In Asia, and specifically in China, thousands of people get together in public parks every morning to move choreographically in a deep state of concentration, flowing seamlessly to the sound of birds chirping and the city slowly waking up. Most likely, the group will be following the sequences of Tai Chi, an exercise with deep spiritual and philosophical connections that has been performed for many centuries. Roughly translated as “supreme ultimate force”, this mindful movement follows the precepts of a dynamic duality based on the ying-yang, a concept that balances the male/female, dark/light, that lives in the universe and inside of us.

Tai Chi has a deep connection to martial arts, particularly kung-fu. Watching a full sequence of movements is a graceful sight, with people smoothly transitioning from one posture to the next, moving energy (also known as Chi or Qi) from the universe in and around themselves, following principles from Taoism and Confucianism. The purpose of Tai Chi is to calm the mind and focus your attention in the moment, following each rhythm with patience, making sure each breath connects the movement. Besides the energetic part, those who practice it can benefit from a better posture, toned body, and overall improvement of mood. 

There are five key elements in Tai Chi that every committed practitioner should master: neigong/qigong (the connection of breath, movement, and awareness that leads to moving meditation), tuishou (the hand-pushing drills to move energy), taolu (the weapons routine) and sanshou (striking techniques). The martial arts aspect of this practice is reserved for those who want to explore the path of self-defense. Tai Chi usually combines 88 to 108 hand postures, but since 1956, the Chinese Sports Committee defined a total of 24 postures for tournaments and competitions (the number has varied since then when it comes to formal competitions).

In 2020, Tai Chi was recognized as part of the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List, emphasizing the importance this practice has on the global society. Perhaps what’s more important is the mysticism associated with it, presented as the I Ching, a system to forecast the future represented and read through trigrams that appear in divinatory coin tosses. We’ll have another post dedicated to this topic entirely! But for now, we leave you with a quote by Cheng Man-ch'ing, a renowned Chinese expert of Tai Chi, calligraphy, poetry, and Chinese medicine: Tai Chi, the great ultimate, strengthens the weak, raises the sick, invigorates the debilitated, and encourages the timid.

Here are a few books that cover the practice of Tai Chi:

• "The Tai Chi Handbook" by Damo Mitchell: This comprehensive guide covers the history, principles, and practices of tai chi, including step-by-step instructions for a range of forms.

• "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Tai Chi & Qigong" by Bill Douglas: A beginner-friendly guide that breaks down the topic into snackable bits of information that makes it easy to understand. 

• "Tai Chi for Dummies" by Therese Iknoian: This easy-to-follow guide is a great introductory book, complete with a pedagogical aesthetic that provides key information clearly. 

• "Tai Chi for Beginners and the 24 Forms" by Tri Thong Dang: This easy-to-read guide focuses on explaining the 24 Forms, a popular tai chi form.

• "The Essence of Tai Chi" by Benjamin Pang Jeng Lo: A classic that anyone interested in Ancient knowledge must have for practical, philosophical, and historical necessities.