Tai Chi

With Chris Nuteley

Tai Chi was originally created by the Taoists of Wudang Temple China and is rooted in Taoist practices and philosophy.

It uses precise movements that teach the practitioner not only how to connect the body together so that it moves as a whole but also how to transmit force from the ground, out through the hands. It’s this full body connection and the way that it creates power coupled with a deep understanding of Chi Gong, working with the breath and calming the mind that makes it so effective.

Tai Chi works the body in a way that see’s it continually expanding and contracting, coiling and releasing. The relaxed power (Song) that moves through the body in waves forces the muscles, ligaments, tendons and fascia to relax, it opens the joints of the body and the spine as a way to create force and as it does so it releases tensions and hardening's that lie throughout the system. This leaves the body in a state that feels light as a feather and incredible heavy (due to its rooting), as soft as cotton and as hard as steel. It is moving in this way that has seen Tai Chi being used to treat many conditions. Among these are; arthritis, poor balance, joint and muscle pain, immobility, poor blood circulation, stress and insomnia. It is also used as a way to increase vitality and to strengthen the condition of the whole system known as The Three Treasures (the body, the Chi and the mind).

It is recommended by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence as a useful part of any Falls Prevention programme.

Now, more than ever it is important that we take care of ourselves and look to bring strength and balance to our lives.

Within my classes I teach aspects of the Yang and Wu Styles.

T’ai Chi’s effects include:

Improved balance and reduced incidence of falls among the elderly
Reduced blood pressure
Improved sleep quality
Enhanced immune response
Slowed reduction of bone density, protecting against osteoporosis
Increased Heart Rate Variability, as effective as brisk walking.
Improved mobility and decreased pain where there is osteoarthritis of the knee
Aiding blood sugar regulation in type 2 diabetes.
Reduced stress and improved psychological well-being