All Tai Chi is for seniors because all Tai Chi works through relaxed coordination and harmony rather than through rigid postures. The Sun style is particularly suited to our aging bodies because its natural expression requires only a gentle knee flex. It relies on closed steps, meaning less stress on our muscles. It combines relaxing steps with naturally coordinated upper body moves. There’s no need to segregate or simplify the form just because you’re at a certain age.
Other activities don’t come up with new forms or styles for players as they age. Golf, Tennis, Running, Swimming, Yoga. The activity doesn’t change. The method of participating may change; the amount of exertion or flexibility may change, but the game remains the same.
If a Tennis player wants a less demanding game, he or she may take up Pickle Ball – but that’s not called tennis for seniors. That’s a whole new game. I’m not sure it’s even less demanding, but my point is that if the rules change, it’s a different game.
If someone wants to sell a slow motion Chinese exercise aimed at senior citizens, that’s a fine marketing ploy. But it’s just dishonest to water down the practice and still call it Tai Chi. It’s little better to suggest that it’s something special for seniors when it’s not. All Tai Chi is for seniors because there’s nothing about getting older that stops people from learning how to harmonize their body, mind and spirit. Ultimately, that’s the essence of Tai Chi Chuan.
By its nature and by design Tai Chi is a gentle exercise that emphasizes safe movement as the foundation of a complete physical, mental and wholehearted practice. Traditionally Tai Chi has been practiced by people of all ages. Some of the most famous players have been Seniors. You can see videos of 118 year old Grandmaster Lu Zijian on You Tube.
Creation of the Sun Style of Tai Chi Chuan
Founder of the Sun Style, Sun Lu Tang, created his namesake form when he was 52 years old as an art that he knew he could develop for the rest of his life. Sun was a renowned martial artist of several more aggressive styles. He knew that he would not be able to continue to perform those styles indefinitely. When circumstances took him to the aid of the founder of the Wu style, Wu repaid him by teaching him Tai Chi. Sun combined the moves and the principles of Wu style Tai Chi with his Baqua and Shin Yi forms to create the Sun style of Tai Chi Chuan. Sun saw that he could not do ALL martial arts for the rest of his life. But he knew he could make all Tai Chi for seniors. Sun practiced up until he died at age 73 in 1933. That might not seem very old but life expectancy in China as late as 1950 was only 41, so his age has to be considered in context.
Sun did more than create a new form with a gentle knee flex and smoothly flowing upper body movements. He also integrated a whole minded approach to the practice, emphasizing the realization of the energy of the Universe through the practice of Tai Chi Chuan. In many ways, he is considered the father of the modern blending of body, mind and spirit in the practice of Tai Chi.
Tai Chi is a Lifetime Practice
Sun Jian Yun, his daughter, practiced her Tai Chi until her death at age 90 in 2003. Anecdotally we have all seen the videos of large groups of people practicing Tai Chi in Chinese parks. They’re not doing some special form, just normal Tai Chi for their own health and longevity.
Why Learn a Complete Tai Chi Style
So now we know that people of all ages can learn the complete Sun Style Tai Chi form. But you may wonder why you should learn a 20 plus minute form that will take you a full year of dedicated study. There are several very good reasons.
First, you need that much daily exercise anyway. Studies come and studies go. Recommendations on how much exercise you need seem to change almost monthly. But 30 minutes a day of exercise is what the Mayo clinic currently recommends. That figure has been recommended by many studies over the years and is conservative. For weight loss, you need more.
Mental Rigor of Tai Chi
Second, you need the mental rigor to keep your brain flexible. Your brain needs exercise too. People engage in brain flexibility games and strategies just for that purpose. By learning Tai Chi you’re multitasking in the most organic way possible. You’re using your brain both because the moves are quite foreign to our western way of moving and simply because of the need to remember 20 minutes of movements.
Balance
Third, you need the balance and perspective that comes with learning a complete form where you actually move left after moving right and you move up after moving down and forward after moving backward. In abbreviated forms, you only get a taste of the complete balance inherent in the complete Sun Style form.
Expanding Perspective
Fourth, you will expand your perspective by not only learning about but feeling, tasting and realizing the Chinese way of being in harmony in the universe. This isn’t some exotic eastern perspective. It’s shared by the greatest philosophers and mystics of the west as well. But Tai Chi focuses your body and your mind on knowledge that is otherwise likely just a fuzzy memory from an introductory philosophy course.
Tai Chi flows you right into harmony with your body, mind and spirit so you can live healthier longer.