So I've been reading all over the interwebz lately that the Chinese internal martial arts have many health benefits in addition to instilling good body mechanics, posture, mobility and flexibility etc.
So anyone who practices Tai-Chi, Bagua, Xingyi agree with this?
Alternatively, do you think there are any health benefits to "hard"/external arts (i.e. the katas and breathing style of shotokan karate)?
there is a book out from a Harvard professor out about the health effects of tai chi.
below is some pertinent info...
http://www.health.harvard.edu/newsletters/Harvard_Womens_Health_Watch/2009/May/The-health-benefits-of-tai-chi
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/reviews/The-Harvard-Medical-School-Guide-to-Tai-Chi%2FPeter-Wayne/1112126145?ean=9781590309421
jrrrrr - there is a book out from a Harvard professor out about the health effects of tai chi.
below is some pertinent info...
http://www.health.harvard.edu/newsletters/Harvard_Womens_Health_Watch/2009/May/The-health-benefits-of-tai-chi
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/reviews/The-Harvard-Medical-School-Guide-to-Tai-Chi%2FPeter-Wayne/1112126145?ean=9781590309421
Nice! Thanks for this. Will VTFU when my counter resets.
The problem is that you'll need to find a good teacher...
not easy task in the IMA world
thank you groundfighter.
finding health related internal MA won't be as bad as looking for one for martial training. Few instructors, and to be honest few practioners in general, train with martial mindedness. Few go to tai chi to specifically train chin na, shiao jiao, te and le.
Look for an instructor that does a lot of two person testing during clas.IT allows the practicioner to get a "sense" of the other person. THis allows one to have that feeling when practicing a form or other movement.
A nice martial art to check out for is I-liq chuan. They do a low of person on person testing. Be aware that the MA is good, but it is heavy on structure training. YOu don't get into "MA"training till later.