Tai Chi Builds Mind-Body Awareness

Several hundred million Chinese people can’t be wrong. Well, they could be wrong, but we think in the case of Tai Chi, they’ve probably got it right. The discipline, based in the martial arts, comes highly recommended in the April issue of Outside Magazine as a great way to instill flexibility, mental discipline, mind-body awareness, and strength. The magazine’s managing editor, Katie Arnold, tells us that the basic premise is this: By quieting your mind and dissolving tensions in your body with tai chi postures, you can generate pure, relaxed power in everything you do—whether it’s playing tennis, mountain biking, surfing, climbing, or kayaking. The short, but tempting article includes illustrations of several Tai Chi postures that look vaguely possible. If you do them right, we’re told, you can feel the chi in your belly. Or you can just go to Starbucks and order one. Wait, that’s something else.