Alternative Medicine

Tai Chi: The Dance of Health

Summary & Participants

Tai Chi was initially developed in China in the 14th century as a martial art of self-defense. But as it evolved, it came to be seen as an exercise promoting harmony, balance and relaxation of the body and mind. What is Tai Chi, and what can it do for you? Join our panel of experts for a discussion of the history and health benefits of this age-old practice.

Medically Reviewed On: May 07, 2008

Webcast Transcript

DAVID FOLK THOMAS: Welcome to our webcast. I'm David Folk Thomas. Tai chi. Now, I did not just sneeze, for all of you who said, "Gesundheit." Thank you. I'm talking about tai chi. It's an ancient Chinese martial art. It's used as a health exercise. We're going to get to the bottom of exactly what tai chi is and how it might help you get around and operate in this crazy world. Joining me are two experts on tai chi. To my left is Dr. Ben Kligler. He's the medical director of the New Beth Israel Center for Health and Healing in New York City, and next to Dr. Kligler is William Kaplinidis. He is the department head of Allied Arts at the Pacific College of Oriental Medicine here in New York City. He's also a tai chi instructor. Thanks to both of you for coming by. What is tai chi?

DR. BENJAMIN KLIGLER: Tai chi was developed in the 1300s in China as a martial art in the tradition of karate and judo and others and was originally a martial art and used, I think, for self-defense, and has evolved over the course of time into a practice for promoting health. So it's still a martial art, and it has also evolved another nature, which has to do with people using it for its health benefits. So one studies it, takes classes, and then practices it on one's own, and it can be used for the general harmonizing and balancing of the body.

DAVID FOLK THOMAS: William, tai chi-- Dr. Kligler mentioned karate, all that-- is it not a self-defense thing anymore? Is it health? How does it vary from, say, something like karate where maybe more people are familiar.

WILLIAM KAPLINIDIS: It depends on who you study with. Originally, people that studied tai chi were already adept at a fighting form of martial art, and they used the tai chi to help them learn how to use their mind more and their whole body as an instrument, and not just the physical force. So they learned how to preserve their body and their mind and how to use the power of the mind with their body together as a martial art. At the same time, there are other trainings involved, like meditation and different trainings that help the body become healthier. Usually, as you get older you get better at it.

DAVID FOLK THOMAS: What does tai chi mean, exactly? What's the translation?

WILLIAM KAPLINIDIS: Tai chi is actually a philosophy. It's the philosophy of yin and yang. Literally, it means "supreme ultimate."

DAVID FOLK THOMAS: That's that symbol everybody sees.

WILLIAM KAPLINIDIS: It looks like two fish.

Tai chi is represented by that symbol. It's sort of the law of opposites. You and me. This and that. Night and day. Through the movements, you're trying to become in harmony with nature and with your body and with your mind and bringing it all together so that you're becoming more one as opposed to separate.

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