What are the benefits of practicing Tai Chi? Why is it called Tai Chi?

Tai Chi, a world-class intangible cultural heritage, is based on the core ideas of Tai Chi and Yin-Yang dialectics in traditional Chinese Confucian and Taoist philosophy. It integrates multiple functions such as nourishing temperament, strengthening the body, and fighting. It combines the changes of Yin-Yang and Five Elements in Yixue, Chinese medicine meridians, and ancient Daoyin and breathing techniques to form a traditional Chinese boxing that is both internal and external, gentle, slow, light, and hard and soft. So, what are the benefits of practicing Tai Chi? Why is it called Tai Chi? Let's take a look at the introduction of Encyclopedia Knowledge Network to answer these questions!

Contents of this article

1. What are the benefits of practicing Tai Chi?

2. Why is it called Tai Chi?

3. What basic skills do you need to practice for Tai Chi fitness?

What are the benefits of practicing Tai Chi?

1. Exercise the nervous system to improve sensory function

Practicing Tai Chi requires a calm mind and a focused mind. When practicing Tai Chi, the motor center and the second signal system of the cerebral cortex are in a highly excited and concentrated state, while most other areas of the cortex are in an inhibited state, which is very beneficial for patients with certain chronic diseases. Because the pathological excitement focus is broken, the function of the higher nerve center is repaired and improved, and some local lesions are gradually alleviated or disappeared. The "eyes follow the hands" during practice and the "push and swing back and forth" in pushing hands help improve the reaction ability of the optic nerve and skin.

2. Helps maintain cardiovascular health

When practicing Tai Chi, one must sink the Qi into Dantian. When practicing abdominal breathing, the diaphragm and abdominal muscles contract and relax, which promotes blood circulation. At the same time, when the muscles are active, the capillaries are fully opened, which accelerates the return speed of veins and lymph, improves microcirculation, and thus reduces the burden on the heart, helping to maintain the health of the heart, blood vessels and lymphatic system.

3. Enhance respiratory function

The characteristics of deep, long, and slow breathing are good for improving the ventilation and gas exchange functions of the lungs. For those who practice it for a long time, the breathing frequency will decrease, and the vital capacity and breathing difference will increase.

4. Promote metabolism

The improvement of the nervous system's regulation of internal organs also massages the stomach and intestines, promotes blood circulation in the liver, enhances the secretion of adrenaline, and improves the metabolism of substances in the body. Long-term practice of Tai Chi can increase appetite, promote digestion, reduce cholesterol levels and soften arteries.

5. Exercises to strengthen the musculoskeletal system

Tai Chi's arc movements, which are both static and dynamic, also strengthen the muscles and muscle fibers of the whole body, and exercise the joint capsules and ligaments in the muscle pulling movement, thus strengthening the stability, flexibility and agility of the joints. Practicing Tai Chi is very beneficial for unblocking the meridians and stimulating acupuncture points.

Why is it called Tai Chi?

Taijiquan is closely related to Taiji Daoism. The name of Taijiquan was determined by Wang Zongyue, a martial artist from Shanxi Province, who wrote "Taijiquan Theory". Those who practice Taijiquan are Taiji practitioners. This set of boxing comes from the changes of yin and yang, the principles of movement and stillness, and the mechanism of fullness and emptiness. The movements are purely natural, and the round movements are like a ring with no end, circling back and forth, without rest, with a myriad of atmospheres and unpredictable changes, so it is called "Taijiquan". Taijiquan originated from Chenjiagou, Wen County, Henan Province. Chenjia Taijiquan is a very good boxing style. It is the 32-posture long fist used by Qi Jiguang to train soldiers in the war. This set of boxing evolved from Shaolin's big and small Hongquan and Tongbiquan, while big and small Hongquan and Tongbiquan evolved from the long fist used by Song Taizu to train soldiers.

What basic skills do you need to practice for Tai Chi fitness?

Tai Chi fitness is a systematic project, and basic skills are the foundation, so we should pay attention to them. Tai Chi basic skills have several aspects:

The first is the basic hand shape, technique, step shape, step method and body shape, body method;

The second is some of the most basic forms, such as Cloud Hands, Single Whip, and Sealed and Closed.

The third is basic internal skills, such as standing still, breathing training, etc.

These basic skills can be practiced separately or combined with boxing routines to experience them.