Qigong and Tai Chi are traditional self-healing, meditation, and self-cultivation exercises originating in ancient China. The practice, which is rooted in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) theories, is characterized by coordinated body posture and movements, deep rhythmic breathing, meditation, and mental focus .
Qigong is a general term for a large variety of exercises and therapies practiced by generations of Chinese for centuries for health and longevity. The word Qigong is composed of two Chinese words: Qi and Gong. Qi refers to the vital energy, or life force, inherent in all life forms. Gong refers to any committed practice that requires hard work and sustained effort. Qigong, therefore, means “energy practice” or “energy cultivation”. Qigong may roughly be divided into two categories: one includes bodily movement (movement Qigong), and the other includes simply sitting or standing meditation with no added bodily movements (static Qigong). Martial art Qigong emphasizes the building up of body strength for fighting and defense. Lastly, medical (or health) Qigong focuses on improving physical and mental well-being or on treating illnesses. In this article, we use Qigong and health Qigong interchangeably because we are most interested in Qigong’s effects on mood regulation.
Tai Chi is a widely practiced Chinese martial art tracing back to its origin in the 17th century. It typically involves more complex and choreographed movements that are coordinated with one’s breath, which is used for cultivating health and self-defense.
Tai Chi is a soft-style martial art characterized by leveraging, coordinating, and relaxing the joints, rather than muscular tension, to neutralize, yield, or initiate attacks. Because calmness is a core tenant of Tai Chi and the practice uses a meditative approach to cultivate Qi, it is frequently considered a form of medical or health Qigong. Both Qigong and Tai Chi can be categorized as meditative movements or practices with a focus of mind, movement, breathing, and attaining a deeply relaxed state.
Qi Gong / Tai Chi | Every Sunday 11-12pm | All levels are welcome
Calmness is at the
heart of Tai Chi
Calmness is at the heart of Tai Chi, a practice that combines mindful movement, controlled breathing, and meditation to cultivate Qi and promote balance between the body and mind. For Hakim Tafari, Tai Chi is more than a physical practice, it is a pathway to greater awareness, inner calm, and a deeper sense of well-being.
