Qigong and Tai Chi are two ancient Chinese healthcare systems that share a common heritage. They grew from Chinese medicine, martial arts, Daoist and Buddhist world-views and elements of Indian yoga. It is one of the reasons that tuition in one leads to competency in the other.
The basic theory that underpins qigong and tai chi philosophy and practice is the belief that a healthy freey flowing circulation of chi (life-force) throughout the various interconnecting systems that make-up a person improves their health and wellbeing. In practice the two disciplines are an amalgam of techniques that work in a holistic manner. These are; an ordered sequence of slow, gentle movements that stretch and tone the body to develope balanced muscular and skeletal synergy.
Unforced relaxed deep breathing that increases the effective circulation of blood, oxygen and carbon dioxide into, around and out of the physical body. The focused concentration, aligned with creative internal vision required to undertake the forms and chi circulation correctly imparts health within the physical and more subtle levels of being.
These practices promote increased vitality and awareness of the subtle vital forces that flow through and around us. This is the essence of life