My Top 4 Tai Chi Books
Among life’s gifts are the smart, thoughtful, curious, dedicated Tai Chi and Qigong students at Chicago Tai Chi. We have a wonderful and growing community of practitioners. I am grateful for how they push, challenge, and teach us as instructors.
Our students tend to be eager learners. They often ask for recommendations on Tai Chi books. So I thought I would share my Top 4 Tai Chi Books with all of you.
1. Tai Chi: Health for Life by Bruce Frantzis, PhD
This is the seminal Tai Chi book by my main teacher, Master Bruce Frantzis, founder of Energy Arts. It is not a “how to do Tai Chi” book; it is a “why to do Tai Chi” book. The depth, scope, and clarity of the information presented are unparalleled.
It covers in detail how the practice of Tai Chi:
- benefits the body and promotes vibrant health
- reduces stress
- promotes longevity
- promotes Qi flow
- and, if desired, can have a spiritual component.
Reflecting Bruce’s experience in teaching thousands of students and hundreds of instructors, the book has exceptionally useful sections for beginners, including
- Choosing a teacher
- Choosing a style
- What you can expect to learn
- Realistic expectations
The book also contains chapters targeting intermediated and advance practitioners.
In short, if I could have only one Tai Chi book my shelf, it would be Tai Chi: Health for Life.
You can purchase Tai Chi: Health for Life on Amazon here.
2. The Harvard Medical School Guide to Tai Chi by Peter Wayne, PhD and Mark Fuerst
This books ranks #2 because of its excellent review of Western scientific research into the benefits of Tai Chi. The book covers research into how Tai Chi practice may:
- Improve balance
- Reduce falls
- Increase leg strength and bone density
- Benefit Parkinson’s Disease patients
- Reduce chronic pain
- Alleviate arthritis symptoms
- Improve cardiovascular function
- Improve breathing and respiratory function
- Improve cognitive function
- Improve well-being
- Improve sleep
Plenty of hot button health issues here for our aging population!
The HMS Guide to Tai Chi has material for practitioners at all levels. For persons considering Tai Chi for health reasons, it is an excellent resource for what you might gain. Current practitioners with an interest in the scientific basis for how Tai Chi delivers a powerful workout for health and longevity will find it useful. For Tai Chi instructors, the book provides a concise resource to help you articulate Tai Chi’s health benefits to students.
You can purchase the HMS Guide to Tai Chi on Amazon here.
3. Opening the Energy Gates of Your Body by Bruce Frantzis, PhD
For #3, I return to Bruce Frantzis for his first book, Opening the Energy Gates of Your Body. This is not a book expressly about Tai Chi. Rather, it is mainly about a Qigong (“energy practice”).
It makes my Top 4 Tai Chi Books because it covers essential Tai Chi fundamentals with clarity, depth, and authority I have not encountered elsewhere. This includes:
- Biomechanical Alignments
- Moving from the kwa
- Standing and Seated Neutral Postures
- Whole Body Breathing
- Techniques for feeling the body and Qi at ever more subtle levels
In my experience, students that incorporate these principles and techniques into their Tai Chi more readily deepen and advance their practice.
Plus, for those who approach Tai Chi as a sophisticated form of Qigong, the book contains clear explanations of how Qigong works, Qigong theory, and Qigong practice guidelines, all of which can be incorporated into a Tai Chi practice.
You can purchase Opening the Energy Gates of Your Body on Amazon here.
4. The Tai Chi Space: How to Move in Tai Chi and Qigong by Paul Cavel
Based in the UK and Spain, Paul is a Senior Energy Arts Instructor with over 20 years experience in teaching Tai Chi and Qigong.
In Tai Chi Space, Paul describes 42 principles. These principles guide the reader sequentially from building solid foundation in Tai Chi or Qigong to exploring the deeper internal practices to increase Qi flow, fluidity, and connection.
Each principal is succinctly articulated (2 pages max) and accompanied by Sophie Manham’s helpful illustrations. Paul’s prose deftly combines education with entertainment, at once authoritative, lyrical, and straightforward.
Tai Chi and Qigong practitioners of all levels will find Tai Chi Space loaded with readily accessible material to advance and deepen your practice.
I have had the pleasure of experiencing Paul’s teaching in person at Energy Arts retreats. He is top quality instructor, combining deep knowledge of the material with an extraordinary ability to teach subtle external and internal movement. Plus his sharp British wit provides ample comic relief.
Tai Chi Space is a welcome addition to the Tai Chi literature, and I recommend it highly.
You can purchase The Tai Chi Space on Amazon here.
There you have the current Top 4 Tai Chi Books at Chicago Tai Chi. Enjoy your reading!
Chris Cinnamon, JD, MS
Head Instructor
ACSM Certified Exercise Physiologist
visit our website www.chicagotaichi.org
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