Tai Chi For Stress Archives

Tai Chi For Stress

Thursday, January 26th, 2012 at 4:25 pm  
Leave your comment

Tai Chi For Stress

tai chiStress seems to develop in every walk of life, in this modern day world of rush, rush, rush. We need to take some time out for ourselves and LFA Tai Chi is ideal for this.

When you walk into an LFA class for the first time you are greeted with a smile and you are the most important person.

We don’t tell you to relax, we show you some simple movements, your mind is pleasantly occupied with where to place your hands and feet and suddenly you find your self smiling.

Completely forgetting the worries you left at the door.

At first you have to learn the mechanics of the Tai Chi before you can gain the deeper benefits. From your very first class you will notice something special happening to you.

Stress can manifest its self in many forms of illnesses and is one of the largest causes of absenteeism from work.

Practising he LFA Tai Chi Form is an excellent place to start, the movements are gentle and are put together in such a way that they help to ease a troubled mind.

 

 

One of over three thousand breathing exercises taught within the LFA is shown in the video clip. It is an excellent way to ease stress and should be practised daily.

Starting position :- heels together, toes pointing slightly outwards, arms by your sides.

1/ Breathe in through the nose as you circle your arms round in front of your chest (palms facing down, fingertips pointing towards each other).

2/ Breathe out through the mouth as you extend your arms out sideways at shoulder height.

3/ Breathe in through the nose as you lean forwards (ladies keep their palms facing downwards, gentlemen turn their palms to face upwards).

4/ Breathe out through the mouth as you straighten your body, returning to the starting position.

Repeat all four movements three more times.

Sage tea is also excellent for helping you to keep calm (it is an acquired taste).
NOTE. Ladies who are pregnant should not drink sage tea as it can stop milk production.

Tai Chi Can Help You Beat The Winter Blues

Thursday, January 26th, 2012 at 3:47 pm  
Leave your comment

Tai Chi Can Help You Beat The Winter Blues

Tai Chi can help counter the winter blues; the winter blues usually start around the end of October and continue through to February.

This is because the earth’s natural energy (called Li energy) is at its lowest ebb as the weather changes and becomes colder and damper. The day light hours dwindle and we find ourselves travelling to work in the dark and coming home in the dark.

Taught within the LFA style of Tai Chi are the movements of our T’ai Chi Dance this is not a dance practised to music although it can be.

The movements of our Tai Chi Dance are designed to harness the earth’s natural Li energy and combine it with our own body’s internal energy.

 

This means that by practising the movements of our Tai Chi Dance our Tai Chi students are able to more easily deal with the effects of the seasonal changes.

The LFA teach the Tai Chi Dance in an easy to follow format. Although our teaching methods are modern this does not detract from the powerful health benefits which are available to everyone who practises our Tai Chi Dance.

The movements of our Dance are more flamboyant than those of our Tai Chi Form (the movements are Yang). However the breathing we use is Yin, this ensures that the movements we practise are a true balance of Yin and Yang and that everything is in complete harmony.

The ideal time to practise our Tai Chi Dance is in the morning, this is because the movements help to activate and stimulate the mind. If you practise our Tai Chi Dance in the late evening you may have difficulty sleeping.

In these modern times we all need a continuous supply of energy, life is moving at such a fast pace. If we can’t keep up, our body tends to make us take a rest, how does it do this? Our bones may start to ache, we feel tired, and it is hard to get out of bed. Suddenly the latest flu bug is sweeping the nation.

LFA Tai Chi is not a magic wand, however it does help to keep your body going when others around you are falling down.

Within the LFA Tai Chi system we are also able to offer advice on natural herbal remedies for those who are suffering cold and flu’ symptoms. These can be found in the LFA Chang Ming Long Life Diet and Recipe Book.

Chang Ming is a diet which I have followed myself for over twenty years, it is not a diet in the traditional sense of the word. It is a healthy way of eating; it was devised over three thousand years ago. Our Tai Chi health diet was brought to the people of the West by Chan Kam Lee the last in the line of the Lee Family.

It was his job to ensure that the traditions and health benefits of the Lee Family Arts where protected and handed down so that future generations may continue to benefit.

In his wisdom Chan Kam Lee converted the Tai Chi diet so that the people in the West could also receive the health giving benefits of this diet.
If you would like additional information on our Tai Chi Dance or Diet please visit our website.

Tai Chi Takes Stress Out of Your Life

Thursday, January 26th, 2012 at 3:40 pm  
Leave your comment

Tai Chi Takes Stress Out of Your Life

tai chiTai Chi is different from any other type of exercise; it provides you with a vital tool to take the stress out of modern day living.

If you are feeling under pressure, stand up and practise the movements of the T’ai Chi Form. You do not need to know a lot of movements to reap the benefits.

When I first started my own training within the Arts, I found that if I stood up and practised my T’ai Chi Form every time I felt upset; I felt better. The hard part is standing up in the first place.

Life is full of challenges; it is how you meet the challenges. Although I have practised T’ai Chi for many years, it does not mean my life is without problems, when I find myself facing situations, which are rather stressful.

 

I go back to the basics and practise the movements. It is not important to understand how T’ai Chi works, when you practise the simple postures without strain you will find you feel calmer.

T’ai Chi is living breathing experience. When first practising T’ai Chi you will not have the time to think about your problems, you will be thinking about where to place your hands and feet. Suddenly you will find a smile crosses your face, and you realise that your mind has been pleasantly occupied and the emotional pressure eases.

Eventually the movements become second nature to you, this is the time when you are able to go deeper into the understanding of T’ai Chi.The true essence of T’ai Chi is within each of us, an Instructor is there to act as your guide.

When choosing an Instructor it is important to find one who cares about you the individual. There are many different styles of T’ai Chi I personally feel that it is important to find a school of T’ai Chi devoted to the health and healing side of the body.

If you are unable to attend a weekly class there are books and videos available so that you can practise within the comfort of your own home.You will also find workshops where to can immerse yourself in the T’ai Chi experience. T’ai Chi provides such excellent stress relief because it is taught slowly by repetition of movements.

The slow gentleness of the movements are comforting and reassuring in the hustle bustle of modern day living.
Practising T’ai Chi also improves the oxygen intake into the body, this in turn as a calming effect on the mind as it helps to take the strain off all the major organs in the body.

If you suffer from stress the last thing you need is someone telling you to relax, T’ai Chi pleasantly occupies the mind. It is an Ancient Art form that is over three thousand years old.

The movements have been tried and tested and handed down from generation to generation the great news is that there are no horrendous side effects, only the promise of improved health.

You do not need to devote hours of time to practise, although you may find that you enjoy it so much that you want to.Once you have learnt a few movements it is possible to practise them in the time it takes the kettle to boil.

I have been studying and teaching T’ai Chi for over twenty years, my enthusiasm for this wonderful art form grows every day. I have witnessed T’ai Chi help so many people in different ways.

It is a privileged to teach such a wonderful art form, we reap the benefits ourselves and also have the joy of introducing others to the many health benefits to be gained. Tai Chi