Wújí · 無極
Beginning in quiet neutrality: upright, awake and without unnecessary tension.
House of AnandaMovement · Stillness · Wisdom · JourneyTàijíquán · 太極拳
Tai Chi.
Begin with stillness.
Tai Chi is a Chinese martial and meditative movement tradition. Slow practice develops attention, balance, coordination and whole-body connection; its depth lies beyond simply moving slowly.
What it is
A living art,
not one fixed form.
Tai Chi is the common English name for Tàijíquán, often translated as “Supreme Ultimate Boxing.” It grew as a martial art in China and is now practised for martial skill, culture, meditation, health and community.
UNESCO describes it through relaxed, circular movement coordinated with breath regulation and the cultivation of a centred mind. Different families preserve distinct forms, training methods and interpretations.
Read UNESCO’s Taijiquan record ↗Six foundations
Qualities before choreography.
These ideas are approached through the body and refined with a knowledgeable teacher; short definitions are only a doorway.
Sōng · 鬆
Active release rather than collapse—the joints remain spacious while the structure stays alive.
Rooting
Receiving weight through the feet and allowing force to travel through an organised whole body.
Dāntián · 丹田
The lower abdominal field used as a centre of attention, coordination and breath awareness.
Silk-reeling
Continuous spiralling actions associated especially with Chen traditions; nothing moves in isolation.
Péng · 掤
An expansive, resilient quality present throughout the body—not merely one named posture.
Beginner practice room
Eight Tai Chi movement studies for beginners.
This is a gentle preparatory sequence created for the library, not a traditional named form. Learn an authentic form from a qualified teacher.
- 01
Arrive in Wújí
Stand comfortably, soften the knees and notice weight across both feet.
- 02
Open and close
Let the arms float with the breath, keeping shoulders quiet and elbows heavy.
- 03
Weight shifting
Pour weight side to side without swaying the head or gripping the hips.
- 04
Cloud hands
Turn from the centre while the hands travel horizontally in a soft, continuous rhythm.
- 05
Ward off
Explore rounded structure and gentle outward resilience without muscular bracing.
- 06
Brush knee
Coordinate a step, a turning waist and two hands moving in complementary directions.
- 07
Golden rooster
Gather into one leg, lifting only as high as balance and calm attention allow.
- 08
Return to stillness
Let the movement diminish until you stand quietly and observe its after-effect.
Build a rhythm
Three ways
to begin.
Daily reset
2 min standing · 3 min shifting · 3 min cloud hands · 2 min quiet close
Foundation practice
3 min standing · 5 min joint circles · 8 min study sequence · 4 min repeat and close
Learning session
5 min standing · 8 min qigong warm-up · 20 min form study · 5 min repetition · 2 min close
The listening room
Music for
continuous movement.
Six Spotify collections for long practice, gentle form work, qigong and reflective stillness. Each link opens directly in Spotify for reliable playback.
Principal collection♫
Built from Daniel’s Shazam playlist and Liked SongsTai Chi Flow
The principal long-form collection: spacious, soulful, atmospheric and gently rhythmic music shaped for an extended practice.
Open in Spotify ↗Collection 02♫
Viktor EmileTai Chi / Qi Gong FLOW
A complementary flowing collection for breath-led movement and qigong practice.
Open in Spotify ↗Collection 03♫
Chill VibesTai Chi Music 2026
A contemporary calm-music collection for slow forms, standing work and recovery.
Open in Spotify ↗Collection 04♫
MatteoTai Chi Relax
A softer listening room for gentle repetition, cooling down and quiet reflection.
Open in Spotify ↗Collection 05♫
Nature LyckligTai Chi Music 2026 · Zen · Qi Gong
Meditative music suited to unhurried movement, breath attention and stillness.
Open in Spotify ↗Collection 06♫
Shaolin MattTai Chi
A further movement companion for exploring rhythm, continuity and calm focus.
Open in Spotify ↗The principal Tai Chi Flow is a generated Spotify collection. Open it and choose Save or Add to Library in Spotify to keep it attached to your account.
Principal styles
Different families,
related principles.
Chen
Older family tradition known for spiralling power, alternating softness and expression, and both slow and explosive training.
Yang
Widely practised, typically spacious, even-paced and flowing; family, traditional and simplified curricula differ.
Wu / Wú
Recognised for compact circles and a characteristic forward-inclined but aligned body method.
Wu (Hao)
A smaller-framed, internally attentive system that values subtle changes and economical movement.
Sun
Known for agile stepping and open-close actions, influenced by other internal Chinese martial arts.
Simplified forms
Modern teaching sequences—such as 24-form—created to make practice more widely accessible.
Qi & qigong
Tai Chi and Qigong.
Related, not identical.
Qì · 氣 is a rich Chinese term connected with breath, vitality and the processes of life. It should not be reduced to a scientifically measurable “energy,” nor treated as an exact translation of Sanskrit prāṇa.
Qìgōng · 氣功 is a broad family of practices integrating posture or movement, breathing and focused attention. Health-oriented Tai Chi is often described as a form of qigong, but Tai Chi also retains martial, cultural and lineage dimensions.
NCCIH guide to qigong ↗Practice wisely
Soft does not mean careless.
- Keep knees tracking comfortably with the feet; reduce depth before strain appears.
- Use a chair or wall while exploring single-leg balance.
- Let breathing remain natural rather than forcing deep or prolonged patterns.
- Seek medical advice for significant balance, cardiovascular or joint concerns.
- Study martial applications and advanced breath work with a qualified teacher.
Continue the study
Tai Chi and Traditional Chinese Medicine.
Explore their connections, different histories and the evidence for health-focused practice.