"The aim of the Tai Chi form is to create streams of energy to flow through the body. In the philosophy of Tai Chi it is said Chi (life energy) follows the mind, each posture and movement creates a different energy flow which, has a benifital overall affect on overall well being. Tai Chi stimulates circulation, aligns the skeleton and joints correctly, stimulates the organs of the body and helps digestion. It increases muscle tone, strength, improves balance and co ordination and also improves breathing. Tai Chi does not just provide physical benefits, by raising energy levels it also affects the mind and the spirit. Tai Chi focuses thought, so that mind and body energy work together as one. Tai Chi reflects both Taoism in terms of effortless interaction and yin and yang in terms of reconciling two opposing forces, to create harmony and equilibrium. This combination is the very essence of the Tai Chi philosophy."

Re Vitalise - The Philosophy of Tai Chi

"According to the ancient 'Keepers of the Knowledge' from the Taoist Tradition, the evolutionary roots of Chinese Holistic Medicine came into being at least 8,000 years ago through the first two of the 8 Branches of the Tao Healing Arts. Over the centuries the other 6 branches evolved into a unified way of life: (1) Meditation/Self Cultivation, (2) Chi Kung/Internal Kung Fu - Tai Chi Chuan… (3) 5 Phase Nutrition, (4) Bodywork: Tui Na Acumassage/Bonesetting, Jin Chi Chinese Cranial - Spinal - Sacral Balancing, Chua Ka Deep - Tissue Self Purification Massage, Nei Kung Chi Liao - Internal Energy Diagnosis & Healing/the first healing art of China, (5) Tao Philosophy, Cosmology, Ba Kua/I Ching Medicine, (6) Feng Shui: Environmental Chi Design & Natural Arrangement, Astrology-Numerology and the Fine Arts, (7) Herbology, (8) Acupuncture..."

"Each of the 8 Branches is essentially the study and practical application of Chi to balance and harmonize the 3 Realms: Heaven - Human - Earth. This is the prevailing image of the Ba Kua/8 Trigrams founded by the great Taoist Sage, Fu She 80 centuries ago, predating written language in China when pictographs were commonly used. This underlying theme is the unifying essence of all the Chinese Healing Arts gleaned through the direct cognition and observation of nature over the past thousands of years. Whether it be with the acupuncture needle, its depth of insertion and method of manipulation, the directionality of Feng Shui architectural design and arrangement or the internal breathing/energetic connections of Tai Chi Chuan - Chi Kung, it is through these easily observed applications that the results can be so effective and profound. Chi is ever present, the question is simply how to balance it in both the inner and outer landscapes."

The 8 Branches of the Tao Healing Arts - Jeff Nagel

Tai-Chi Chuan was born as a Martial Art that allows everyone to defend himself/herself. Tai-Chi appeared in a China full of danger where everyone had to fight to survive, even the old persons and the children. Tai-Chi is different from any Martial Art seen before in this: because it doesn't use physical strength, it uses the Force, as an Ally.

Until then, two solutions had been adopted when an opponent gave a punch or a kick:
-Submit to it (and lose the fight)
-Fight it with aggressivity (and harm the opponent or be harmed)
Tai-Chi offers a third way: accept the energy of the opponent and re-direct it with round and relax moves.

However, working with the Force as an Ally, requires time, training, repeating the Forms again and again. More than anything it requires inner peace, relaxation, calm, listening to our body and to the other. With Tai-Chi we don't fight an opponent, we work with him, we allow a dialogue of energy to happen.

Nowadays, we mostly repeat the Tai-Chi Forms, the 4 Lu, alone, as a moving meditation. Well, this practice can become a dialogue with the Force, almost a prayer. We practice Tai-Chi immersed in the ocean of energy, we can visualize it, feel it around us and inside of us. Sometimes we move this energy and our thought directs it- it is good to remember that where our thought goes, there goes also the energy. Other times, it is important to let the energy move our body- Master Mescola says "We are not living, life uses our systems to manifest itself".

That is why it is always important to start Tai-Chi sessions with some meditation:

Standing with our feet shoulder width apart
Weight slightly on our heels
Knees slightly bent- legs relaxed
Pelvis that slightly pulls ahead/down relaxed
Back straight
Chest slightly re-entered
Arms rounded at the level of the Dan-Tien (below the navel) with fingers tips facing each other, palms facing upwards/womb
Head that is pulled up by an invisible string
Chin slightly re-entered

You are a channel between heaven and earth.
You can feel your energy axis.

Relax, close your eyes, listen...
After a while the Force will move your womb, let this movement be, it is the movement of life.

Master Silmerion Skywalker

Article reprinted under Creative Commons license from:
http://osoarchives.wikispaces.com/Teachings,+Introduction+to+Tai-Chi