Tai Chi For Dummies

The ultimate mind, body, and soul workout!

Your essential hands–on guide to the 5,000–year–old practice of T´ai Chi

Exercise is good for the body and soul. Let Therese Iknoian show you how to energize, find inner peace, and tone your muscles with the gentle art of T´ai Chi. Filled with illustrations and step–by–step instructions on T´ai Chi′s Yang 24–Movement Form, as well as Qigong and Push Hands, this friendly guide helps you unite a flexible body with a balanced mind.

THE DUMMIES WAY®
Explanations in plain English
Get in, get out information
Icons and other navigational aids
Online cheat sheet
Top ten lists
A dash of humor and fun

Discover how to:
Increase balance and flexibility
Combat fatigue and reduce stress
Tone your muscles
Tap into your energy
Breathe mindfully and meditate
Enhance your sense of peace and well–being

Get Smart!
www.dummies.com

Find listings of all our books Choose from many different subject categories Sign up for eTips at
etips.dummies.com

Introduction.

About This Book.

Why You Need This Book.

How to Use This Book.

Conventions Used in This Book.

How This Book Is Organized.

Part I: Stepping Up to T′ai Chi.

Part II: Preparing to T′ai One On.

Part III: Knocking on T′ai Chi′s Door.

Part IV: Energizing Softly with Qigong.

Part V: Making the Most of Your Practice.

Part VI: The Part of Tens.

Icons Used in This Book.

Where Do I Go from Here?

Part I: Stepping Up to T′ai Chi.

Chapter 1: Matching T′ai Chi′s Mind–Body Benefits to Your Needs.

Chapter 2: Evaluating T′ai Chi′s Health Benefits with a Western Mind.

Chapter 3: Building the Mind–Body Foundation.

Chapter 4: Sowing Your T′ai Chi Seeds Mindfully.

Part II: Preparing to T′ai One On.

Chapter 5: Saying Hello to the Founding Families.

Chapter 6: Scaling the Peaks of T′ai Chi Practice.

Chapter 7: Internalizing the Principles.

Part III: Knocking on T′ai Chi′s Door.

Chapter 8: Building the Basics.

Chapter 9: Opening the Door, Yang–Style.

Chapter 10: Keeping the Flow, Yang–Style.

Chapter 11: Closing the Door, Yang–Style.

Chapter 12: Trying Out Manny′s Short Form.

Part IV: Energizing Softly with Qigong.

Chapter 13: Recognizing the T′ai Chi–Qigong Bond.

Chapter 14: Meditating and Moving the Qigong Way.

Part V: Making the Most of Your Practice.

Chapter 15: Practicing What I Preach.

Chapter 16: Living a T′ai Chi Lifestyle Every Day.

Chapter 17: Trying Mini–Forms.

Chapter 18: Taking a Moment for Qigong.

Chapter 19: Combining Qigong and T′ai Chi.

Part VI: The Part of Tens.

Chapter 20: Ten Benefits of Practicing T′ai Chi.

Chapter 21: Ten Times and Places to Add a Little T′ai Chi to Your Life.

Chapter 22: Ten (Plus One) Ways to Supplement Your T′ai Chi Practice.

Chapter 23: Ten Things to Tell Yourself about Your Practice.

Chapter 24: Ten Wise Taoist Lessons.

Chapter 25: Ten Quotes to Live By.

Appendix.

Index.

Book Registration Information.

Therese Iknoian, author of Mind–Body Fitness For Dummies, is president of the Total Fitness Network Web site and has written for Backpacker, Walking, Fitness, and Woman′s Day.