What is Tai Chi?

The great thing about Tai Chi is that it has so many levels -- physical, mental and spiritual.

At the most basic level, the Tai Chi exercise is a series of standing postures that flow together continuously. The movements promote balance and flexibility in the joints.

Tai Chi is also a "soft" martial art, a meditation, a stress-reducer, a philosophy, a form of conflict resolution and a way of life.

Tai Chi is a path to wholeness, balance and harmony.

At its deepest level, the true goal of Tai Chi is not to learn a set of movements, but to develop internal awareness. This internal awareness helps you learn to adapt to change. You begin work with change instead of against it.

What are the core principles of Tai Chi?

The most important principle of Tai Chi is to RELAX COMPLETELY. So simple, yet so hard to do!

The other main principles involve breathing deeply and moving the body as a single unit, coordinated in smooth, flowing motion.

The martial art of Tai Chi Chuan is based on non-aggression and the principle that "the soft overcomes the hard." The practitioner never meets the opponents force with force; instead, he neutralizes it, deflects it or sends the attackers energy back at him.