Of all the exercises, I should say that Tai Chi is the best. It can ward off disease, banish worry and tension, bring improved physical health and prolong life. It is a good hobby for your whole life, suitable for everyone. As long as one has three square feet of space, one can take a trip to paradise and stay there to enjoy life for thirty minutes without spending a single cent.
–Tai Chi Master T.T. Liang (Liang Tung-Tsai), 1900-2002
Tai Chi is an art, born of two parents: the health and energy practices of the oldest Taoist and Shamanic traditions; and the martial arts of ancient China. It is a system of body/mind/energy development that promotes the balance of opposites, Yin and Yang: stillness and movement, control and release, calmness and energy.
There are many schools of Tai Chi, many variations of choreography and practice, but the themes of the art are universal: letting go of unnecessary tension; connecting to the earth for stability and strength; moving with fluidity and power; and naturalness.
Tai Chi has been shown, in scientific studies, to relieve stress, increase well-being and mental health, improve balance, reduce falls, delay or reverse aging. It is the perfect antidote to the imbalances of modern life–the stress, the speed, the excessive sitting, the over-reliance on electronic media and devices.
At Brookline Tai Chi, we are devoted to transmitting the essence of this ancient art, to improve physical and mental health in students of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities.