History of Tai Chi
Tai chi is a system of exercise that was developed in China hundreds of years ago. It started as a method of self-defense and martial arts, but eventually grew into a health and wellness practice. Some consider it a great-grandchild of the older practice of qigong, which is similar in theory.
In the mid-1950s, the Chinese government tasked a group of Chinese tai chi masters with developing a standardized version of tai chi that included 24 postures, making tai chi more beginner friendly.
While there are many different styles of tai chi, each is based on a standard set of principles, including:
- Using the mind to initiate the movement
- Moving with relaxed, loose joints
- Synchronizing body movements
- Performing movements in circular motions
- Maintaining a continuous flow
While tai chi remains a common practice in Asian countries, its popularity in other countries has been growing, says Peter Wayne, PhD, an associate professor of medicine and the director of the Osher Center for Integrative Medicine at Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston.
Around 3.75 million people in the United States practice tai chi.
It’s more popular among middle-aged and older adults, but there are increasingly more martial art or sport variations of tai chi that are attracting younger people, says Dr. Wayne.