Tai Chi for Health

Here is the newest and by far most exciting way of becoming a physically fit and trim to hit America in the past twenty years.

Tai chi (tie gee), the amazing form of exercise that's soothing and natural,-requires no strenuous calisthenics, no rigorous dieting.

It's the slow, relaxed, comfortable way

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to keep in good physical condition and it's about to the take the country by storm.

Here-in this excting book which completaly illustrates the classic form of tai chi (the Yang form)-you see how anyone can use it, regrdless of age or physical condition.

The complete exercise takes only a few minutes a day, requires no special equipment and can be preformed in ordinary street clothes. It requires very little space-the businessman can use tai chi in his office, the housewife in her kitchen.

In this book you get the entire exercise, illustrated with 147 action photographs. You see how to perfomm all 108 of the effortless, deeply pleasureable forms of tai chi to achieve the highest level of fitness possible-when the mind and the body are in complete harmony.

Tai chi can be described as a health-giving tranquilizer, as well as a stimualting form of exercise. You must relax your mind when perfoming the exercise. As a result, tai chi refreshes your mind-gives you greater mental powers and allows you to approach your everyday problems with a new and lasting vigor.

Much of the interest over tai chii is being caused by medical men and physical educators throughout the country. Here, at last, is an exercise that can be used by anyone. Older people are as a capable of performing this slow-moving exercise as the young-the refreshment produced by the soothing movements is, if anything, more exhilarating to them.

Tai chi has been acclaimed by some authorities as the ideal exercise for certain types of heart cases, because of its 'take-it-easy' style.

Physical therapists are beginning to use it for rehabiitiations of their patients, not just because of its stimulating effect on circulation and muscles, but because the exercise can be adapted to fit almost any physical need.

Tai chi is just begining to catch on in America with special schools sprouting up in major cities, but in China it has been widely practiced as a daily exercise since the T'ang Dynasty (618-907 AD).

It is believed that tai chi began with the Taoist monks, as a supplement to their long, uninterrupted meditations, so they might keep their bodies as fit as their minds.

Edward Maisel, the auhor of Tai Chi for Health, is primarily reponsible for the recent surge of interest in tai chi. He is a Harvard and Princeton-trained physical rehabilitation expert, who was once the Research Director for the New York Institute for the Crippled and Disabled. He has lectured extensively on exercise under the auspices of the New York State Medical Society and the Health Department of the City of New York.

Mr. Maisel is co-author of a widely-acclaimed book on exercise during pregnancy, along with Dr. M. Edward Davis, Chairman of the Obstetrics and Gynecology Department at the University of Chicago's School of Medicine.

Maisel, who is co-director of the Tai Chi Insititute of America, became interested in tai chi while doing research on ways to correct the alienation of the mind form the body. Tai chi is an exciting step in that direction.

With Tai Chi for Health there's no reason for strenuous exhausting calisthenics. Instead, to be physically fit and attractive use the slow way, the relaxed, comfortable, gentle way-the tai chi way.

'An ancient Chinese form of exercise-without-sweat fascinates U.S. therapists. It tones muscles, overcomes fatigue,and gives 'that better feeling.''-Newsweek Magazine

'As a medical doctor, I consider such exercise as one of the best methods of preventing illness and of promoting good health...greater happiness and more successful living.'-Charles W. Bien, M.D., Department of Internal Medicine, Kaiser Foundation Hospital, Vallejo, California.

'Tai chi has a splendid relaxation potential for normal people who lead tense, abnormal lives under constant pressure.'-Allen S. Russek, M.D., New York Institute of Physical Medicine and rehabilitation.

'Tai chi is a relaxing, non-strenuous exercise that could be incorporated into one's daily life with real benefit to both the mind and body.'-Walter Thompson, M.D., Chairman of Orthopedic Surgery New York University School of Medicine.

Contents

Part I Learning about tai chi; The important health benefits it offers you
Chapter 1 Tai chi: The what and the why
Tai chi: A non-strenuous, pleasant conditioner
Tai chi-a health secret from ancient China
Tai chi's benefits endorsed by medical authorities
The dangers of strenuous physical activity
The effect of exercise on life span
Sports are not an answer
Chapter 2 How tai chi works wonders for your health
Tai chi: An all-around conditioner
Easy ways to health-Done slow and easy
Not a dance or a performance
No special clothing or equipment needed
Practice anywhere
The breath of life
The benefits of good breathing
How tai chi helps you breathe
Avoid the 'oxygen jag?
Chapter 3 Other health benefits of tai chi
Age is no barrier
A way to remain youthful
Never a feeling of strain
Continuous flowing movement is the secret
Tai chi in three sections
Tai chi prevents freak injuries
How to relax and sleep well
Arthiritis and tai chi
If you are overweight
Other personal problems and diabetes
Benefits the eyes
Chapter 4 Greater mental powers through tai chi
Tai chi-The safe tranqilizer
Furnishes strong motivation
Never becomes dismal or a dull habit
Awakens your mental powers
Become a whole person
The 'crown of the senses'
The Somato-psychic benefits
Advantages not found in yoga
Chapter 5 Tai chi and your heart
Heart trouble is widespread
Lack of physical activity a major factor
Daily exercise-a preventive measure
How tai chi benefits the heart
What resarch revealed
Tai chi supplies that certain 'something'
Tai chi-the 'wise' exercise
Chapter 6 Relaxation and relief from body aches and pains
How to relax the entire body
Become a marionette
Your body becomes efficient
Tai chi relieves backache
Adapt tai chi to your body
Part II The practice of tai chi: How to do it
The ten basic rules
A way to begin
Six helpful hints
Section One Lessons 1-15 (forms 1-20)
Section Two Lessons 1-15 (forms 21-57)
Section Three Lessons 1-15 (forms 58-108)
Short tai chi
Contnuing with tai chi
Tai chi to the left
Tai chi with speed
To advance with tai chi
Handy check-list of the 108 forms
Part III The story of tai chi: How it can help you gain new benefits from your practice
Chapter 7 How it all began
Male and female
Breathing and butting
Imitation of animal movements
Our 108 forms and the 37 actions
Chapter 8 The search for the mysterious old man
Tai chi and self-defense
Chang Sanfeng, tai chi's originator
The secret of immortality
Effortlessness-The key to tai chi
Chapter 9 A 400-year secret
The northern school and the southern school
How the Chens kept 'the secret'
How 'the secret' was revealed to the world
Thr first school
Carryingon the ancient tradition
Chapter 10 On to America!
Tai chi in modern times
Widespread adoption of tai chi
Other forms of tai chi
The tai chi boom in America
Appendix: The three clasic writings on tai chi
I A discussion on the practice of tai chi chuan
II The treatise on tai chi chuan
III An exposition on the practice of the 13 movement forms

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