I have noticed a disturbing trend of late, for the exercise industry to market a form of aerobic exercise not at all like Traditional T’ai Chi as an adjunct to their exercise offerings.
The other morning, while I was exercise walking in the local mall with my wife, I witnessed a program offered by a large hospital chain, calling one of their weekly exercise sessions “Tai Chi”. The exercises consisted of a cross between calisthenics and zumba dance movements, with a leader at the front calling “Kick, kick, kick, punch, punch, punch, jump, jump, jump” and so on, to a large group of people. The movements were not relaxed, did not originate from the center, and did not manifest balance. Yet these people were being told that they were doing T’ai Chi.
I have been told that this has become a common marketing practice. Admittedly, this might benefit many people who would not otherwise exercise. These exercises might not, however deliver the desired results claimed for T’ai Chi by the numerous scientific studies undertaken by such organizations as the NIH (National Institute of Health), and other serious researchers.
To oppose this new, corporate usage of the name, “T’ai Chi” might be difficult or impractical. Rather than try to swim upstream, I am choosing to call the practice of Traditional T’ai Chi, as practiced by myself (Wu style), Yang style, Chen style, the excellent Taoist T’ai Chi Society, and many others, as Traditional, Authentic, or Classical T’ai Chi. This is defined by the above mentioned internal qualities of relaxation, balance, and movements originating from the center.
It is my hope that the popularization of the term T’ai Chi by those not concerned that their misuse of the term to describe exercises which might not produce the benefits accrued to Authentic T’ai Chi exercise, which may in some ways seem deplorable, may bring many people eventually to a more authentic teaching who would not otherwise have become aware of the benefits of a more rigorous and accurate form of T’ai Chi. The practice of a form possibly devoid of internal energy might yet be a step in the right direction, if it leads one to delve more deeply into the subject of better care of their health.
There is room for all here, and I wish not to discourage anyone who encourages good health in any form.
Namaste,
Daniel
