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Tai Chi Career Guide
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Tai Chi is the ancient Chinese art that utilizes movements stringed together into "forms" that practitioners perform to bring yin and yang into harmony. Tai Chi practitioners use deliberate movements and mental focus to balance the physical and spiritual and strengthen the Qi. For many practitioners, Tai Chi is more than a restorative art as it can also be used to cultivate self-defense skills when practiced as a martial art.
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Tai Chi's origin is embedded within the folklore of traditional Chinese culture. It is speculated that Zhang San-feng (1391-1459) witnessed a fight amongst a crane and a snake. Zhang, impressed by the snake's method of relaxed and evasive fighting, decided to combine these movements with his experience and understanding of Martial Arts. This began the earliest form of Tai Chi, which combined speed, strength, flexibility, and balance. Tai Chi is sometimes referred to as T'ai chi ch'uan, originating from the Chinese characters for "supreme ultimate force".
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Tai Chi sessions can last from 45-90 minutes, including 20-30 minutes of warm up, stretching and cool-down. Clients may meet individually with an instructor, or may join a group session. The instructor will teach the client various postures, movements and meditation exercises, along with proper breathing techniques that strengthen and tone the whole body. This greatly improves the flow of Qi (Chi) energy throughout the body. Patients must notify the instructor of any medical conditions that may require special attention or that might be a contra-indication to Tai Chi.
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- ADHD
- Angina
- Anxiety
- Arthritis
- Asthma
- Bronchitis
- Cancer
- Cardiovascular disease
- Chronic Pain
- Chronic Fatigue
- Depression
- Diabetes
- Epilepsy
- Fibromyalgia
- High Cholesterol
- Hypertension
- Migraines
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Parkinson's Disease
- Obsessive-Compulsive disorder
- Reynaud's Syndrome
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- Increases relaxation
- Strengthens muscles
- Improves balance and coordination
- Reduces Stress
- Reduces the effects of allergies
- Improves posture
- Reduces blood pressure
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Side-Effects/Contra-Indications:
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- The stretching involved in Tai Chi might exercise muscles that don't receive much attention normally, and as such, clients may experience soreness after a Tai Chi workout.
- Done correctly, Tai Chi doesn't have any contra-indications.
- Clients should check with their doctors before beginning any exercise program, including Tai Chi.
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Tai Chi is open to people of all ages and abilities. For those who would like to teach the forms to others, the first step is to study Tai Chi long enough to learn the movements and principles behind the techniques. Because of the need for Tai Chi instructors, entry-level teachers are eligible to teach after completing 40 hours plus three hours of training in leadership.
To continue with their Tai Chi education, students take 200-700 hours of class credit through independent study or local classes, depending on how far they want to take the credentials. Some students need to attend workshops and teach students Tai Chi and Qi Gong personally. When students are ready to test, they will demonstrate that they are proficient in the both practicing and teaching Tai Chi
Degree/License offered: Associate Tai Chi Instructor, Certified Tai Chi Instructor
Length of study: Students may take anywhere from one month to one or two years to complete the proper training for certification. Length of time depends on how quickly students absorb the posture and purpose of the moves.
Cost/Financial Aid: $149-$449 for Tai Chi certification. Some private schools and colleges charge as much as $3500 to complete training. Financial aid is often available to those who qualify.
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1. A study cited in the British Medical Journal recently revealed that Type 2 diabetics realized an improvement of T cell helper functions after just twelve weeks of performing Tai Chi exercises.
2. A 2001 study showed that adolescents with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder showed less anxiety and hyperactivity, along with improved behavior after five weeks of regular Tai Chi classes.
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Practitioner Training & Licensure:
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Tai Chi is not regulated in the United States, and there are neither licensure requirements nor educational standards. This being said, Tai Chi schools hold students to very high standards. Students are often required to complete extensive classroom work as well as clinical/practical experience before being presented with the title and respect of a Tai Chi Instructor.
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Average Salary/Hourly Rate:
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Typically, Tai Chi Instructors can make between $30-$300/hr. Of course, not all Tai Chi teachers charge by the hour. Teachers who instruct group classes might charge a per-student or per-class fee.
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