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T'ai me up
Need a break from the real world? Give t'ai chi - the martial art that offers a mental makeover - a go.
Sound deep? It is, but that shouldn't put you off because t'ai chi can make a real difference to your life. Created originally by a Chinese monk in the 13th century, t'ai chi is based on the Taoist belief that internal forces of yin and yang must be balanced if you are to remain healthy in body and mind. Through focusing on the four principles of martial arts - posture, internal energy, chi (life energy) and mind - you will learn how to replace negative forces with positive ones.
What's involved? Movements are slow and controlled so you won't improve your cardiovascular fitness or get a calorie-burning workout. However, some moves do help to improve strength (if you're standing on one leg for example) and your flexibility and balance will get better. The main advantage has to be that a session of t'ai chi in the early hours will set you up mentally for the day ahead. In fact, some experts recommend beating the morning rush of joggers to the local park where you can be at one with yourself and meditate in a relatively peaceful environment. Don't be fazed by onlookers walking their dogs as you rebalance your chi. It really works, and you won't be climbing the walls later when you get stuck in traffic.
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