- Key Points About Tai Chi as CAM
- A Description of Tai Chi
- Other Key Beliefs of Tai Chi
- Specific Health Purposes and Tai Chi
- Side Effects and Risks of Tai Chi
- Licensing, Training, and Credentialing of Tai Chi Teachers
- Tai Chi as a Part of CAM
- Some Points of Controversy About Tai Chi
- US Government Funded Research on Tai Chi
- Tai Chi Health Research References
Authors mother attends her first world tai chi day celebration, and has her first tai chi lesson.
Tai chi (pronounced “tie chee” and also known by some other names and spellings*) is a mind-body practice that originated in China as a martial art. A person doing tai chi moves his body slowly and gently, while breathing deeply and meditating (tai chi is sometimes called “moving meditation”). Many practitioners believe that tai chi helps the flow throughout the body of a proposed vital energy called qi (pronounced “chee,” it means “air” or “power”). In the United States, tai chi for health purposes is part of complementary and alternative medicine, or CAM. You can find more health benefits research indications at Starfarmtaiji.com . This Backgrounder provides a general overview of tai chi and suggests some resources you can use to find more information.
Start a class in Eastern CT: Call Starfarm (Laddie Sacharko) at 860 455 0353 to schedule a class at your senior center, rec center, or wellness center. Classes are affordable, and can be tailored to your needs. Suggest a class for your center. Get a sign up list circulating
Find Tai Chi Classes in CT at the Tai Chi Network