OCR Text |
Show Friday, 5. June 1998 The Daily Utah Chronicle - 9 4 ! r I' A 7 -- dim,. ' r ilw S ,Ph N 182 tai chi from page 8 the Yangtze River. The three harmonies in movement: breath, weight and hands cultivate the effortless power and coordination fundamental to tai chi, Parkinson explained. The play of opposition expressed by the tai chi symbol is manifested kinetically in the exercise; every movement is circular and out of each motion comes its opposite. One sinks down before rising, pulls back before reaching out, moves left in order to swing right. The principles of tai chi are simie lar to those of martial self-defens- arts, but the exercise is also prac ticed alone for health and meditation. Tai chi helps the body to become balanced through relieving tension and stress. It also facilitates the circulation of blood and chi, which is vide strength, breathe in to pull The origins of tai chi chuan arc obscure. Over a thousand years ago a Chinese philosopher king and Buddhist monks of Shao-Lipracticed dances and exercises to cure people of disease and improve back. In learning tai chi chuan, the most difficult aspect is memorizing the sequence, n according to Parkinson. "In the long form there arc 108 movements to memorize. It's easy breath, life force and energy, Parkinson said. "It puts the mind and body at ease," said Parkinson, "allowing the body to avoid disease. It's viewed by some almost as a panacea." The "form" is a precisely choreographed sequence of motion, five minutes to an hour long, depending on which form you learn. Tai chi is enacted in slow motion and is accompanied by deep, regular breathing. Each motion flows with the breath: exhale to sink, inhale to rise; breathe out to pro to do, Tai chi chuan is filled with an internal vitality. To unite the body and the mind, one must learn to think the motion and move the thought. "Tai chi is one of the best things people can learn as a life long physical health. The chuan was reworked with an emphasis on hard to remember," Parkinson said. The direction and placement of each part of one's body is specifically directed by the form. The body learns only by doing, activity," Parkinson said. "Western exercise is sports- - or military shao-li- n scien- breathing and inner control by the bigger, faster, Taoist monk Chang the stronger. Tai chi is purely acknowledged "creator" of tai chi making one healthy and chuan. happy." Parkinson will teach a class summer Chang lived sometime between the 12th and 14th centuries. He is quarter on campus Thursday nights a mythical character who was said from 9 p.m. in the performing arts to perform marvelous feats. building (Theatre 524) ami at the U's ce-oriented: San-fcn- so daily practice is important. Traditionally, tai chi chuan is health-oriente- g, 6-- taught with no verbal explanation; one merely follows the teacher. Most Western classes have verbal instruction, however, as docs Parkinson's classes at the U. Since that time tai chi has Park City and Sandy satellite campuses. In the fall, the course number will evolved through various masters who developed it into what wc know today. University Credit Union be your first step when planning the LetSummer. ULIe offer some of the best loon rates in the Salt Lake Valley for boats, change to 3210 for the semester KB watercraft, recreation vehicles, and new or used cars. University Credit Union is also your source for: Home mortgage loans Home equity loans Signature loans up to $1 5,000.00 find a full t, line of Checkmate convenient louu-cos- VISA ; ., products: j? .... - 4 z ' , , . $ 7 4 i , ! Debit Classic I f . N x. ?v ' v-r- - Gold Wl - all with competitive interest rates that will help 'J keep your vacation more affordable. one of our eight branches today, or apply over the phone. Call 481 - 8800. Membership, Loan, and VISA applications can also be accessed throuah our web site Call or visit , AT at iuuuw.uaedltu.com. ,. ' , 4 " " s 'V .'.:'!: Bookstore 5841045 V' Health Sciences 584 1060 j Park Research , 584 1010. . 1 yI ? f- : , - Annex ' 584-105- 5 -- -- -- , v Plus nine campus flTAAs - . and ; ; "branch offices In Brickyard, ; tocconwooo, anoy, ana draper. T G R E D 5 IT UNION V r. ONCUA ' ',i All loans available on' Approvea Credit; i |