TAI CHI: COMBINING MEDITATION AND MARTIAL ARTS

The hand movements are an important part of the lessons.

Anne McDonaugh concentrated on a movement during her 10th week of class.

In the Taoist philosophy, "chi" is an intrinsic energy which flows through everyone and everything in the universe. Through the practice of t'ai chi ch'uan, people harness their chi to enhance relaxation and personal health.

Although the roots of t'ai chi ch'uan go back nearly 1,500 years as a martial art, in recent years it has caught on in the United States as a form of exercise and relaxation.

Randy Babb, an avid student of the martial arts for two decades, has been practicing t'ai chi ch'uan for four years. In February he started offering class in t'ai chi ch'uan -- popularly known as tai chi -- at the Sunshine Corner Herb Shop at the corner of Themis and Spanish streets in Cape Girardeau.

"What we know today as tai chi originated in about the 14th Century combining Chinese metaphysics and meditation and Chinese medical principles into the body of martial arts," Babb said.

T'ai chi ch'uan is translated into English as "grand ultimate fist." However, its influences can be traced back to the 5th Century and Shoalin kung fu, Babb said.

"Actually, t'ai chi ch'uan is foremost a martial art. What you see today in the parks is an exercise form of it," he added.

Four distinct styles of it exist today -- chen, the original form; yang; wu; and sun. Babb said the yang style has become the most popular because of its emphasis on health and relaxation over the martial aspects.

Tai chi enthusiasts believe the soft, flowing nature of the body postures combined with the mental imagery and visualization yield a number of health benefits, including reduced stress, better balance, stability, skeletal alignment, flexibility and stimulation of the immune system through movements which stimulate certain glands.

The relaxing qualities of tai chi also promotes quieting the mind of all else except for what the participant is doing at that precise time, temporarily forgetting all else.

"In tai chi you try to stay in the moment," Babb said.

About eight people are currently enrolled in Babb's class, which lasts for 10 weeks. Another class will begin in May and will be conducted, weather permitting, at Cherokee Park.

Babb, who learned tai chi at the Chinese Martial Arts Center in St. Louis, said the popularity of t'ai chi ch'uan is increasing because it not hard on the body like more physically intense activities such as weightlifting or running.

"A lot of exercise people do increase tension on the body," Babb said. "... That has its purposes, but at the same time the body can only handle so much tension. Relaxation has an infinite end to it."

However, just because t'ai chi ch'uan is relaxing doesn't mean it isn't demanding.

"That doesn't mean relaxation is easy. You can spend just as much time and energy learning how to relax as engaging in heavy physical activity," Babb says.

There is both a long form and a short form to the yang style. The long takes about 25 minutes while the short takes only five. However, for maximum benefits it is suggested that those doing the short form repeated it for about 20 minutes at a time, Babb said.

To learn more about upcoming classes, call Babb at 450-1819 or the Sunshine Corner Herb Shop at 335-0885.