What do I need to practice Tai Chi?
No special equipment is needed for Tai Chi, just comfortable clothes that allow for free movement. You can wear thick socks, but flat shoes are also okay, although it’s good to be able to move the toes. If you have problems with balance I would especially recommend flat shoes; the soles of trainers have rounded toes that make it easy to walk or run but can pitch you forward when standing still and shifting your weight forwards, so are not good for balancing exercises in class.
Depending on the time of year and facilities at the venue, it’s advisable to wear layers in order to keep a comfortable body temperature. The sequences are slow moving, so it takes a while to ‘warm up’ in cold weather - though I do my best to make sure venues are warm. You will probably find otherwise that the body warms up considerably despite the slow movements.
As explained previously, these movements are generally practised in a standing position. Classes last for an hour, so allowing for latecomers, 'settling in' and meditating at the end of the class, as long as you can stand for 50 minutes, you should be able to 'do' Tai Chi. Having said that, if balance is a problem, you can have a chair nearby in case you need support, and you can always stop for a short while if you need to.
How long and how often should I practice?
Some people like to do Tai Chi in a group, others like to do it alone; some are happy just to go to a class once a week and others like to do it more often. All you need is a quiet space that allows you to focus on what you are doing. You may be lucky enough to have private outside space, but if not, inside is fine. The sequences I teach don't need a lot of room.
The more you practise, the more benefit you will feel, but don't feel it's a 'task' that you must complete. Even just a few minutes every other day can make a difference. Just do as much as you want, whenever you feel you need or want to and don't worry if you 'miss' doing it.
What is a 'Form'?
Most schools or styles practise what is called a 'Form'. Simply put, a Form is a series of flowing movements in a set sequence, taught and handed down through family and senior students. The origins usually have martial applications (you may be 'throwing' an opponent) and even if you never use the moves in this way, it helps to know what their purpose is. They can be long and complex and take a lot of time to learn, so the sequences I use in my classes are not - strictly speaking - traditional 'Forms', but shorter, simpler, repetitive sequences that are more health based.
Of course I practice some Forms myself; Cheng Man Ching's Short Form, which is widely practised although there are a lot of variations. I also practice the Yang style Long form as passed down from Yang Cheng Fu to Cheng Man Ching, on to Master Huang Shen Shyan and formulated by his student Patrick Kelly (from whom I also learned the Short Form in depth), whose workshops I attended regularly in Carlisle for twenty years. After travelling the world teaching in his native New Zealand, Australia and various cities in Europe, Patrick now has his own school in Shanghai.
Learning a Form can be very time consuming and exacting, so I rarely teach them to beginners as I want my classes to be simpler and more accessible to my students. If you understand the principles behind the movements you can practice both Tai Chi and especially Qigong to a great depth - 'simple' moves can still be profound and powerful.
Read my blog entry on my understanding of the differences between Tai Chi and Qigong
No special equipment is needed for Tai Chi, just comfortable clothes that allow for free movement. You can wear thick socks, but flat shoes are also okay, although it’s good to be able to move the toes. If you have problems with balance I would especially recommend flat shoes; the soles of trainers have rounded toes that make it easy to walk or run but can pitch you forward when standing still and shifting your weight forwards, so are not good for balancing exercises in class.
Depending on the time of year and facilities at the venue, it’s advisable to wear layers in order to keep a comfortable body temperature. The sequences are slow moving, so it takes a while to ‘warm up’ in cold weather - though I do my best to make sure venues are warm. You will probably find otherwise that the body warms up considerably despite the slow movements.
As explained previously, these movements are generally practised in a standing position. Classes last for an hour, so allowing for latecomers, 'settling in' and meditating at the end of the class, as long as you can stand for 50 minutes, you should be able to 'do' Tai Chi. Having said that, if balance is a problem, you can have a chair nearby in case you need support, and you can always stop for a short while if you need to.
How long and how often should I practice?
Some people like to do Tai Chi in a group, others like to do it alone; some are happy just to go to a class once a week and others like to do it more often. All you need is a quiet space that allows you to focus on what you are doing. You may be lucky enough to have private outside space, but if not, inside is fine. The sequences I teach don't need a lot of room.
The more you practise, the more benefit you will feel, but don't feel it's a 'task' that you must complete. Even just a few minutes every other day can make a difference. Just do as much as you want, whenever you feel you need or want to and don't worry if you 'miss' doing it.
What is a 'Form'?
Most schools or styles practise what is called a 'Form'. Simply put, a Form is a series of flowing movements in a set sequence, taught and handed down through family and senior students. The origins usually have martial applications (you may be 'throwing' an opponent) and even if you never use the moves in this way, it helps to know what their purpose is. They can be long and complex and take a lot of time to learn, so the sequences I use in my classes are not - strictly speaking - traditional 'Forms', but shorter, simpler, repetitive sequences that are more health based.
Of course I practice some Forms myself; Cheng Man Ching's Short Form, which is widely practised although there are a lot of variations. I also practice the Yang style Long form as passed down from Yang Cheng Fu to Cheng Man Ching, on to Master Huang Shen Shyan and formulated by his student Patrick Kelly (from whom I also learned the Short Form in depth), whose workshops I attended regularly in Carlisle for twenty years. After travelling the world teaching in his native New Zealand, Australia and various cities in Europe, Patrick now has his own school in Shanghai.
Learning a Form can be very time consuming and exacting, so I rarely teach them to beginners as I want my classes to be simpler and more accessible to my students. If you understand the principles behind the movements you can practice both Tai Chi and especially Qigong to a great depth - 'simple' moves can still be profound and powerful.
Read my blog entry on my understanding of the differences between Tai Chi and Qigong