Tai Chi and Qi Gong

Qi Gong

Qi Gong is a form of exercise which aligns the breathing, the mental awareness and movement. It is now practiced throughout China and worldwide. For some it is pure exercise, whereas for others it’s more a meditative practice that also helps the mental state of mind.

Qi Gong can be categorized into Soft Qi Gong such as Tai Chi, and Hard Qi Gong with comprises most Wu Shu styles such as Kung Fu.

Tai Chi

Tai Chi, as a kind of soft Qi Gong, has a worldwide reputation for health. It consists of all the Qi Gong elements, yet it practices them in a slow style. To a certain extent it could be considered as just an exercise, for Tai Chi practice is able to improve fitness and breathing.

Compared to vigorous exercise that focuses on the burning of calories (or self-defense), Tai Chi focuses on body-mind relaxation. Given the slow practice, it’s an ideal exercise for the elderly to maintain health.