Tai Chi

This gentle sport strengthens joints, muscles, and tendons, improves body awareness, alleviates various ailments, reduces stress, and helps develop more self-confidence. Tai Chi is suitable for all ages and is more strenuous than one might think. Holmes Place offers Tai Chi classes. Just give it a try – there are group classes for beginners and advanced practitioners.

Have you ever seen people in a park performing fluid movements at a very slow pace, looking very focused but also very relaxed? They were probably practicing Tai Chi. This sport, which originally comes from China, is an effective workout for the entire musculoskeletal system and is also ideal for achieving calmness. Both body and mind benefit from it.

Tai Chi – briefly explained

Tai Chi, also known as Tai Chi Chuan, Taijiquan, or shadow boxing, is an internal martial art that emerged in its current form around the 16th or 17th century. Originally, it was about self-defense. The goal of internal martial arts is to relax the body, draw strength from it, and redirect the energy of an attack back to the attacker.

It is said to have originated when a monk in the Wudang Mountains observed a fight between a snake and a crane. The snake skillfully dodged the crane's beak strikes and then struck at the right moment, thus winning the fight.

The term "Tai Chi Chuan" (pronounced: Tai-chi-chuan) roughly means "Martial Art of the Supreme Principle." "Taiji" or Tai Chi stands for the cosmic principle, and Chuan means "fist." It refers to hand-to-hand combat.

Tai Chi consists of many exercises performed in sequence. The practitioner moves slowly but continuously in different directions, concentrating intensely on their breathing and movements, thereby finding inner peace. And not just that: those who perform the exercises correctly do good for their musculoskeletal system, cardiovascular system, metabolism, and digestion. The intervertebral discs are relieved, which can correct posture issues. Additionally, this type of movement helps lower blood pressure, strengthen the immune system, and reduce sleep problems.

Anyone who regularly practices Tai Chi will notice after a short time that they become more resistant to stress and tension. It is a form of moving meditation that feels incredibly good. However, it is essential to perform the exercises correctly. Therefore, it is recommended to first take a Tai Chi course.

What is Qi Gong?

Tai Chi is often mentioned in connection with Qi Gong (pronounced: Chi-gung). This is because Tai Chi includes many exercises from Qi Gong. However, Qi Gong focuses mainly on health aspects and is not a martial art. Qi Gong also originates from China but is much older, with roots going back to around 200 B.C. It is usually performed standing.

The focus is on breathing, movement, concentration, and meditation exercises, aiming to harmonize the flow of life energy. The word Qi describes this energy, while Gong stands for "work" or "skill." Thus, Qi Gong can be translated as "constant work on life energy."

Qi Gong is part of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and helps to relax, concentrate, strengthen self-awareness, and become more flexible.

If you want to learn Qi Gong or Tai Chi, a group course is ideal. It only takes a few minutes to internalize the basic movements. However, fully immerse yourself in the practice to truly achieve calmness. You can find Tai Chi studios at Holmes Place clubs.

Tai Chi in our club

Located in the popular Rüttenscheid district, the club resides in a building with industrial architecture. High ceilings with exposed pipes meet stylish elegance in the reception area. Inside, you have a wide range of options: there are areas for cardio, functional training, and free weights, a section for watt bikes, two studios, and a spa with several saunas, one exclusively for women.

A unique feature is the spacious lounge overlooking the training areas. You can learn Tai Chi in the studios.