EXERCISES FOR ALL SEASONS: 37 Posture Tai Chi Form

37 Posture Tai Chi form, freeze each posture - 04/21/08 (Spring) This is basically the complete 37-Posture Tai Chi Chuan Form taught by Prof. Cheng Manching http://youtube.com/watch?v=USJPmCZ6Efc with a few slight footwork variations - - my moment to moment adjustments to the loose, uneven grassy soil I'm stepping upon. Since the knee of the weighted leg might be injured when attempting to spin on the heel on rough, uneven terrain, I take a few small steps to turn around during "Kick With Heel," and "Sweep Lotus Kick." See my discussion at http://youtube.com/watch?v=6mckc6cBS0A about attempting heel-spins on rough, uneven terrain while wearing heavily textured rubber-soled shoes. ** Throughout this rendition of the form I "freeze" each major posture for a few moments. Each of the 37 Tai Chi postures can be practiced as a self-contained "static posture" or "standing post" Chi Kung exercise on its own. Many health benefits accrue from holding individual postures several minutes at a time, or longer. The legs become very strong. All the bones and muscles align with gravity correctly, improving one's overall posture throughout the day. Deep abdominal breathing improves, helping to circulate chi throughout the entire body. All the internal organs are benefited, along with the circulatory and lymphatic systems. General stamina is improved. When practicing Tai Chi Chuan as a "flowing movement" exercise, each of the main 37 postures must still be hit correctly for a moment. If one practices the static postures regularly, then each posture will feel comfortable and familiar whenever one reaches a specific posture during the flowing form. The transitional movements from one main posture to another will also flow more smoothly, because one knows the "end point" one is trying to reach from one movement to the next. ** It's important to have a set of exercises that can be done EVERY DAY, regardless of weather. So there is no excuse NOT to exercise on a particular day! Exercises that can be done indoors, or outdoors. Exercises that don't require any special clothing, equipment, or special setting. One should have a set of core exercises which can be done indoors, and outdoors in all kinds of weather, during every season. One doesn't need a lot of different types of exercises, just some one knows how to do very well, almost without thinking. Just keep doing them, over and over, as a regular habit, during every season, indoors and outdoors. Not just during good weather. During bad weather also. Helps acclimatize the body to all sorts of weather changes. Strengthens body's endurance, and ability to adapt to all types of external weather conditions. Stale indoor air, full of carbon dioxide, can make one sleepy. It's important to "air out the body" regularly by exercising outdoors and breathing fresh air. I always feel better, "more alive," after I exercise - - especially outdoors, in fresh air. I began doing some of these exercises when I was a teenager. I've continued doing many of these deep-breathing, chi circulating (Chi Kung type) exercises, on a daily basis, for 40+ years now. I turned 57 at the end of April 2008. These daily exercises continue to help keep me healthy, flexible, and full of energy. ChiGuy396 ChiGuy396@yahoo.com ** Tags: bending flexible joints breathing outdoors workout calisthenics warmup physical education strength heart healing aging longevity geriatrics

YouTube | April 22, 2008

Tags:. .lymphatic. .footwork. .manching. .circulatory. .accrue