T’ai Chi Ch’uan, loosely translated as the Great Ultimate Fist, is an ancient Chinese martial art which is also a highly beneficial health system. It helps lower high blood pressure, increases blood circulation, relieves back pain and stress and with regular practice keeps the body flexible, the heart joyful and the mind alert.

The T’ai Chi movements, called Forms, are executed slowly and evenly to promote the flow of qi or energy throughout the body unimpeded. T’ai Chi has also been described as meditation in movement.

Due to the stress we all have to deal with in our lives it is important to find a way to deal with the noise and tension of everyday life. Doing the T’ai Chi Forms immediately places us in a state of tranquility where concentration and awareness is demanded thereby giving us the opportunity to really listen to what is going on within us. Practising T’ai Chi brings about a feeling of well-being, aliveness and joy.

The name T’ai Chi was first seen in the Book of Changes or I Ching and actually refers to the yin and yang polarities which symbolize the continual process of change in the universe. Healing exercises and breathing techniques as well as fighting systems can be traced back 4000 years. But the T’ai Chi as we know it today has been accredited to the Taoist sage Chang San Feng. It is said that Chang’s inspiration came from watching a fight between a bird and a snake where he noted how softness overcomes hardness and as a result of this observation he created the first T’ai Chi form.

Chi Kung means working with the breath or energy. The movements are fairly simple and easy to learn and in coordination with the breath, the ch’i (vital essence) is stimulated and its flow directed through the meridians and throughout the whole system. Both T’ai Chi and Chi Kung calm the heart, keep one centred and open the body up to self awareness and self healing.

With Valerie Osborne

Ages: 15+

Languages: Greek & English

Dates, times: Every wednesday 17:30-19:15

Participation: In person

Place: Casa Lucia, Corfu, Greece

5 euro