RE: Popularity of Yoga

Hmmmm... I'm a bit yoga fan myself, but I've never tried Tai Chi. Would love to, though!

Maybe yoga is more popular because of celebs like Madonna and Geri Halliwell 😉

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Ah, perhaps you have a point!

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No idea really - except that I can't remember not knowing about yoga - and I only heard of Tai Chi about 10 years ago. So perhaps Yoga is more established , and Tai Chi is newer. Personally I would think that Tai Chi would be safer and better for pensioners - also more suited to strengthening them for daily life as it's done standing up (not that I've done either)
Sharon

RE: Popularity of Yoga

Interesting to see the perspectives of non-practitioners. I've been doing tai chi and chi kung since my late teens so it's just been one of those things I do.

Any more comments on tai chi or chi kung from non-practitioners?

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Yes, hi Darren!

I'm a hatha yoga person. The theory is that I practise every day - the reality is that I often lie in bed thinking 'oh well I'll do it tomorrow!' I have,by the bye, attended a yoga class which was intended for older people and they loved it - just gentle stretching, can't remember how they got up and down off the floor, certainly no shoulder stands!
And I have, just once, attended a tai chi class and was hugely amazed by just how difficult it was. And how taxing for the muscles etc. And needed much more focus and concentration than hatha yoga. So all in all, I would say that although tai chi looks easy it is actually very very difficult and probably needs a lot of practice.

But, let's face it, any exercise is better than none.

Love
Sunanda xxx

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I'm not an expert on either but I think tai chi and yoga are esentially very similar except yoga developed in India and Tai Chi developed in China.

Tai Chi is still very widespread in China and the ban on Falun Gong (Tai Chi in a more yoga stylee) has increased its popularity. In the West, certainly, yoga is more popular but this could be something to do with the fact that China has not long been open to the world (under twenty years) and Tai Chi along with TCM (Traditional Chinese Medecine) is still in its infancy over here. In addition the Cultural Revolution outlawed religon and spiritual practises along with destroying teaching related materials. It has taken time for China's rich culture to recover from this and rediscover its spiritual roots.

When we compare this with yoga, yogis have been able to travel exstensively and spread their teachings for many years now, and there is no restriction on those who go to India and wish to study or improve their practise. For this reason yoga is more accessible here in the West and Ayruvedic medecine is well documented and has been allowed to survive.

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Darren,

there tends to be a lot of classes advertised at local fe colleges eg 'Tai Chi for Over 50s'

maybe friends don't realise that it isn't exclusively for that age bracket!!!:D

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Ive attended Tai chi a few times in past and enjoyed it alot! Though I seem to be of a body that feels fullfilled through yoga. Though i havent spent long enough practising tai chi to know whether i would feel as fulfilled with this form!! I suspect i would in ways unknown. The form of yoga i teach isnt traditionally based, alot of it has eastern roots, and I find this form Dynamic yoga wholely beneficial as it combines postures, breathing, massage, meridian energy unblocking, etc.

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I used to practice hatha yoga. Then did soem Tai Chi.: less taxing on muscles, but much more confusing. Then I started Qi Gong. Simpler than hatha yoga (in my opinion). Also having some training in Chinese Medicine when I do Qi GOng I think of meridians. With hatah yoga, I can't really make the link. Which is not surprising since it coems form another framework.

Artemis

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ORIGINAL: DarrenFollowsThePath

It appears that yoga is more popular and trendy than the Chinese equivalent, Tai Chi and friends seeming to be considered something for pensioners... any ideas why?

All thoughts appreciated.

I've been studying T'ai Chi Chuan for 5 years and yoga for 4.
I think firstly, the perception that T'ai Chi Chuan, (TCC), is an old persons activiity is that there are more elderly proponents seen to be doing TCC than younger people.

TCC orginal purpose was not only spiritual but martial. However, over time, the martial aspect has been less emphasised and the mediatation and health benefits have been exemplied. Also, most people only know of the "Form", while TCC comprises the Form, Push Hands, and Weapons, (Sword, double sword, Fan, machete, spear....etc). You must be of a certain ability to move onto the next "subject". I have still not completed all the Forms, and have only just started Push Hands. So it takes time, and if most people go to a class they see Forms, (something which can be percecied as slow and boring), and not something as dynamic as what you could see in a Yoga class.

I've also think that TCC takes more time to get benefits from, as well as seeing the results for yourself. Whereas with Yoga, I've found, that it can give you an instant buzz, and also the asanas are not totally alien or strange to do; also I think that Yoga is now being marketed at a younger/hipper audience as it becomes a bigger business.

Sens

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This is interesting, I've never thought of Yoga being similar to Tai Chi/Qi Gong....although that's not to say it isn't! Although from what I've seen of a family member practising (Taoist) Tai Chi, my ashtangar/iyengar or kunalini yoga doesn't bear much of a resemblance at all[sm=confused-smiley-012.gif]

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For older people In my veiwthe best exercise is the Feldenkrais Method because it is gentle andhelps restore movement and function rather than just stretching muscles willy nilly like yoga.

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Some styles of Tai Chi have their own yoga and it is a good way to prepare for meditation, opening up restrictions blocking energy. Tai Chi has many sides to it, lets not forget that yoga was once an exercise for warriors who probably had their own way of Tai Chi. It is interesting to see the frescos of the indian monks playing martially with the shaolin monks.

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Lou Lou, I disagree that Yoga stretches muscles in a willy-nilly fashion- not at all! Whilst it's true that many of the postures are designed to stretch many groups of muscles all at the same time (or all of them in dog-down posture) I have never experienced stretches to be haphazard.The only time muscles are stretched willy-nilly is when you aren't doing it properly with good attention to detail!!

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I totally agree, Azalia. I can't see anything willy-nilly about yoga at all., it's incredibly focused if you do it right. And yoga isn't just about stretching, I've found it strengthened muscles all over my body, including my chest , shoulders and stomach mucscles, which I didn't expect at all when I first began. I've had similar benefits to doing resistance training at the gym, but with massive improvements in my flexibility too.

I also do tai chi and one of the big differences I've found betwen tai chis and yoga is the learning curve at the beginning. You can go to a yoga class as a total beginner and and come out having felt like you've really stretched out some muscles you never knew you had. You feelsome benefits straight away. With tai chi, it took a few months before I felt I'd achieved anything significant, so if I hadn't been totally fascinated by the whole idea ofit, I don't thinkI would have carried on. And in fact a lot of people did drop out. But for those of us who stayed,I think we'll be doing it forever. I think part of the reason that it's seen as exercise for old people is that you have to actuallyDO tai chi for a while to see the depths it has. Just as you think you're getting the hang of it, a whole new level reveals itself and you find yourself saying 'wow, so THATS what's going on!'. People who dismiss it as a slow, gentle exercise for old people are just seeing it a very superficial level, but we're so tuned in to quick fixes and rapid results and tai chi is completely the opposite of this. Many people just don't 'get it' yet.

I have a tai chi book by Robert Chuckrow and in the first few pages he talks about the first time he saw people doing tai chi. He thought - nice, but if they'd only speed it up so they got out of breath, then they'd get a decent workout! I think this is typical of the western view - why would you want to go slow if you're young and fit enough to go fast? A great shame, they don't know what they're missing!

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Thanks for all the extra posts - it makes for interesting food for thought!

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He thought - nice, but if they'd only speed it up so they got out of breath, then they'd get a decent workout! I think this is typical of the western view - why would you want to go slow if you're young and fit enough to go fast? A great shame, they don't know what they're missing!

[sm=rollaugh.gif]How true!

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Call me an old cynic if you like but perhaps the reason tai-chi is less popular is 1) We haven't had any celebs gushing praise (e.g. madonna, geri etc) 2) Some people who can get into some of the more extreme yoga poses like to show off - ooh look at me with my leg behind my head - ooh we are impressed (non yoga practicing public cry) - which doesn't happen in tai chi as far as I know 3) most of usare very ignorant in the west in that we do not see the benefit of working our energy rather than our body.

I have only had the chance of practicing tai chi a couple of times and really enjoyed it but a yoga teacher (due to the popularity) is easier to find. Perhaps when Geri Halliwell becomes a geri-atric (groan) tai chi will catch her eye and become more popular!!