Chen Taijiquan is an internal exercise system, refined over hundreds of years for the purpose of Qi (energy) cultivation, and originating in China. It is excellent for relaxation, conditioning the body, improving health, fitness, core body strength, balance, energy levels plus increasing flexibility and range of movement. Chen Taijiquan originated as a martial arts system and it remains, with determined practice, an excellent form of self-defence.

Taijiquan is the series of slow, continuous and flowing movements which can famously be seen performed in the parks and open spaces across South East Asia, often early in the morning. Sometimes Taijiquan is known as 'moving meditation'. With time and effort it can help the practitioner to become revitalised, relaxed, more self-confident, stronger and healthier in both mind and body. Different to most forms of exercise and sport, Taijiquan does not rely on strength, force and speed, making it an ideal exercise for all age groups and levels of fitness. Even with a small amount of practice, health and fitness can improve and relaxation increase.

Chen Taijiquan is also a superb system for helping the individual manage the stresses and pressures of complex modern living. It can help to increase energy levels, improve the quality of sleep, increase flexibility, co-ordination and balance, improve the circulation, condition and strengthen the bones and improve general health and well being.

Here is what the Harvard Medical Review has to say about the health benefits of practicing Taijiquan:

‘Taijiquan is often described as ‘meditation in motion’, but it might well be called ‘medication in motion’. There is growing evidence that this mind-body practice, which originated in China as a martial art, has value in treating or preventing many health problems. And you can get started even if you aren’t in top shape or the best of health. This gentle form of exercise can prevent or ease many ills of aging and could be the perfect activity for the rest of your life.

In this low-impact, slow-motion exercise, you go without pausing through a series of motions named for animal actions — for example, “white crane spreads its wings” — or martial arts moves, such as “box both ears.” As you move, you breathe deeply and naturally, focusing your attention — as in some kinds of meditation — on your bodily sensations. Tai chi differs from other types of exercise in several respects. The movements are usually circular and never forced, the muscles are relaxed rather than tensed, the joints are not fully extended or bent, and connective tissues are not stretched. Taijiquan can be easily adapted for anyone, from the most fit to people confined to wheelchairs or recovering from surgery.

‘A growing body of carefully conducted research is building a compelling case for Taijiquan as an adjunct to standard medical treatment for the prevention and rehabilitation of many conditions commonly associated with age’, says Peter M. Wayne, assistant professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and director of the Tai Chi and Mind-Body Research Program. An adjunct therapy is one that’s used together with primary medical treatments, either to address a disease itself or its primary symptoms, or, more generally, to improve a patient’s functioning and quality of life.

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Here is what the Harvard Medical Review has to say about what you might expect from your first Taijiquan class:

A Taijiquan class might include these parts:

Warm-up — Easy, gentle motions, such as shoulder circles, turning the head from side to side, or rocking back and forth, help you to loosen your muscles and joints, focus on your breath and body and gradually develop flexibility and range of motion.

Instruction & Practice of Taijiquan Forms — Forms are sets of movements — these may include a dozen or fewer movements; long forms may include hundreds. Different styles require smaller or larger movements. A short form with smaller, slower movements is usually recommended at the beginning, especially if you’re older or not in good condition.

Qigong — Translated as ‘breath work’ or ‘energy work’, this consists of a few minutes of gentle breathing sometimes combined with movement. The idea is to help relax the mind and mobilize the body’s energy. Qigong may be practiced standing, sitting, or lying down.

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Here is the getting started advice from the Harvard Medical Review:

The benefits of Taijiquan are generally greatest if you begin before you develop a chronic illness or functional limitations. Taijiquan is very safe, and no fancy equipment is needed, so it’s easy to get started. Here’s some advice for doing so:

Don’t be intimidated by the language — Names like Yang, Wu, and Chen are given to various branches of Tai Chi, in honor of people who devised the sets of movements called Forms. Certain programs emphasise the martial arts aspect of Taijiquan rather than its potential for healing and stress reduction. In some Forms, you learn long sequences of movements, while others involve shorter series and more focus on breathing and meditation. The name is less important than finding an approach that matches your interests and needs.

Check with your doctor — If you have a limiting musculoskeletal problem or medical condition — or if you take medications that can make you dizzy or lightheaded — check with your doctor before starting Taijiquan. Given its excellent safety record, chances are that you’ll be encouraged to try it.

Consider observing and taking a class — Taking a class may be the best way to learn Taijiquan. Seeing a teacher in action, getting feedback, and experiencing the camaraderie of a group are all pluses. Most teachers will let you observe the class first to see if you feel comfortable with the approach and atmosphere. Instruction can be individualized. If you’d rather learn at home, you can buy or rent videos geared to your interests and fitness needs. Although there are some excellent Taijiquan books, it is difficult to appreciate the flow of movements from still photos or illustrations.

Talk to the instructor — There’s no standard training or licensing for Taijiquan instructors, so you’ll need to rely on recommendations from friends or clinicians and, of course, your own judgment. Look for an experienced teacher who will accommodate individual health concerns or levels of coordination and fitness.

Dress comfortably — Choose loose-fitting clothes that don’t restrict your range of motion. You can practice barefoot or in lightweight, comfortable, and flexible shoes. Tai chi shoes are available, but ones you find in your closet will probably work fine. You’ll need shoes that won’t slip and can provide enough support to help you balance, but have soles thin enough to allow you to feel the ground. Running shoes, designed to propel you forward, are usually unsuitable.

Monitor your progress — Most beginning programs and Tajiquan interventions tested in medical research last at least 12 weeks, with instruction once or twice a week and practice at home. By the end of that time, you should know whether you enjoy Taijiquan, and you may already notice positive physical and psychological changes.

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Here is what the Harvard Medical Review has to say about the evidenced health and well-being benefits of practicing Taijiquan:

Although Taijiquan is slow and gentle and doesn’t leave you breathless, it addresses the key components of fitness — muscle strength, flexibility, balance, and, to a lesser degree, aerobic conditioning. Here’s some of the evidence:

Muscle strength — In a 2006 study published in ‘Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine’, Stanford University researchers reported benefits of Taijiquan in 39 women and men, average age 66, with below-average fitness and at least one cardiovascular risk factor. After taking 36 Taijiquan classes in 12 weeks, they showed improvement in both lower-body strength (measured by the number of times they could rise from a chair in 30 seconds) and upper-body strength (measured by their ability to do arm curls).
In a Japanese study using the same strength measures, 113 older adults were assigned to different 12-week exercise programs, including Taijiquan, brisk walking, and resistance training. People who did Taijiquan improved more than 30% in lower-body strength and 25% in arm strength — almost as much as those who participated in resistance training, and more than those assigned to brisk walking.

‘Although you aren’t working with weights or resistance bands, the unsupported arm exercise involved in tai chi strengthens your upper body,’ says Dr. Gloria Yeh, an assistant professor at Harvard Medical School. ‘Tai chi strengthens both the lower and upper extremities and also the core muscles of the back and abdomen.’

Flexibility — Women in the 2006 Stanford study significantly boosted upper-and lower-body flexibility as well as strength.

Balance — Taijiquan improves balance and, according to some studies, reduces falls. Proprioception — the ability to sense the position of one’s body in space — declines with age. Taijiquan helps train this sense, which is a function of sensory neurons in the inner ear and stretch receptors in the muscles and ligaments. Taijiquan also improves muscle strength and flexibility, which makes it easier to recover from a stumble. Fear of falling can make you more likely to fall; some studies have found that Taijiquan training helps reduce that fear.

Aerobic conditioning — Depending on the speed and size of the movements, Taijiquan can provide aerobic benefits. But in the Japanese study, only participants assigned to brisk walking gained much aerobic fitness. If your clinician advises a more intense cardio workout with a higher heart rate than Taijiquan can offer, you may need something more aerobic as well.

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Here is what the Harvard Medical Review has to say about practicing Taijiquan for specific medical conditions:

When combined with standard treatment, Taijiquan appears to be helpful for several medical conditions. For example:

Arthritis — In a 40-person study at Tufts University, presented in October 2008 at a meeting of the American College of Rheumatology, an hour of Taijiquan twice a week for 12 weeks reduced pain and improved mood and physical functioning more than standard stretching exercises in people with severe knee osteoarthritis. According to a Korean study published in December 2008 in Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, eight weeks of Taijiquan classes followed by eight weeks of home practice significantly improved flexibility and slowed the disease process in patients with ankylosing spondylitis, a painful and debilitating inflammatory form of arthritis that affects the spine.

Low bone density — A review of six controlled studies by Dr. Wayne and other Harvard researchers indicates that tai chi may be a safe and effective way to maintain bone density in postmenopausal women. A controlled study of Taijiquan in women with osteopenia (diminished bone density not as severe as osteoporosis) is under way at the Osher Research Center and Boston’s Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center.

Breast cancer — Taijiquan has shown potential for improving quality of life and functional capacity (the physical ability to carry out normal daily activities, such as work or exercise) in women suffering from breast cancer or the side effects of breast cancer treatment. For example, a 2008 study at the University of Rochester, published in Medicine and Sport Science, found that quality of life and functional capacity (including aerobic capacity, muscular strength, and flexibility) improved in women with breast cancer who did 12 weeks of Taijiquan, while declining in a control group that received only supportive therapy.

Heart disease — A 53-person study at National Taiwan University found that a year of Taijiquan significantly boosted exercise capacity, lowered blood pressure, and improved levels of cholesterol, triglycerides, insulin, and C-reactive protein in people at high risk for heart disease. The study, which was published in the September 2008 Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, found no improvement in a control group that did not practice Taijiquan.

Heart failure —  In a 30-person pilot study at Harvard Medical School, 12 weeks of Taijiquan improved participants’ ability to walk and quality of life. It also reduced blood levels of B-type natriuretic protein, an indicator of heart failure. A 150-patient controlled trial is under way.

Hypertension —  In a review of 26 studies in English or Chinese published in Preventive Cardiology (Spring 2008), Dr. Yeh reported that in 85% of trials, Taijiquan lowered blood pressure — with improvements ranging from 3 to 32 mm Hg in systolic pressure and from 2 to 18 mm Hg in diastolic pressure.

Parkinson’s disease — A 33-person pilot study from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, published in Gait and Posture (October 2008), found that people with mild to moderately severe Parkinson’s disease showed improved balance, walking ability, and overall well-being after 20 Taijiquan sessions.

Sleep problems — In a University of California, Los Angeles, study of 112 healthy older adults with moderate sleep complaints, 16 weeks of Taijiquan improved the quality and duration of sleep significantly more than standard sleep education. The study was published in the July 2008 issue of the journal Sleep.

Stroke —  In 136 patients who’d had a stroke at least six months earlier, 12 weeks of Taijiquan improved standing balance more than a general exercise program that entailed breathing, stretching, and mobilizing muscles and joints involved in sitting and walking. Findings were published in the January 2009 issue of Neurorehabilitation and Neural Repair.

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