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Provides a step-by-step photographic guide to each posture in the Before Heaven T'ai Chi form and illustrates the 64 postures of the After Heaven T'ai Chi form. Also includes discussion of the universal principals of the pratice of T'ai Chi and the philosophy of the I Ching.
This book, first published in 1974, explains the connections between T’ai Chi Ch’uan and I Ching and shows that they are the keys by which the theoretical philosophy of Taoism can be converted to a practical way of knowledge. This careful and helpful guide is designed for all those who want to know and follow a Chinese way to health of body and depth of mind.
Tai Chi Changes is the long-awaited followup to Stuart Alve Olson's T'ai Chi According to the I Ching: Embodying the Principals of the Book of Changes. That book focuses on the 16-posture Yi Tai Chi form which is part of the 64-posture form taught in this work.These 16- and 64-posture arrangements are Yang Style Taijiquan forms based on the workings of the Book of Changes. The 16-posture sequence relates to patterns of movement according to the Eight Trigrams, while the 64-posture form relates to a unique organization of the 64 Hexagrams. Stuart collectively refers to this style of Taijiquan as Yi Tai Chi (Tai Chi Changes), with the 16-posture form's full title being the Before Heaven Yi Tai Chi Form and the 64-posture form as the After Heaven Yi Tai Chi Form.Along with the descriptions for each count (or part) of a posture, the book includes photos showing the hand and arm positions as well as foot diagrams that provide a top-down view of the specific Taijiquan stance, the direction the body faces at the end of each count (in the highlighted trigram image), and which foot is carrying the weight (indicated by a white dot in the foot icons). Seeing the diagrams along with the photos of Stuart Olson are extremely helpful, not only for learning each posture but also to have as a quick reference guide for any particular section of the form. The posture photos and diagrams add to the instructions by showing stances and arm positions without having to constantly repeat such details in the text. At the end of each posture is a comprehensive chart diagramming every count in the After Heaven Yi Tai Chi Form. Just from the posture photos, foot and stance diagrams, and the posture summary charts, a great deal of detailed information is available for long-term study and mastery of Yi Tai Chi.Serving as the foundational work and source book of the entire Yi Tai Chi system-which Valley Spirit Arts teaches through online courses, workshops, and private lessons-Tai Chi Changes is as much for beginners as it is for the more advanced students of Taijiquan. All readers will acquire a great deal of information.
Today people around the world are discovering the benefits of Tai-chi, an ancient Chinese system of exercise based on calm, graceful movements that condition the body from the inside out. With benefits like reduced stress and anxiety, plus improved flexibility and concentration, Tai-chi has become the ultimate form of exercise for relaxing and strengthening both body and spirit. Master Huang's Complete Tai-chi is the definitive introduction to the Condensed Form of Wu-style Tai-chi, a form that has gained enormous popularity as a healing exercise because it stresses the development of internal energy for self-healing. The 36 postures of this style are beautiful in their simplicity and completely safe, regardless of one's age or physical condition. Included in this book are a detailed guide to the 36 postures (with more than 250 illustrative photographs), a historical overview of Tai-chi, and translations of classic works by Tai-chi masters. The demands of Tai-chi are small, but the rewards are great. A few minutes each day and a bit of open space are all one needs to find a new path to youthfulness and longevity, and at the same time reach the peak of physical and emotional well-being.
In Bagua and Tai Chi, noted teacher Bruce Frantzis demonstrates through these two important practices what is required to develop and embody high levels of chi flow. Inside the slow-motion movements of tai chi is a sophisticated mind/body/spirit practice. Derived from the I Ching (Book of Changes), bagua is unique in its circular movements, spiraling energy, and unpredictable changes of direction. Frantzis begins with an overview of both bagua and tai chi and their origins in Chinese culture, followed by comprehensive advice on how to incorporate these practices into daily Western life. Written in an easy, conversational style, the book provides an explanation of an art that is practiced by millions in China to release stress and maintain a vigorous level of health. According to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM), the 2.3 million Americans who currently practice tai chi report improved sleep, conditioning, and overall wellness. Bagua and Tai Chi offers a gentle healing and strengthening system that will appeal to a wide audience, including martial artists, meditators, dancers and athletes, personal trainers, and anyone looking to reduce stress and increase calmness and clarity through an effective, low-impact body practice.
Originally published before Kuo Lien-Ying left China and then again in 1966 soon after his arrival in the United States, Tai-Chi Chuan in Theory and Practice has now been edited and expanded by his widow and disciple, Simmone Kuo. Her version includes new material on the philosophical origins of Tai-Chi Chuan, particularly how it relates to the I Ching, the most ancient text of Chinese wisdom. The book also provides explanations of the meaning of this ancient and elegant martial art--its name and history--the keys to understanding the Thirteen Movements, archival photographs of Lien-Ying performing the movements, and other supplementary literature.
A comprehensive guide to the mysteries of the I Ching. Originally discovered around 3,000 BCE, the I Ching is a collection of symbols that explain how patterns in the universe change and shift. These sixty-four symbols contain within them one of the most powerful keys to understanding the world around us. The Secrets of the I Ching is the definitive guide to understanding the ancient mysteries and foundations of the I Ching. Authors Dr. David Lee and Joseph K. Kim guide the reader from the very beginning of Eastern thought, the concepts of Tao and Tai Chi, through the theory of Yin-Yang, Trinity, the Five Elements, and other critical concepts that will unlock the full meaning of the I Ching. Instead of simply re-interpreting the myriad of meanings ascribed to the I Ching, they focus on the symbols themselves, offering a new way of understanding its unique power. Filled with over three hundred images and backed by in-depth research and study, The Secrets of the I Ching is the ultimate guide to the I Ching and essential reading for anyone interested in exploring the power of this ancient source of wisdom and knowledge.
