Tai Chi Class

Typical Parts to a Class
When getting started with Tai chi you should know that there may be different parts which will comprise each class. These parts may include:

Warm up
The warm up in Tai Chi is very much like the warm up in any physical activity. The motions are easy and may include turning your head from side to side, shoulder circles are even just simply rocking back and forth. The goal of these movements is to loosen the joints and muscles while focusing on your body and breath.

Instruction
This is the main part of the class. It focuses on practicing the different forms. The short forms may feature twelve or less movements while the long movements can include hundreds of different movements. There are different styles that may require small or large movements.

A short form typically begins with movements that are small and slow and is usually used at the beginning. This is particularly true for older persons or people who are not accustomed to physical activity.

Qigong
This refers to energy work or breath work and it involves a few minutes of gentle breathing exercises. In some cases, this may be combined along with movement. The goal is to relax the mind while mobilizing the energy in the body. This part may be practiced while sitting, lying down or standing.