Want to de-stress, get fit and tone up but don't fancy the hectic pace of the gym? A class popular with thousands of people could be for you. Tai-Chi combines martial arts movements with the 2,000 year old health practices of 'Daoyin' (harmonizing the body and mind with the internal energy that runs through the meridians and along the acupuncture points of the body) and 'Tu-Na' (deep breathing).

As well as raising martial arts skill to a very high level, these exercises have proved to be highly valuable in improving mental and physical health. Director of Studies at the Galway Tai-Chi Academy, Niall O Floinn began his study of Tai-Chi 16 years ago. He has trained with some of China's top level Masters of Tai-Chi in Ireland, England, America and China and has hosted regular large seminars in Galway with his current teacher Wang Hai Jun, three times champion of China.

Niall says Tai-Chi is fast becoming a universal exercise for the 21st century because it provides many levels of exercise, removes deep rooted stress and toxins from the body, is aesthetically beautiful to watch and has a deep underlying philosophy that interests a very broad range of society and age groups who are interested in health, meditation, martial arts and philosophy.

"Traditional Chinese Medicine believes that when the internal energy of the body, which comes from the internal organs, is balanced, we experience good health, vitality, ease, strength, flexibility and emotional well being. When out of balance, we experience energy loss, discomfort, pain, mental and emotional instability and ultimately disease.

"The correct practice of Tai-Chi involves calming the mind, deepening the breathing and gently stretching the body to release muscular tension, which stimulates the parasympathetic division of the nervous system, which returns the body to a state of rest and self healing.

"In turn, the activity of the sympathetic division (activated by stress, strain, competition and pressure) is greatly reduced, thereby leaving the Tai-Chi practitioner with a balanced, centred and calm feeling, free from the physiological changes stress brings on."

One of the many internal changes that occur during this state, he says, is an increase in glandular secretions, along with a decrease in hypertension and anxiety/worry, which affect healthy digestive functioning. The gentle whole body spiral movement of Tai-Chi massages and tones the organs, increases blood supply and strengthens the eliminatory function of the bowel.

According to Niall, Tai-Chi is a safe, gentle holistic exercise that anyone can do at any age or fitness level. "You can choose the intensity of muscular work you want for yourself simply by adopting a higher, less wide stance and smaller range of movement if you are recovering from an illness or injury or just want to take it easy.

"Alternatively, you can adopt a lower, wider stance and greater range of motion to work your body more intensely, increasing your lower body and core strength along with your fitness and toning the whole body along with reducing body fat if that's what you prefer."

Indeed, he says, Tai-Chi is popular with the elderly, as it has been shown to be effective in reducing falls. Abdominal and leg strength and balance and force control benefits are gained by the dynamic constant loading and unloading of weight between legs in multiple directions, the interchange of roles between stabilizers and movers, the co-ordination between lower and upper body movement and the increase in range of motion of all major moveable joints.

Tai-Chi is also recommended as a preventative measure for the general public, due to its stress relieving properties. "Stress is widely recognised as the root cause of many illnesses. By learning how to reduce stress and increase your awareness of the body and mind, you can actively prevent yourself from making lifestyle choices that bring you out of balance and cultivate more healthy habits.

"An awareness of how the body works also can prevent strains and injuries from occurring by improving your posture and the efficiency of how you spread muscular work over a larger global area of the body rather than overburdening smaller local muscle groups," Niall says.

Galway has one of the largest Tai-Chi communities in Ireland, due in no small part to the Tai-Chi Academy, which has continually hosted world class teachers from China, and the fact that it is good fun.

"The classes we run are always relaxed and friendly and a great positive energy is generated by the group and everyone has great fun learning the different moves and forms. The kids (and actually the adults too!) especially enjoy the advanced classes where they learn how to use the sword and sabre etc," Niall says.

Mary Fitzpatrick - personal trainer Galway at Healthfitz.ie.

A three months beginners' course costs A150 - the unemployed or retired pay A110. If two members of the same family attend, the price is also only A110. A free talk and demo will be held on Tuesday 8 September from 6.15pm to 7.15pm in the Galway Rowing Club, Wood quay. A new beginner course will start on Tuesday 15 September at 6.30pm and Thursday 17 September at 11am in the Galway Rowing Club. For more information, visit www.chentaichiireland.com or contact Niall on 085-1547157.

Comments (2) »

Training with Niall
written by ollie, September 22, 2009

Hi,

I train in Niall's Tai Chi club. I can highly recommend it to anyone thinking of taking up Tai Chi. he is an excellent instructor.

Ollie

reply this post
written by AvisBurgess, August 24, 2010

I took 1 st mortgage loans when I was not very old and this aided my relatives a lot. But, I need the short term loan once again.

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