Tai chi is an ancient internal style Chinese martial art. The movements are done slowly, smoothly, and continuously. This movement control is one of the factors that helps build qi. Tai chi helps to build and move qi in the body.
According to traditional Chinese medicine, qi is the life force energy that is in all living things. More qi = greater health.
Qigong is an ancient Chinese method of building qi. Qigong focuses on the breath, and movements are usually repetitive. Tai chi is a moving form of qigong.
There are numerous benefits of practicing tai chi. Some of the most widely known include improved posture, balance, muscle strength and flexibility, sleep, cardiovascular health, immunity, and reduced stress, pain levels, and reduced rate of bone loss. Studies show that tai chi may also improve blood pressure levels, inflammation (CRP) levels, cognitive functioning, and emotional resilience. Almost anyone can benefit from the regular practice of tai chi to improve or maintain their level of health and functioning.
Sign up for and attend an instructor qualification workshop. You will need to complete the Self-Paced Instructor Preparation Package for that Tai Chi for Health form, and then attend a Live Instructor Training Workshop. If you meet the standards for certification, you will receive an instructor qualification certificate. Board certification, which includes licensure to teach the program, requires membership in the Tai Chi for Health Institute.
Re-certification is required every 2 years and can be accomplished by retaking the Live Instructor Training Workshop, attending an Update Workshop, or through the Correspondence Update method, which includes a private meeting on Zoom to review the movements and the teaching method. Contact me if you have questions on updating your certification.
CEUs are offered for most of the workshops. These CEUs are provided through the Florida Board of Nursing, the Florida Board of Occupational Therapy, the Florida Board of Physical Therapy Practice, the Florida Board of Acupuncture, the Florida Board of Psychology, and the Florida Board of Clinical social Work, Marriage and Family Therapies, and Mental Health Counseling. These are all posted on CE Broker for you at the end of the workshop. American College of Sports Medicine CEUs are offered for the TCH forms.
You are not required to join the Tai Chi for Health Institute. However, you will not be listed on the website, and you will not be board certified if you do not join. The low annual fees provide the funds to maintain the website. If you wish to teach one of the TCHI forms, and identify your class as one of Dr. Lam’s forms, a TCHI form, or if you wish to use the TCHI logo, you must be a member. Membership is good for 1 year.
Go to the Instructor Workshops page and select the workshop you are interested in.
Or you can go to www.TCHI.org and click on “Workshops” on the top banner. From the dropdown menu, select “Instructor Training Workshop Calendar” and scroll down to find the workshop you are interested in. Payment cannot be processed on the www.TCHI.org website.
There are several Tai Chi for Health (TCH) forms that were designed with specific purposes in mind. That said, anyone can get benefit from learning and practicing any of the forms. One does not need to be challenged by arthritis, diabetes, or any other condition, to use one of these forms. Because they are short forms they are easier to learn and practice, making them excellent forms for beginners.
The movements in the Tai Chi for Arthritis (workshops, video) form are all Sun style, making it easier to learn and practice. The Tai Chi for Arthritis for Fall Prevention (workshops, video) and The Seated Tai Chi for Arthritis (workshops, video) forms use the same movements. Sun style, with its follow-steps, encourages more movement and stepping, which help relieve arthritis symptoms. The Tai Chi for Arthritis 2 (workshops, video) form has additional movements.
The Tai Chi for Diabetes (workshops, videos) form uses movements from Yang and Sun styles. It also incorporates a separate qigong designed to help diabetes, and has progressive levels of exertion to help reduce the risk of low blood sugar.
The Tai Chi for Energy (workshops, videos) form has both Chen and Sun styles. The Chen style is rich in spiral force and is especially good for building qi. Although Chen style is usually done in a low stance, making it more difficult to learn and practice, like all of the TCH forms, it can be modified to be suitable for almost anyone. The Tai Chi for Energy 2 form has additional movements.
Tai Chi for Heart Conditions (video) form contains both Sun style and Yang style movements. This form incorporates acupressure massage for the cardiac and pericardium points as well as positive psychology. A Chen style extension movement is included. As with all of the Tai Chi for Health forms, the level of exertion can be modified / controlled by the participant as needed.
Tai Chi for Osteoporosis (video) form includes movements from Sun and Yang styles. Stepping in this form includes forward and back, and side to side. The exclusion of turning helps to keep this form safe. The Yang style movements help to build muscle strength, and there is emphasis on safety and fall prevention.
Tai Chi for Rehabilitation (workshops, video) is the prequel to the Tai Chi for Energy form. It consists of only 3 movements, one each from Sun, Yang, and Chen styles, making it easy to learn and practice. However, the magic in this form is the rich imagery, positive psychology, and empowerment included. Incorporating the positive psychology helps to promote recovery from a physical, mental, or emotional setback.
Tai Chi for Kidz is designed with kids in mind. It emphasizes imagery to make it more appealing to children. This form is taught in block format which makes it easy to modify for specific groups or settings.
Tai Chi for Life emphasizes the fun factor in tai chi. It is a great form for beginners, for instructors that teach beginners, and for anyone looking to put a little more fun in their tai chi. The movements are from Sun and Yang styles.
Tai Chi for Memory is designed to help improve memory and includes and acupressure massage. It is taught in blocks with an emphasis on repetition of movement to enhance learning. The movements are from Sun and Yang styles.
Qigong for Health is based on the 5 elements and can be performed standing or seated.