So I recently found out that the Tai Chi center a short walk from my home offers sliding-scale class fees. I’ve been curious about Tai Chi for a while – especially in terms of gaining better overall mind-body integrative wellness/fitness.
What’s it like, especially as a beginner? In terms of physical fitness, what benefits did you experience? Greater flexibility, muscle tone, strength, all of the above, none of the above? I don’t anticipate any surprises in terms of mental wellness (de-stressing, meditation, focus), but was there something that surprised you? I do a lot of cardio, I find weights boring, and I’m looking for a better way to round out my physical fitness.
I took a Tai Chi class in college. It didn’t do much for me.
It was interesting, but I suspect I’m not the kind of person who would reap the benefits. I’m too interested in technique, which probably isn’t the point.
I tried it and found it wasn’t for me.
Some of the ‘mind/body’ stuff pegged my BS meter a little too high.
Also it takes a surprising amount of room to do the exercises. I don’t have enough room at home to do them properly so didn’t see any benefits since I couldn’t practice at home. I guess there is a reason you see people doing it outside a lot.
Eh, I can put up with some woo-woo if I’m getting benefit from it. I don’t really care if I’m de-stressing because I’m unblocking my qi or because I’m releasing endorphins; I only care that I’m de-stressing.
I guess my particular interest is in knowing if it helps physical fitness beyond just the stress-relief. e.g. if I can maintain decent muscle tone from something like Tai Chi instead of weight machines, I think I’d be more likely to stick with that because weight machines are boring. I already know how meditative exercises affect me, in general (which is to say, positively), so that’s less of an issue.
Sigh. Can we please refrain from threadshitting about “woosters,” since that’s not even the question I asked? I think I made the reason for my interest pretty plain in my OP. (Also please note my need for “sliding scale fees” – my alternate options are extremely limited. I won’t be picking up a martial art – I can’t afford to pay for it. The question is whether or not I’m going to be getting the physical benefits I’m looking for in a fitness program from Tai Chi. I don’t know how many different ways I can say this.)
Let me go out on a limb and guess that if you’re not of a mental disposition to tolerate different philosophies whether you believe in them or not, you’re not likely to get any physical benefit either (from lack of willingness to stick with it), so I’m not seeing that you have a lot to contribute to answering my question.
Thank you to longhair75, that’s the kind of information I’m looking for.
I like it, and I’d like to find a place that offers it again. It won’t do bupkus for muscle tone or cardio. You might see some balance improvement, depending on what style and what your instructor focuses on. Think of it as moving meditation rather than a workout and you won’t be disappointed.
Like others said, your balance will improve, and you will probably gain more flexibility in your legs. Your legs should get stronger, as the deep stances can be challenging to maintain. You simply aren’t going to gain muscle tone. You aren’t going to lose weight.
The only real surprise I’d mention is that it is more of a mental workout than I anticipated when I started, and I’ve been involved in martial arts for about 12 years or so. The forms can be very long, and if you progress to sword forms, wow, it gets complicated. I liked the mental challenge.
I’ve done T’ai Chi (traditional Yang style) for several years. Like any martial art/sport/meditation you won’t get anything out of it that you don’t put in in terms of practice and effort. You also need to find a good teacher.
Some qualities to look for in a class/instructor:
[ul]
[li]The martial aspects or ‘applications’ of the forms are taught when you reach a sufficient level of skill. Not learning these is like going to the theatre and deliberately closing your eyes through the performance.[/li][li]The instructor is still learning from another master himself, and will bring back corrections to the class. In my opinion, anyone who thinks they know everything, can’t teach anything.[/li][li]The instructor avoids Qi and explains the applications using body mechanics, balance and timing.[/li][li]The class is relaxed and friendly.[/li][/ul]
If you can advance on to things like sword, stick and staff work, you will get a good low impact workout. The martial aspects won’t really help you in a street fight until you’ve got years of training, but the principles can round out and help other, more direct arts like Karate or Jiu-Jitsu.
Good information. I have started to look into something that I can do to increase flexibility, and balance, but I have the limitations of moderate rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, and neuropathy left over from chemo. I thought tai chi would be a non-impact way to start getting moving.
There is a huge spectrum of Tai Chi classes. I’ve been to some that are heavily martially focused, teaching the joint lock / arm break / gruesome death techniques and left me feeling the next day like a truck had over me.
I’ve been to others that try to emulate statues to background John Tesh music.
Be prepared to shop around and find both a level and teacher that fit your goals and personality.
No, probably not. It won’t do much for your upper body, and not much more for your legs than a brisk walk.
If you like it, go ahead. An exercise routine you can stick with is a good one, and tai chi won’t hurt you. Don’t expect benefits from it that you won’t get. It won’t build muscle, it does not increase cardiovascular capacity, and there is no such thing as a magic energy flowing thru your body, and 99% of traditional Chinese medicine is foolishness. It’s of less than no value in a street fight, if that is a consideration.
On the other hand, it is fun to do (for some people) and it relieves stress (for some people).
From a fitness standpoint, it won’t do you much direct good at all. What it will help you with is better body control and attention to form and detail when you do other exercises, so that may be a sufficient benefit in and of itself.
I noticed when I took tai chi in my teens that my hard martial arts techniques benefited greatly, for example.