Many people will ask if tai chi is like qi gong or vice versa. Let me do some simple comparison for you. I hope this can help you.
Tai Chi or Taiji
- Written in Chinese Simplified “太极 ” or Chinese Traditional “太極”. Tai 太 means supreme, grand or great. Chi 極 means extreme and ultimate.
- Originally designed as martial arts / kung fu for attaching and defense. It can be described as great ultimate boxing.
- About 700 years old dated back to a Taoist monk Zhang Seng Feng as the creator used as a new Kung Fu for fighting the Mongolian.
- There are numerous movements to learn. There are 18 Style, 24 Style, 88 Style and 108 Style. There are mainly 4 famous styles eg. Yang, Wu, Chan and Sun. The Tao Society style is rooting from the Yang style Tai Chi.
- Deep coordination between the hands, arms, lower back, legs and feet like dancing in graceful movements. It gives satisfaction when you can practice remembering all the movements.
- Require some more space at least 12 feet x 5 feet.
- Every step leads to the next step which helps to train memory. When you miss a step, it is hard to connect to the next move.
- It has a series of gentle physical exercises and stretches. Each posture flows into the next without pause, ensuring that your body is in constant motion.
- Practice with open eyes and deep focus.
- Tai Chi just like yoga can cause injuries when practice without enough warmup. It can be exhausting for beginners not used to moving exercises and coordination.
- Students think less about moving the chi as there are too many movements to concentrate on.
- Particularly good for circulation and helping the joints.
- Helps blood pressure, digestion and sharper mind. People even with mental disorder can enjoy the nice movements of Tai Chi.
- Great for leisure, beautiful. It burns up the time so often elderly will engage in this practice.
Qi Gong or Chi Gong
- Written in Chinese Simplified “气功 ” or Chinese Traditional “氣功”. Qi is the Mandarin way of pronunciation. Chi is the Cantonese way. Qi 氣 means energy or life force. Gong means work or method.
- Originally used to build internal strength and energy for better kung fu combatting and healing of injuries and longevity.
- Over 5,000 years old rooting to I-ching and Yellow Emperor’s time 2697–2597 or 2698–2598 BCE.
- There are super less movements. The people who are interested in Qi Gong are often drawn to its fascinating healing power and may have totally no interest in Kung Fu nor Tai Chi.
- Simply coordination. There can be a couple movements to a series of effortless movements. It gives great satisfaction when feeling the Qi and returning to inner peace and getting health improvements.
- Require sitting or standing space. You can practice lying down and standing up to do.
- Simple practice from 5 minutes. For those people who are seeking the practice for healing will be guided to practice Qi Gong in specific ways to assist.
- Qi Gong may also be just one step or a few steps especially designed for different healing purposes e.g. build energy in the eyes or digestion.
- It is a very mindful moving meditation which may be focusing in the mind and intention for moving the Qi.
- Can be practiced with eyes closed or half-closed the eyes for students can internalized how to move the Qi.
- Qi Gong help heal injuries thus good for rehabilitation and prevention.
- Students will focus on learning how to have more Chi in gentle movements.
- Helps almost like any health problems that will benefit from improved circulation and reduced inflammation.
- It is pleasurable, relaxing and rejuvenating using only a bit of time. It is often used as a supporting healing based method for those with health problems. In recent years, as acupuncture is popular, Qi Gong is often referred by acupuncturists and herbalists as the way to help the health challenges. Qi Gong is a really a lifestyle for organic healing that any ages can practice. Often Qi Gong external Qi healing will be sought by those interested in energy medicine.
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