WHAT IS TAI CHI, QIGONG AND SHIBASHI?

Both traditions come from China. Qigong evolved about four thousand years ago while Tai chi has been around since the 17th century. Both Taichi and Qigong bring our mind as well as our body back to health. Our mind and emotions have a profound effect on the state of our physical body and the interplay between our mind, body and emotions will dictate our state of health. Most exercise programmes concentrate on the physical body only and ignore the importance of the mind in our health. Both Taichi and Qigong are done at a very gentle and slow pace compared with other exercise and yet they are very beneficial and nourishing to body and mind. Less is more according to both these traditions.

Originally developed by Professor Lin Housheng in 1979, an internationally recognized qigong master, this routine merges the slow, fluid movements of Yang Style Tai Chi with the continuous breathing and meditation practices of qigong. The result is a soft, relaxing, yet powerful practice that particularly targets the upper body, promoting the health of our lungs, heart, and spine.

Today, it stands as one of the most popular forms of qigong. In 1991, the United Nations Development Programme endorsed the global promotion of the Tai Chi Qigong Shibashi routine. Currently, more than 10 million people around the world engage in this practice.

Despite being only 40 years old, this routine encapsulates the ancient principles of both Tai Chi and qigong. It enhances our posture and boosts mobility while minimizing stress on our joints. Moreover, it is an accessible routine to learn, enabling us to quickly connect with our energy and experience that connection with greater ease.