KEEP FIT - Tai Chi to relax you

By Ian Souch

THE stresses and strains of everyday life can take their toll on the mind and body. A solution to this could be Tai-Chi. Tai-Chi is an ancient Chinese art which comprises a series of slow, graceful movements to cultivate our chi. The chi is a flow of energy moving throughout our bodies along pathways known as meridians. Any disruption to this flow can result in illness.

Practising Tai-Chi gives you physical and psychological well-being, without using modern medicine. Other health benefits are improved co-ordination and increased endurance. Because it is such a gentle form of exercise, anyone can practise it. In the Eastern World it is a popular practice with the older generations as it aids the body's joints.

To take a Tai-Chi class, you don't need any fancy fitness wear. Loose clothing such as a T-shirt and tracksuit bottoms will do. With growing popularity in oriental disciplines, I went along to a Tai-Chi class held in Marlow. My first assumptions were that I would be doing all sorts of complicated positions in front of a bunch of strangers. I was wrong.

The atmosphere was very relaxed and the teacher, Ian Souch, was very welcoming. As with any exercise, we started off with a warm-up which helps get the body prepared. Ian then showed us some postures called Chi-Kung which is an energy building exercise which helps people to block out the outside world and focus on releasing the mind of worries, giving a better flow of chi. We then went through some forms, which are postures that are put into a sequence.

There are many different types of forms with Tai-Chi. One of them is called Yang, which is the form I learnt at the class. Yang-style is a flow of postures which inter-change at a slow and consistent rate. The postures were very simple and unstrenuous, unlike other forms of exercise. As it is a form of meditation, you do forget your surroundings, releasing the mind of clutter.

 I felt confident to carry out the class as it mainly consisted of beginners. With the use of full, diaphragmatic breath (breathing into the stomach) throughout the class, I felt extremely relaxed and energised afterwards.

South-African born Ian Souch has practised in Tai-Chi for many years and has also studied oriental arts in the East

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