Combining Yoga and Tai Chi

Yoga Discussion General Yoga
#21

I practice both Yoga and Tai Chi and have done for 12 years. I find they go together perfectly. I recommend that Yoga practitioners try an internal martial art, and vice versa.

To begin with, it might be better to practice one first and then the other, depending on your background.
On starting Yoga, I had already trained in a few martial arts from a young age, so as a ‘body’ person I could pick things up relatively quickly and differentiate without getting confused.

When you practice Yoga, be doing just that. Same gos with Tai Chi. If you’re a complete beginner to both, dedicate some time to just one. This is the safest way to do things, and avoids confusion. There are many different approaches in both arts as it is, without making things more difficult.

As a point of interest, Tai Chi Chuan evolved out of the Shaolin Arts which in turn were influenced by Yogic techniques.

#22

[QUOTE=Terence;50550] As a point of interest, Tai Chi Chuan evolved out of the Shaolin Arts which in turn were influenced by Yogic techniques.[/QUOTE]

I want to learn more about this. I read that Bodhidharma taught yogasanas to Shaolin monks to develop their physical fitness. Do you know where I can find more info on how yoga influenced Chinese martial arts? Thanks!

#23

Check this book out http://www.shaolintemple.org/publication.htm

Bodhidharma was probably the main Indian influence on Chinese arts in recorded history, though Indian monks had been traveling to China via Tibet for some centuries prior, usually via Tibet. They’d be sharing and swapping ideas along the way, picking up and sharing knowledge.

The ancient Shaolin monastery was a meeting point of various ideas and disciplines, Buddhism, yoga and indigenous Chinese arts. These were added to and developed over the centuries.
Its probable that the biggest influence of yoga in Chinese martial arts can be seen at Shaolin (pre communist era).

#24

Actually, if you are talking historically there is no historical proof that Bodhidharma was ever at Shaolin although at this point I am leaning towards he mightg have been. There is also no historical proof that the person given credit for developing Taijiquan, Zhang Sanfeng, ever existed and sadly I am fairly certain he did not and if he did he did not develope Taijiquan as we know Taijiquan today.

And even if the Bodhidharma story is true there were Martial arts in China before his arrival and not all Chinese martial arts come from Shaolin.

I have done a bit of study on the whole Bodhidharma thing but not much, I have however done an awful lot of Zhang Sanfeng. I tend to be curiosu about the origins of the things I train and I have trained Chinese Martial Arts for a long time and my main art has been Taijiquan for many many years.

#25

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