Martial Art Form

With fluid, graceful movements, the Chinese meditative exercise known as tai chi (“tie chee”) resembles a combination of ballet and slow-motion karate and has been called the “exercise for the ages.” Practicing tai chi involves deep breathing, meditation, and a series of continuous exercises, or forms, that engage nearly every part of the body, building strength and promoting tranquility.

Central to the practice of tai chi is the Eastern belief that moving through the forms improves flow of the body’s life-sustaining energy, qi (“chee”), which must flow freely for good health. The principle of yin/yang—the two opposing forces of life—is also important. Thus, tai chi marries a slow, calming pace and challenging, exhilarating motions that mirror movements seen in nature, giving tai chi forms names such as “Grasp the Sparrow’s Tail,” “Wave Hands like Clouds,” and “Crane Spreads its Wings.”

Tai chi students Michael and Jeong Yoon Lee perform an “Oblique Push” at the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth.

Tai chi sessions begin with meditation to calm the mind, followed by warm-up exercises to increase circulation. Students learn to focus and breathe from the body’s center of gravity in the lower abdomen, the dantian. Next the master teaches a series of slow, flowing movements that, performed together, make up a form. For beginners, a tai chi routine takes 10 to 20 minutes, but more advanced forms may take as long as an hour.

Tai chi instructor Hilda Henao throws a “Slicing Move” at the Dallas World Aquarium.	“Walking Obliquely with Twist Step” at the Dallas Farmer’s Market

The ultimate in non-impact resistance training, tai chi’s therapeutic benefits include improved strength, coordination, balance, and flexibility, as well as stress and pain relief. Medical researchers have documented improvement in chronic conditions ranging from insomnia, back pain, and autoimmune disorders to anxiety, depression, and headaches. In addition to its many health benefits, it is ethereal, beautiful, and to those who do it regularly, soul restorative.

“Double-Fist Block” in the parking lot of Deep Sushi in Deep Ellum	“Fair Maiden Throws the Shuttle”at the Latino Cultural Center

TAI CHI CLASSES

There are several styles of this “soft” martial art; some are geared toward fitness or meditation, others focus on rehabilitation, and still others emphasize self-defense. Dallas offers a number of respected practitioners, classes, and schools. Here is a small sampling:

* SPECIAL THANKS
To the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, Dallas Farmer’s Market, Latino Cultural Center, Deep Sushi in Deep Ellum, and Dallas World Aquarium for locations. To Deborah Fleishman, owner and senior level instructor at The Center for Tai Chi Studies, for our models and wardrobe. To our models: Tai chi students Michael Lee and Yeong Yoon Lee and instructor Hilda Heano.