How I Discovered Tai Chi

Once in a while, I get really bored with my workouts. You know,after a while it gets to be the same old, same old stuff. It isalways weights or cardio machines or the same stuff over andover again. I have worked out for years and sometimes it isnice to have something different to sink your teeth into whenyou go to the gym. Or it is also nice to have something fun andinvigorating to do at home. Something that gets you started offon the right foot in the morning.I recently found something that fits that criteria and it iscalled Tai Chi. You may have heard of it. It has been aroundfor centuries. Tai Chi is a Chinese martial art but differentfrom regular sparring types of kung fu. Some people may call ita soft style of martial arts and I think they have a pointbecause you cant really whack a guy with Tai Chi. But thatdoesnt matter because the point of this exercise is to help aperson relax and to inner reflect, if you will. How to do TaiChi correctly and effectively is a simple matter of finding theright instructor.You see, Tai Chi is all about finding the right balance withinyourself, your Chi or spiritual center. Most people do not doTai Chi for any martial arts benefit. I know I did not start itfor that reason. I did it to have another form of exercise inplace of regular boring stuff I was sick of. The thing is, Idiscovered that it really does help you find peace and improveyour balance.Tai Chi is based on using the whole body, even the innerstrength of the mind and breath, all together as one unit.Think of it as standing yoga or a combination of that andballet. Maybe it seems silly for a tough guy like me to say Ido something similar to ballet, but I tell you, it is not onlyrelaxing but challenging as well. Some people call it movingmeditation. Because that is what you are doing. You are movingyour hands and arms and legs together, but you are relaxingyour mind at the same time to allow deep meditation.Tai Chi patterns are easy to learn and hard to master. They arevery flowing and smooth and develop the internal flow or Chi oryour body and soul. It was tough for me at first, doing allthose weird poses and repetitive moves, but it got easier andmuch more fun once I got the hang of it. I knew I had to be badbefore I good be good.There are a wide range of videos out there to help you getstarted and I tried quite a few before I got hooked on oneinstructor that really blew me away. You have to find someonethat knows what they are doing and can really relate to youwhat Tai Chi is all about.Here is what really struck me...it's something I can do for myhealth for the rest of my life.About The Author: Yoshi I. Kundagawa is a freelance journalist.He covers the mixed martial arts industry. For a free report onTai Chi Videos visit his blog.http://www.martialarts3000.com/taichiqigong.html