Tai Chi is an ancient tradition that has existed for centuries. However, over time it has evolved into a popular form of exercise.
It involves a series of movements performed in a slow and focused manner, often accompanied by deep breathing.
Tai Chi as a discipline has a variety of styles. Each with multiple variations and a set of principles and methods that are strictly adhered to.
For instance, some styles’ main focus may be health. On the other hand, other styles’ focus may be on the martial arts aspects of Tai Chi.
Like all things, there has to be the flip side of the coin. Whilst Tai Chi is a very well-loved exercise; there are disadvantages to it.
DISADVANTAGES OF TAI CHI
Some of the disadvantages of tai chi include:
1. TIME CONSUMING
There are five major stages to properly mastering the art of tai chi. All of which take a considerable amount of time to learn.
As such, the chances of sustainability in practicing Tai Chi are pretty daunting, especially if you have a career.
However, it all comes down to how much time you can spare every day. A minimum of 20 minutes is recommended. This is to ensure that you develop the Tai Chi movements of the style you’re learning.
2. IT IS LARGELY WATERED DOWN
The generational modification of the art form of tai chi has resulted in its extreme watering down. Studies of the history of tai chi indicate that before modification, there were 100 complex moves.
In 1956, the Chinese government gave an executive order to the Chinese sports committee. The order instructed them to create a simplified version of the art of tai chi for mass consumption.
The Chinese sports committee went on to develop a 24-move tai chi style that is currently consumed globally.
The disadvantage of tai chi in this modern form is that it robs you of the genuine Tai Chi experience.
3. MAY BE UNAUTHENTIC
Frauds have infiltrated Tai Chi, and you are thus required to be vigilant. The disadvantages of tai chi include the fact that there is nothing like a standard variation.
As such, while learning from a guru, there is no way to determine if the tai chi exercises you are learning are the real deal or not.
4. MOSTLY UNEFFECTIVE AS A FORM OF SELF DEFENSE
If you’re looking for a form of self-defense that involves contact and spurring, then tai chi might not be your cup of tea.
When compared to other forms of martial arts, the disadvantage of Tai Chi is that it’s pragmatic. As a result, it leaves you on the backfoot.
This is because it is largely dependent on evading any attack rather than neutralizing a situation yourself.
5. CAN BE INITIALLY PAINFUL
Although it may not seem like it, the initial period of acclimatizing can be painful for beginners. This is because Tai Chi for beginners involves exercises that involve all muscle groups.
If not careful and you push yourself too hard, it can even lead to tai chi injuries.
As such, you are likely to experience some soreness in areas such as the legs and arms despite the movements being slow and gentle.
However, as you get fitter, your body will get accustomed to the exercises prompting less pain.
6. TAI CHI IS NON-COMPETITIVE
More often than not, if you’re an active athlete, you like competition better yet thrive on it.
Often, we get into Tai Chi believing it’s going to be this swashbuckling art form that sweeps everyone off their feet. In actuality, it’s not.
Tai chi focuses on a completely different skill set and state of mind. This is one of the biggest disadvantages of tai chi as it can be quite demotivating to elite athletes.
7. IT IS TIRING
Unknown to many, tai chi is exhaustive to both the body and mind. Despite tai chi exercises being low impact, they are long and intensive, which is tiring to the body
Having to remember all your movements only adds fuel to the fire.
8. IT WON’T GET YOU FULLY FIT
Before we go any further, tai chi will tone and shape your body. However, you won’t get to the conditioning levels that a cyclist or a runner has.
9. IT IS LIMITING
The whole concept and mindset of tai chi are enveloped around connecting with nature. This means that on days when you can’t really exercise outdoors, the exercise’s essence is lost.
The idea of exercising outdoors might also not necessarily augur well with everyone. Not everyone really enjoys exercising outdoors.
Having such a limiting mindset locks out parties that aren’t comfortable with the idea of exercising outdoors.
10. IT ISNT USER FRIENDLY
In this technology-driven area, it is possible to do any sort of exercise from the comfort of your house. There are numerous resources you can use to learn what you desire.
This is one of the disadvantages of tai chi as it offers no such freedom. Avenues such as YouTube are not sufficient when it comes to learning tai chi.
A tai chi guru or master is thus essential during the early stages of learning.
HOW OFTEN SHOULD YOU DO TAI CHI?
Tai Chi is a very varied form of exercise. As mentioned before, it lacks standard universal procedures. As such, you have to ask yourself certain questions.
For example, what style of Tai Chi are you doing, your goals, and what exercises are you practicing. Having answers to these questions is crucial for the next steps.
Trying and testing what feels right when you do your exercises is thus easier. This is because you know what you’re aiming to achieve and through what means.
WHICH IS BETTER, YOGA OR TAI CHI?
Yoga and Tai Chi are similar in a lot of ways. However, their approaches to achieving their intended results are completely different, as are their effects on the body.
Yoga is a form of exercise with roots in Hinduism. Like Tai Chi, it has existed for centuries. However, it was not until the 1980s that it became a global phenomenon.
When it comes to what is better, it all relies on what you intend to achieve and what you’re comfortable with. We, therefore, look at their most distinctive features to help you make your choice.
Tai Chi is:
1.Dynamic and has dance-like movement
2.Mostly done standing
3.A martial art
4.Requires a guru or master during the early days
Yoga is:
1.Focuses on static flexibility
2.Involves a lot of spiritual reflection
3.Requires you to carve out your own space
4.You can start easily as there are numerous studios
WHAT DOES TAI CHI DO TO YOUR BODY?
Despite the disadvantages of Tai Chi, it has pros too. Tai Chi provides effective rehabilitation to cardiac failure patients.
It improves your cognitive function.
It improves balance, especially among the elderly. This is because you lose the sense that helps detect your body’s position in space the older you grow. Tai Chi thus helps strengthen this sense.
It improves upper body and lower body strength like resistance training when practiced regularly. The unsupported arm exercise in Tai Chi strengthens your body.
It also strengthens the core muscles of your back and abdomen.
Tai Chi provides aerobic benefits. This is, however, dependent on the size and speed of the Tai Chi movements.
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