Tai chi

It is a discipline, art, ancient oriental technique whose goal is physical and mental balance. Tai Chi harmoniously combines its three fundamentals: body movement, mental concentration and conscious breathing. It is a moving meditation.

Its benefits are balance, strength, flexibility, muscular endurance and emotional and energy control. It compensates for stress and the busy social rhythm, allowing, thinking, feeling and acting differently. Tai Chi teaches us to take our time and our space but being present in the now. It helps us to accept and rediscover ourselves and to connect with nature.

Tai Chi is originally from ancient China and was initially practiced in monasteries. As there is no historical documentation, there are different theories about his birth. What has been demonstrated is its direct link with Taoism, an oriental religion with more than 2,500 years and whose objective is the  road search or Tao: internal and external balance, the union of the two opposite and complementary Yin and Yang , like a balance that tries to balance constantly. It is the theory that governs the universe, two opposite extremes that, at the same time, are interconnected and are part of a whole.

According to the Taoist monks of Wu Dang, it was a monk named Chang Sanfeng who developed a system unifying the techniques of extreme combat with ancient Tao Yin techniques and exercises and gave him the name of Taiji (Tai Chi). It is said that Chang Sanfeng learned the external styles of the Shaolin and, combining them with the Taoist exercises, created the Tai Chi.

The current Tai Chi began about 300 years ago at the end of the Ming dynasty and the beginning of the Quing dynasty in Chenjiogaou. Among the many people who contributed to its development, General Chen Wang Ting stands out.

Many forms of Tai Chi are practiced around the world and there are different sequences of movements (24, 32, 36, 42, 48 etc.). In each style the original long sequences of each family have been simplified since, the old structures have between 80 and more than 100 movements and a lot of practice and years of dedication are required.

MAIN MODES:

• TAI CHI YANG: Long and calm movements without altering the rhythm of the breaths. His movements retain the martial air.

• TAI CHI CHEN: Is the oldest and most martial. It is a more complex modality and whoever practices it goes from relaxation to the maximum point in just one movement.

• TAI CHI SUN: It's light, fluid and fast. It is one of the most recent styles of Tai Chi and with greater mobility.

• TAI CHI WU: One of the most practiced styles in the world. It is a moderate version of the Yang style with smoother movements.

• TAI CHI WU HAO: Small and slow movements. Balance and development of energy and sensitivity.