When you are thrilled thinking about experiencing Tai Chi, everything is possible, but there are things you should remember when you are deciding you want to join a group.

First of all some facts you need to know when you’re at a beginner Tai Chi level. Tai Chi Chuan and Tai Chi aren’t very different after all. Although there’s an charactar added with the first, the meaning for both is the same. Tai Chi is only the shorter version of the expression. What does it mean exactly? Tai Chi Chuan is translated as “Supreme Ultimate Fist”. It’s a derivation from kung fu techniques, which means that it can be applied as a self-defense medium as well as a therapeutic activity.

Each class will have it’s own range in the number of students they accept, but normally you can expect to have around 20 to 30 students in your group. The age ranges between the teenage years and goes up to people in their 90s. Commonly, children aren’t really attracted to the art, because they are easily bored with the slow movements. In most cases, classes want to reach out to people starting in the early twenties. Women and men can enroll in the same classes, in Tai Chi it’s very are to see a men-only or a women-only class. It’s generally more beneficial when men and women are mixed because of the energy that is freed within the group.

You’re not required to be fit. Whether you’re stout, overweight, thin, or whatever, it’s okay. Even weelchair patients can adapt the movements of Tai Chi and benefit from them. But you do need to have a certain attention span. On the other side, if you have undergone certain medical treatments, you should talk to your doctor and see if Tai Chi is something you can do. And even if your doctor gives you the go-ahead, make sure to tell your teacher about your condition so he can keep that in mind and adjust movements or restrict some alltogether if you can’t handle them.

Not only is Tai Chi an exercise, it’s also considered a martial art. But there are certain teachers around that will only teach the movements used for health purposes. Around 80% of the people engaged in the Tai Chi art embrace the fact that Tai Chi is an art. If you think you need self defense more than you need the exercise for your health, you should consider taking up an art that uses more kung fu actions then health exercises. On the other hand, if you want the best of both worlds, Tai Chi is what you need.

What kind of martial art is Tai Chi? It’s a form of internal martial art and it’s characterized by the soft movements. It’s also trained to be at a more relaxing and slower speed then other martial arts.

Now, let’s talk clothing. When you’re considering what to wear to your Tai Chi class, don’t bother shopping for cool clothes. You don’t need any special clothing, just wear something you feel comfortable in: T-shirt, jogging pants and snickers will work well enough. Just remember to wear something that allows free movements when you are performing every move. Don’t wear jeans or other constrictive clothing.

What are some things you should expect when in a Tai Chi class? One of the things is Qigong. This is a form of meditation performed by movement of the body or in a stationary state. Tui Shou, or push hands, is a two person exercise. It’s the exchange of energy between two persons by doing movements with each other. At some point you could also expect the use of weapons, like swords.

For the latter you will need to be in an advanced class, which you can only enroll if you have experienced the beginner Tai Chi classes.

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