AphroChic Magazine: Issue No. 12

Tai Chi Tips to Get Started
One of the most important steps to getting the most out of your
Tai Chi is finding the right place to learn. Here’s a couple of things to
consider while you search:
Style: The benefits of Tai Chi are the same regardless of style.
But there are a lot of different versions out there, with some designed
for competition rather than health. The main styles of Tai Chi are the
Chen, Yang, Hao, Wu and Sun. The Chen Man-ch'ing variant of the
Yang style is also highly regarded. Each has their own characteristics.
Chen is the oldest, with deep stances and explosive movements. Yang
is the most popular and easiest to find, and so on. More important
than the specific style for health is the depth of what’s being taught.
Curriculum: There’s more to Tai Chi than just the form. A full
Tai Chi practice might also include stance training, breathwork,
qigong and forms with weapons. These aren’t completely mandatory
though, and so long as your instructor focuses on the elements of
breathing, alignment and qigong in the form, you’ll get everything
you need.
Certification: Certification is helpful, but not completely
necessary. Traditionally, Chinese martial arts are less bureaucratic
than some others, so there are plenty of qualified instructors without
an organizational backing or certifications on the wall. But there are
several good organizations to check out, like Yang Jwing Ming’s YMAA
or the International Wu Style Tai Chi Chuan Federation. Organizations
like these have pages listing certified instructors to help you
find a school in your area.
Environment: Just like Tai Chi doesn’t require belts or certificates
to be good, it doesn’t even require a school. Some of the best
Tai Chi classes are in parks and on playgrounds. What a teacher has
to offer might be more important than where s/he offers it. But a roof
might be nice when it rains.
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