Tai Chi is meant to loosen the mind and body and increase internal awareness (see various videos throughout the site for examples).

Tension disconnects the mind from the body. Therefore, you may find it very complementary to begin massage therapy prior to your first Tai Chi class and to continue massage therapy for the rest of your life.

Most good Tai Chi teachers will advocate massage therapy or some type of body work as part of your Tai Chi training, just as many good massage therapists will recommend Tai Chi to their clients.

You also will find that massage therapy will be helpful in relieving chronic problems such as allergies, hypertension, head aches, etc.

Sage Sifu Says As Tai Chi teaches the body to move and change more easily and effortlessly, it provides a model for the mind and heart to change more easily, too. Therefore, as you continue with Tai Chi, you may discover you eat healthier, drink more water and less soda, get better rest, adopt habits like regular massage therapy, and spend more time with people who make you feel good about yourself.

"World Tai Chi and Qigong Day, takes place [the last Saturday of April] . . . To learn more, find instruction on the basics or discover a class in your area, go online to worldtaichiday.org."

  -- USA Weekend

---

TEACHERS, this page is a great resource for your new students.

---

"Maybe we should have World Tai Chi and Qigong Day every week."

    -- International Herald Tribune

The information provided is courtesy of The Complete Idiot's Guide to T'ai Chi and Qigong, now in fourth edition, with nearly 150 web video support videos to compliment the 300 illustrated instructions.

This overview of Tai Chi and Qigong has been heralded by Booklist Magazine, the nation's premiere library journal, by the United States Tai Chi Forms Grand Champion, Sifu Hong Yijao, and by Team USA Senior Coach, Dr. Michael Steward, Sr., who wrote that although he had studied and taught Tai Chi for over 30 years, he read this book 7 times, and found something new from it each time.