Tai Chi, NOT Chai Tea!

Those of you that have either completed a one-on-one program, purchased an on-line program or have read anything else that I have written in the past have most likely determined by now and realize it is quite evident... I am a huge supporter and advocate of integrated and phase-based training as optimized methods of health and fitness technologies/systemologies. And it wasn't until I started researching Tai Chi as an alternative form of exercise (I have been exercising for three-and-a-half decades consistently) did I understand how such a slow-velocity activity can help decrease blood pressure, reduce stress, help develop a greater degree of coordination and diminish the number of falls experienced by the elderly. The affects of resistance and aerobic type activities and their impact on health is unequivocal. Resistance training improves strength and the development of lean muscle mass, as well as an increase in bone-density and cardiovascular training improves the efficiently of the heart, lungs and circulatory function while decreasing mortality rates. However, over the past few decades, Eastern practices such as Tai Chi and Yoga have complimented mainstream fitness training programs by demonstrating comparable health benefits to traditional fitness training. A closer look at Tai Chi is warranted and yes this is coming from a fitness coach who intrinsically knows and has meticulously practiced and has been the recipient of the absolute benefits of weight bearing exercise for over 30 years.
What is Tai Chi Anyway? So...
Tai Chi is used as an alternative form of exercise that requires a greater degree of movement than yoga and eliminates the impact nature of many aerobic or cardio-respiratory type activities.
Vitality: The Health and Well-Benefits of Tai Chi
Recent research also suggests Tai Chi to be an effective program in the reduction of blood pressure and blood lipid levels. The practice of Tai Chi has also been linked to a reduction of falls and injury for the elderly, an important attribute given that one in three adults 65 years or older fall each year. Overt health benefits such as decreased stress, improved cardiovascular fitness, balance, muscle strength, coordinative reflexes, arthritis relief and flexibility in people of all ages have been reported.

The life force or energy in Tai Chi is a moderate intensity exercise where aggregate energy expenditure is comparable to walking at a pace of 3.5 mph. Talk about Synergy...
Integrating Tai Chi and Strength/Training.
Since Tai Chi creates a state of tranquility, calmness and relaxation it is best to perform the activity on days off from your regular While the movements may look simple, proper execution of forms take months of practice. Similarly, muscular effort can be increased by emphasizing knee bends, arms swings, twisting of the trunk and overall body recruitment when carrying out and finishing the forms. The forms can be performed in a quick controlled pace to raise the heart rate and induce a greater aerobic intensity. The forms are completed very slowly and consist of many sequential and continuous postural changes from the beginning to the end of the workout session, including both double stance and single stance weight-bearing maneuvers.

Alternatively, you may complete the circuit on Monday and Thursday, followed by a warm-up to increase blood-oxygen flow and body temperature. All sessions begin with a few minutes of meditation to calm the mind as well as the body, followed by a short 20-minute cardio session on both days, and practice Tai Chi on Tuesday and Saturday. Ahh…yes, a typical Tai Chi session can last five minutes to an hour depending on the experience and fitness and primary conditioning level of the participant.
Traditions...
Using a phase-based training approach, Tai Chi is a valuable form of exercise to help relax your body and replenish your energy stores from the intense fitness workouts you are accustomed to, so good luck and may God bless each and everyone of you. Combined with a proper fitness training program and nutrition, Tai Chi can provide the alternative form of movement that you have been searching for. Life is about balancing tasks while nourishing your mind, body and spirit.

In over 25 countries around the globe, people are enjoying the many benefits of practicing Taoist Tai Chi in friendly atmospheric locales. The gentle movements of Taoist Tai Chi convey the essence of this tradition to the modern world. The ancient Taoists were renowned for their study of the arts of health and longevity.
-To Your Absolute Health, Kurt Lee Hurley