Free tai chi classes offered in Provo

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    By Julia Burgon

    Members of Utah County are invited to experience the art of tai chi, an ancient method of exercise derived from martial arts, tonight at 6 p.m. and on Saturday at 9 a.m. at the southeast corner of University Avenue and Center Street, by the fountain.

    The first class for each person will be free, allowing participants to get a feel for the art and decide if it is something they would be interested in continuing.

    The classes will be taught by Dr. Art Barrett, a chiropractor and tai chi instructor, who has been involved with tai chi since 1979 after serving a mission in Taiwan. Barrett often saw Taiwanese people exercising in the park and gained a desire to learn tai chi when he arrive home.

    Tai chi, from a Western point of view, can best be described as a moving form of yoga and meditation combined, according to Frank Petrillo Jr. of Black Belt Magazine. The Chinese consider tai chi to be the best exercise they have developed out of the various medical gymnastics they have created to cure and avoid illness.

    Consisting of slow, graceful movements, tai chi reflects the natural movements of animals and birds, as symbols, designed to focus the mind and breathing through a complex series of executions, Petrillo said.

    Unlike the various popular fitness programs that concentrate on certain muscles, tai chi utilizes and benefits every part of the body.

    “It doesn”t look like a lot of exercise,” said Adhis Ruiz, one of Barrett”s students from Cape Coral, Fla. “But it works the right muscles your body needs to work. It”s amazing.”

    There are four basic principles that must be learned and incorporated correctly when doing tai chi, Barrett said.

    The first principle is relax, second is body straight, do not lean any direction, third is the center of gravity should be clear, and fourth is all the movements are led by the waist.

    “All these principles seem separate because they are so different from one another,” Barrett said. “However, all these principles combine simply to teach a person perfect balance.”

    Barrett compared this concept to water, it is clear, odorless, tasteless and wet, he said. Each one of these characteristics seem separate, but they are describing one simple thing, water.

    Scientific research conducted at the Medical Academy of Shanghi and other institutions has provided evidence that tai chi stimulates the central nervous system, lowers blood pressure, relieves stress and gently tones muscles without strain. It also enhances digestion, the circulation of blood and improves the functionality of internal organs through rhythmic movements.

    “I first discovered the health benefits of tai chi in my youth,” Barrett said. “Whenever my back hurt or I had aches and pains from standing too long, I could do tai chi and get immediate relief. This amazing health benefit gives me control over how I feel each day and is priceless too me.”

    A tai chi form is composed of separate moves each joined by a transition, known as a link, Petrillo said. Each movement may be short, or made up of a complex sequence of sub-moves. Although each is an individual definitive element to the form, they flow continually into each other and are not practiced separately.

    The Yang style, a long form of tai chi, generally takes about three years to properly learn the 128 separate postures.

    “You have to keep at it until you notice the difference it makes in your life,” said Ruiz, who has been working with Barrett for two years. “Some people think they can pick it up quickly, but you have to practice and keep doing it.”

    In traditional China, tai chi is passed down from father to the oldest son. In general it is an art that is being lost, Ruiz said.

    “Over a million people do tai chi everyday, but unfortunately most will never have the opportunity to learn the pure teaching of tai chi as is still exists in the world today,” said Master Alwin Leung, Barrett”s instructor. “No matter how long and hard a student or teacher may practice, without the exact instruction they can only receive a small fraction of the benefits.”

    Over 80 percent of people who practice tai chi today make the mistake of chasing the external postures and it is not recognize that, Barrett said.

    BYU has its own tai chi club on campus. The purpose of the club is to help people develop good character, physical fitness, and self-reliance, thought practicing the principles of tai chi, discipline courage, and diligence.

    “When you practice tai chi the right way, you feel balanced and your mind is not full of the 101 things you have to do,” Barrett said. “You are peaceful.”

    For more information about the classes offered this weekend, visit www.taichicricket.com.

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