Tracing its roots to a Taoist monk believed to have lived during the Sung dynasty ...

(AD 960 - 1279), tai chi combines graceful postures with ancient Taoist breathing exercises that are designed to stimulate chi. With regular practice it can relieve stress, improve metabolism and strengthen the immune system.

More accurately known as tai chi chuan, the practice is a non-combative martial art system that includes both meditation and exercise to enhance total health, according to the Hamlyn Encyclopedia of Alternative Health. Its movements are practiced in a slow, flowing sequence seeking connection between mind, body and spirit.

While there are many styles, the basis of all types of tai chi practice is "the form." There are short forms and long forms that vary from style to style, but traditionally a long form involves 108 movements and can take up to an hour to perform, while a short form can involve from 37 to 48 movements and takes 10 minutes of less to perform.

A still more abbreviated practice, tai chi chin was developed in 1974 by Justin Stone in order to make tai chi more accessible, especially to seniors and people with disabilities. It has only 19 movements in a form, followed by one held pose.

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The Standing Post is a healing and martial arts publication. It focuses primarily on Chinese martial arts and Chinese medicine, including Tai Chi and acupuncture.

Tai Chi Fitness
Master Wu's Qi Gong and Tai Chi Fitness Center:
Great source of information regarding eastern practices like martial arts and alternative healing.

T'AI CHI Magazine is an international magazine about Chinese internal martial arts and health disciplines including T'ai Chi Ch'uan, qigong and related internal arts. Articles by experts from around the world explore and reveal new information about the development of internal skills and techniques for use in martial arts, fitness, self knowledge and spiritual development.

Information on the philosophy of tai chi is available on this Taoist page. There is a long history of movement and exercise systems that are associated with Taoism. According to some scholars, in some sense, elements of all of them contribute to Tai Chi.

LAS/Yahoo Tai Chi Directory