are interested in purchasing. While short and to the point is sometimes good, you may want to look into purchasing Tai Chi DVDs that are also a little bit longer, as they may contain more information for you.

It is also important to know that Tai Chi DVDs come in a number of different formats, level wise. It is possible to purchased advanced, intermediate, or beginner Tai Chi DVDs. When buying a Tai Chi DVD it is important that you keep the level of experience or expertise in mind. If this is your first time learning Tai Chi, you will not want to accidentally purchase a Tai Chi DVD that is for those at advanced levels.

When it comes to buying a Tai Chi DVD, you will find that you have a number of different options. In addition to being available for sale online, a large number of Tai Chi DVDs can also be purchased locally, from book stores, sports stores, and Tai Chi learning centers. Wherever you choose to buy your Tai Chi DVD from, it is advised that you keep the above mentioned points in mind when doing so.

Nessa Simms is a writer for tabs The Wellness Evolution . com where you can find accurate information about a Tai Chi DVD [http://www.thewellnessevolution.com/tai-chi-dvd-2.htm] and other related information.

Learning Tai Chi
Tai Chi combines movement, meditation and breathing, to enhance the flow of vital energy in the body, to increase both physical and mental well-being.

Tai Chi is one of the most broadly applicable systems of self-care in the world and is suitable for both young and old alike.

In China, it is estimated that 300 million people alone practice Tai Chi.

Tai Chi however is not just practised in China, in the 20th century it spread throughout the world and as we enter the 21st century, it is more popular than ever.

Tai Chi – The Form
There are several styles of movement and approaches to Tai Chi, some of them historic and some developed in recent years.

Each has its own individual charteristics and carries the name of the clan or family who developed it i.e. Yang, Chen, Wu, Sun etc.

All the principles of Tai Chi are put into practice in a non stop sequence of moves called the form.

Each Tai Chi style has its own distinctive way of presenting the form in terms of: The postures included, the order in which they appear, the way they are performed and finally, how long the form actually takes online to complete.

lthough the different styles of Tai Chi present the form in different ways, the purpose and the philosophy behind them is the same.

Tai Chi & Health
When Tai Chi is practised, the movement creates streams of energy to flow through the body.

In the philosophy of Tai Chi, it is said Chi (life energy) follows the mind, each posture and movement creates a different energy flow that, has a benifital overall affect on overall well-being.

Tai Chi stimulates circulation, aligns the skeleton and joints correctly, stimulates the organs of the body and helps digestion.

It increases muscle tone, strength, improves balance and co ordination and improves breathing.

Tai Chi does not just provide physical benefits; by raising energy levels, it also affects the mind and the spirit.

Tai Chi focuses thought, so that mind and body energy works together as one. When practising Tai Chi, people find that they are not just physically fitter but, happier, more alert, have greater mental focus and are more creative.

It is this harnessing of mental and physical energy that makes Tai Chi not just a form of exercise; it makes it a life enhancing experience.

Learning Tai Chi
Tai Chi is an exercise for people of all ages and all levels of fitness.

The movements of Tai Chi are non-strenuous, relaxed, slow moving, soft, and flowing.

It has often been described as moving meditation, as it relieves stress and improves concentration.

It is the gentleness and slowness of Tai Chi that makes it so applicable to everyone as a form of exercise.

When you watch Tai Chi being performed, it looks effortless but this comes from a considerable amount of practice.

When taking up Tai Chi it is best to pick an experienced teacher, who can guide motivate and encourage you. Simply, go with someone you are comfortable with.

The style of Tai Chi you pick Chen, Yang, Wu, Sun or any other form, is down to personal preference; the benefits described however apply to all styles.

Re Vitalise offer a warm welcome to both novice and experienced Tai Chi pupils. In addition to offering regular tuition there are several weekend breaks available.

To learn more about our services go to:
http://www.re-vitalise.co.uk

Tai Chi Kung Secrets

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I daily dose have read a number of books, articles, and novels, and have watched movies and television series that touched on the origins of Tai Chi Chuan (Tai Chi Boxing), and the question, “Who Created Tai Chi Chuan?” made me concern very much!

Although knowing the origins or the source of Tai Chi Chuan is not going to have much effects on your learning and practicing of the art, it is my responsibility to share with the masses of what I have found out. And understanding the origins of something that we loved so much about will make us appreciate the understand it better, if not improving our skills.

The legend was too well-known. And most people will tell and re-tell the stories of a priest named Zhang Sanfeng of the Wudang Sect who found this special martial arts called Tai Chi Chuan. I was fascinated by these legends, and found myself believing them too… until I researched more deeply into its historical backgrounds. Some legends said that he got the inspiration to create Tai Chi Chuan from observing the fight between a snake and a crane, and some said in he learned it from an immortal in a dream.

Dream?

Yes, this theory is found in a recorded scripture.

Based on that written scripture, it was claimed that Zhang Sanfeng were summoned by the Emperor at that time, around the end of Song Dynasty. He was on his way to the palace when he was surrounded by a group of over 100 bandits. Unable to breakthrough, he put a night up in hiding.

That night, he dreamt of meeting King Yuan, previous ruler of China in who appeared as an immortal in his dream. King Yuan taught him a special type of martial art in that dream.

Next day, with this new skill, Zhang Sanfeng defeated the 100 over bandits, single-handedly. From then onwards, Zhang Sanfeng began to teach this mysteriously acquired skill to his disciples and this art is known as Tai Chi Chuan.

Let’s put aside the point about him defeating 100 over bandits single-handedly, which is very difficult to be accepted as a true point. Even the existence of Zhang Sanfeng is very much speculated! Some claimed that he lived in the beginning of Yuan Dynasty; some claimed that he lived during the Jin Invasion of the Southern Song Dynasty; some claimed that he lived in the Song Dynasty; and some even said in Ming Dynasty. This is quite debatable.

On top of that, why King Yuan in his dream???

This is mainly because the relationship between philosophies (some said religion) and martial arts are closely related. Since Daoism is very much rooted in the Chinese culture and it stresses on maintenance life, with the tendency towards achieving immortality, the immortal King Yuan, came into the picture in this legend.

Many Chinese scholars and writers have disagreed with this record!

Even there’s common agreement that Zhang Sanfeng is not the one created Tai Chi Chuan, there are many disagreement regarding the origin of Tai Chi Chuan. There are many schools of thought. Some claimed that it began in Liang State of the Southern Dynasty era – by Han Gongyue and Cheng Lingxi. There are claims that it was created by Xu Xuanpin or Li Daozi in the Tang Dynasty.

Based on more reliable sources and records, Tai Chi Chuan originated from Chen Wangting, the 9th generation of the Chen clan of Chenjiagou in Nanwen District during the late Ming Dynasty.

With this, there are some believed that Tai Chi Chuan was created by the 1st generation of the Chen clan – Chen Bo who was an expert in martial arts, and Chen Bo was influenced by Zhang Sanfeng’s concept. However, there are no clear records to prove this theory.

It was argued that Tai Chi Chuan had been passed down from generation to generation in the Chen family. Only until the time of Chen Wangting (approx. 1600-1680 AD), the art was systemized during his old age.

He researched on the Huangting Jin which provided him with guidance on breathing techniques, combining ideas found in The Book of 12 Fist Motions by Qi Jiguang, and the ideas of yin and yang. And he injected these ideas into his family’s Tai Chi Chuan to systemize it into 5 sets of Tai Chi Chuan forms and 1 set of Cannon Fist.

He had also arranged Tai Chi Sabre, Tai Chi Spear and various sets of weapons yielding forms. In the same time, he created Tai Chi Push Hand and Tai Chi Sticking Spear. This was an incredible work which allowed Chen Style Tai Chi Chuan to further develop into a complete martial art system. It was even more complete than its original Tai Chi exercise.

This can be said to be the origin of Chen Style Tai Chi Chuan, which also means that, the origin of all forms of Tai Chi Chuan!

Through generations, Tai Chi Chuan had been passed on and been modified. This resulted in various styles and sects. For example, through the teaching and guidance from Chen Changxin, Yang Luchan, nicknamed “The Invincible Yang”, created the Yang Style Tai Chi Chuan. Then, when Yang Luchan passed his skills to Wu Quanyou, Wu created the Wu Style Tai Chi Chuan. Chen Qingping who learned from Chen Youben created the Zhao Style Tai Chi Chuan. Wu Yuxiang who learned from Yang Luchan and Chen Qingping created Wu (different Chinese character from the earlier Wu) Style Tai Chi Chuan.

Following that, Li Yishe created Li Style; from Li, Hao Weizhen created Hao Style; and from Hao, Sun Lutang created the Sun Style. There are possibly more than what I can list!

Sorry if I sound rude, but I need to put those researched information to public so that we can appreciate the art better when we understand its historical development and the core principles behind Tai Chi Chuan.

I don’t mean doubt the existence of Zhang Sanfeng. I started learning meditation at the age of 10 and in the scriptures that I based my meditation on, Zhang Sanfeng’s name had been mentioned many, many times. His techniques and ideology influenced my initial meditation practices. I actually respect this great master of the past and had once believe in the legend, though historical evidents of his existence were not very clear!

What I want to share here is solid sources of historical records that can be proven to be reliable, until present dates. Researches have still been carried out, though many agreed that Chen Wangting should get the credit in putting Tai Chi Chuan into a systematic sets of martial and healing arts, which in another word, Chen Wangting is known to have created the Tai Chi Chuan system we had at the present days! Who knows if any further researches may uncover other records or sources that may prove whatever current theories otherwise!

May the Energy of Tai Chi be with you!

Written by,
C. Guan Soo
http://www.TaichiBreathing.com

*************** Note ***************
You may distribute or publish this article freely provide you do not make any changes or alteration on the article content, or remove my name and website from the article. Thank you!

C. Guan Soo is a Tai Chi Practitioner who has 23 years of experience in meditation, martial arts, Tai Chi Chuan, healing arts, eastern philosophies and Buddhism. He has a website at: http://www.TaichiBreathing.com to discuss how Tai Chi Chuan can help to improve you health, physically and mentally.

photo credit: stevendepolo

==>> “How you can master the art of Taichi
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All the movements revealed the feel of harmony and smoothness. I like it very much.

Great news for those rehabilitating from cardiac related illness! And for everyone else! The BBC reported on a US study of 30 patients which found regular Tai Chi classes gave patients better movement and reduced BNP levels, a measure of heart failure. The British Heart Foundation said the study was “excellent news” and Tai Chi could be adopted into treatment programmes in the UK in the future. In fact, another study in The Harvard Women’s Health Watch, reported, “studies support Tai Chi [use] for heart-attack and cardiac-bypass patients, to improve cardio-respiratory function and reduce blood pressure.” While, the Journal of Alternative and Complimentary Medicine reported that Tai Chi “results in favorable lipid profile changes and improve subjects’ anxiety status. Therefore, Tai Chi could be used as an alternative modality in treating patients with mild hypertension, with a promising economic effect.”

This lowering of high blood pressure and creating more favorable lipid levels bodes well for all of us. A study in the Journal of American Geriatrics reported data substantiating that practicing T’ai Chi regularly may delay the decline of cardioresperatory function in older individuals. In addition, Tai Chi may be prescribed as a suitable aerobics exercise for older adults.

Tai Chi is shown to lower high blood pressure in several studies. An article in WebMD explains that the anger-associated hormones coming from the adrenal gland, located on or near the kidneys when over stimulated result in higher blood pressure and cholesterol levels. They reported that William H. Mueller, PhD (Behavioural epidemiologist and professor of behavioural sciences at the School of Public Health at the University of Texas in Houston), explained that Tai Chi is documented to calm those “fight or flight” chemicals and promote healing.

Once we realize that heart disease, like most illness, is caused by stress it is easy to see why Tai Chi is such an effective preventative or rehabilitative therapy for heart disease and health (Kaiser Permente 20 year study found 70 to 85% of illness sending patients to their doctors were caused by stress). At the Institute of Psychology, Academia Sinica, a research study found that Tai Chi and QiGong practice can positively affect the states of mind of subjects to lessen the incidence of Type-A behavior patterns, believed to increase the risk of heart disease. As early as 1989, the Journal of Psychosomatic Research, reported on a study finding that “Relative to measurement beforehand, practice of T’ai Chi raised heart rate, increased nonadrenaline excretion in urine, and decreased salivary cortisol concentration. Relative to baseline levels, [Test Subjects] reported less tension, depression, anger, fatigue, confusion and state-anxiety; they felt more vigorous, and in general they had less total mood disturbance.”

Tai Chi is perhaps the lowest impact exercise one can do, and is gentle and easy enough to do in business clothes at the office. Yet, recent studies show that Tai Chi can provide much the same cardiovascular benefit as moderate impact aerobics. In fact, a study from the Journal of American Geriatrics reported by Reuters found that Tai Chi lowered high blood pressure in older adults even more than regular aerobics. The fact that Tai Chi can do this without speeding up their heart rates, changes the way medicine looks at cardio vascular physical therapies. Dr. Deborah Rohm Young, of the Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions in Baltimore, Maryland (a researcher in this study) said that these finding “suggest that (exercise) intensity may be less important than other factors” when it comes to lowering high blood pressure.

Yet, there may be another aspect of Tai Chi that helps prevent heart disease. An odd study result appeared a few years ago showing a correlation between regular dental flossing and reduced heart disease. Some speculate that the reduction of chronic gum infections that flossing fosters, makes life easier for the heart which is strained by the body fighting infections. This is where Tai Chi comes in, because research is now revealing that Tai Chi profoundly boosts the body’s ability to fight viral infections. A study conducted in China indicates that T’ai Chi may increase the number of T lymphocytes in the body. Also know as T-Cells, these lymphocytes help the immune system destroy bacteria and possibly even tumor cells. A more recent study at the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA), in what is believed to be the first study of its kind conducted in the United States, researchers have shown that behavioral interventions and integrative exercise programs such as tai chi can have a direct, positive effect on the immune system in older adults. The September/October issue of Psychosomatic Medicine reported that the scientists found “a nearly 50 percent increase” of varicella virus responder cells in Tai Chi Chih (TCC) patients from the start of the study to the one-week post-TCC period. On a patient-by-patient basis, levels of memory T-cells increased in nine TCC patients, remained unchanged in seven patients and decreased in one patient. In the control group, memory T-cell levels increased in three patients, were unchanged in eight patients and decreased in five patients.

Fact is that all the same benefits Tai Chi and Qigong (Chi Kung) provide those in heart health therapy, or cardiac rehabilitation, are the benefits that bode well for everyone. Tai Chi’s uniquely multidimensional benefits put it in a class by itself as far as comprehensive benefits provided by one easy to use, gentle on the body, fitness regimen. The exercise entwines the mind, body, and emotional systems and the chemicals that link these aspects of ourselves to create a powerful life enhancing tool, as well as a health & fitness tool. As modern medicine continues to discover the links between the heart, mind, and physical health, Tai Chi will increasingly emerge as a giant in the future of modern health care.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:Bill Douglas is the Tai Chi Expert at DrWeil.com, Founder of World T’ai Chi & Qigong Day (held in 60 nations each year), and has authored and co-authored several books including a #1 best selling Tai Chi book The Complete Idiot’s Guide to T’ai Chi & Qigong. Bill’s been a Tai Chi source for The Wall Street Journal, New York Times, etc. Bill is the author of the ebook, How to be a Successful Tai Chi Teacher (Namasta University Publishing). You can learn more about Tai Chi & Qigong, search a worldwide teachers directory, and also contact Bill Douglas athttp://www.worldtaichiday.org

P.S. Enroll in our upcoming Qigong and Tai Chi Summer Workshop June 28, 2008. Learn to contol your blood pressure naturally and rejuvenate your cardiovascular system. Register athttp://www.orientalmedcare.com/qigong.html