Tai-Chi & Qi Gong

Tai-Chi Origins

A traditional Chinese martial art, Tai-Chi is known more formally as T'ai Chi Ch'uan or Taijiquan, the "Supreme Ultimate Fist." As a system of internal martial arts, Tai-Chi revolves around the duality concept of balanced yin and yang energies. In the Western world, we understand this in manifestations such as positive-negative, light-dark, male-female, hot-cold, hard-soft, and external-internal. In terms of strategy and combat application, Tai-Chi employs both speed and power movements, similar to those seen in other self-defense systems like Shaolin kung-fu, modern wushu, karate, or taekwondo, as well as slow and smooth movements that resemble dance or yoga.

Now one of the most widely practiced exercises in the world, Tai-Chi has cognates in Korea (taegeuk kwon), Japan (taikyokuken), and many other countries around the world. It is often taught in conjunction with Qi Gong (which translates to "energy skills" or "breath exercises"), breathing and meditation exercises for health, and even injury rehabilitation. The Yang style of Tai-Chi is the most widely practiced version of this Chinese art form. Because of its zero-impact nature, it has become wildly popular among the elderly throughout China and increasingly around the globe. Younger athletes are discovering it for its unique ability to train the stabilizing musculature in addition to the larger muscles known as the prime movers.

While it is no secret that Tai-Chi practice has a plethora of benefits, it is still not well understood by mainstream medicine. Studies have been conducted at prestigious colleges and universities such as Harvard and the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine to determine how Tai-Chi lowers blood pressure, improves balance, and reduces injuries due to falls. Those studies have continued to yield positive data.

From elders to athletes . . . Something for everybody.

Dr. Cheng, a clinical pain specialist with training from experts like Cook and Tsatsouline and a Tai-Chi instructor with a lifetime of experience in the art, saw the potential for spreading Tai-Chi to a wider audience than ever before. Seeing the benefits of Tai-Chi from a highly trained perspective, he partnered with Beachbody to create a new spin on the ancient system. He combines the best of meditation, self-control, martial arts, balance training, and diaphragmatic breathing with modern physical therapy and strength and conditioning methods to create a unique product that, BEST OF ALL, provides people of all levels of experience a chance to improve their levels of wellness, fitness, and movement. The product of that partnership is the Tai Cheng Workout!