| x Learn T'ai Chi Table of Contents
Click the photo immediately above to see the slideshow.
Dr. Jiusong Kan performing T'ai Chi in New York City area.
Articles Dr. Kan's video CD is available now at the office. The CD shows the 24 simple moves of the ancient form of T'ai Chi that Dr. Kan studied in China and how those moves can help restore and maintain your health. Dr. Kan was the T'ai Chi national champion in China in 1990 and placed third in the nation in 1992.
For 20 years in China, Dr. Kan studied an ancient form of T'ai Chi under several famous masters. This style of T'ai Chi has not yet been introduced to the West. Dr. Kan was the national T’ai Chi college champion in China in 1991 and placed third in 1992. Dr. Kan teaches T'ai Chi classes in the New York metropolitan area and in New Jersey. Call for the class schedule if you are interested in instruction. Classes include no more than 10 students to provide each student with optimal attention. Dr. Kan's students describe him as a superb and patient instructor. T'ai Chi Class Level 1 What is T'ai Chi?
The Chinese characters for T'ai Chi Chuan can be translated as the "Supreme Ultimate Force". The notion of 'supreme ultimate' is often associated with the Chinese concept of Yin-Yang, the notion that one can see a dynamic duality in all things. "Force" can be thought of here as the means or way of achieving this Yin-Yang, or "supreme ultimate" discipline.
T'ai Chi, as it is practiced in the West today, can be thought of as a moving Yoga and meditation combined. There are a number of forms or sets which consist of a sequence of movements. Many of these movements were derived from the martial arts, although the way they are performed in T'ai Chi is slowly, softly, and gracefully with smooth and even transitions between them. Many practitioners use these sets as a meditative exercise for the body rather than as a martial art. The concept of chi, a vital force that runs through the body, is central to Chinese philosophy and medicine. By practicing T'ai Chi, you can foster the circulation of chi in your body, thus enhancing your health and vitality. Chi circulates in patterns that are closely connected with that of the practice of acupuncture and other oriental healing arts. Learning to do the forms correctly provides a practical way for learning balance, alignment, fine-scale motor control, rhythm of movement and proper breathing. Thus the practice of T'ai Chi can contribute to being able to stand, walk, move, and run better, as well as helping to correct poor postural alignment and incorrect body movements that may cause tension or injury. Furthermore, the meditative nature of the exercises is calming and relaxing. Focusing on the precise execution of T'ai Chi exercises cultivates a calm and tranquil mind -- a great enhancer of tophysical, emotional, and spiritual health. Strengthen Your Spine The purpose of this class is to teach participants how to increase the energy of the entire body, improve the range of motion of the spine, as well as the ability to balance and train for endurance. In this class, you will also be taught to feel the existence of Qi, and how to cultivate and circulate it. When the flow of energy in the body is smooth and abundant, pain and discomfort are diminished. In addition, practicing T'ai Chi helps harmonize all the functions of the internal organs. The spinal column is the most important bony structure in the human body. It consists of thirty-one pairs of spinal nerves with hundreds of thousands of individual nerve fibers emerging through holes in the vertebrae. The spinal cord also provides the main link between the brain and the rest of the body. Chinese medicine says that the spine is where all the Yang energy gathers. The meridian that runs through this area, called the Governing Vessel, is believed to influence the stability of the nerves. It is also responsible for the circulation of the body's Guardian Qi which guards against pathogenic intruders and the loss of body heat. Guardian Qi is responsible for the opening and closing of the pores, and also controls sweating. It helps determine the constitution by regulating the genuine or pre-natal energy. Because the Governing Vessel supplies the brain and the spinal region, pathological symptoms of an imbalance in this area include stiffness and pain along the spinal column, a heavy sensation in the head, headache, vertigo and shaking, mental disorders, asthma, respiratory disorders, as well as constipation, hemorrhoids, and enuresis. So, strengthening your spine is one of the keys to the health of the entire body. A strong, erect spine promotes good posture which gives each internal organ the space it needs to function properly. Good posture also improves mental outlook and enhances your appearance. T'ai Chi is a pleasurable way to achieve the goal of a healthy spine, among many other goals of equal importance.
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