T’ai Chi: Supreme Ultimate Walking

Walking is the single most effective exercise available to man: the human body is designed to walk. From a sound upright posture: head suspended, spine vertical, shoulders back and above hips, hips above knees, knees above ankles: and with even weight distribution. With leg flick, hip swing, leg extension, heel strike, heel to toe contact, and smooth transition of weight forward, to toe lift: along with well-timed arm swing; a good walking action has many health and fitness benefits and ramifications. Cardio-vascular, stress relief and improved circulation among many others. In normal perambulation, systems in the human body work in co-ordination such that when the big muscle groups in the arms and legs contract, they squeeze on veins, pushing de-oxygenated blood toward the heart. In synchronicity, with muscle contraction and relaxation, one way valves in the veins of the legs open and close; each valve has two opposed flaps that act like gates opening in one direction and stopping blood from falling back down the leg. In normal perambulation the effect is that of a shunt pump, venous return systems force de-oxygenated blood toward the heart assisting the main circulatory system pump {the heart} with its flow of return blood/energy. The system is known as the skeletal pump. Diligent practice of T’ai Chi and T’ai Chi Walking will ensure improvements in many areas, much more than just the skeletal pump: it provides a challenge to the practitioners’ balance {it has become widely recognised in contemporary physical exercise systems that a challenge to balance is a requirement to ensure mobility and co-ordination {especially into the later years, i.e. growing old gracefully} Although the Yang Style T’ai Chi form is probably not the best exercise for what is widely recognised as cardio vascular conditioning/fitness {remember there is far more to T’ai Chi conditioning/fitness exercises than the standard form} the stylised walking that the form is based on is cardio vascular in its nature and will stimulate all of the organ systems including heart and lungs.

T’ai Chi

is Supreme ultimate Walking