Tai Chi for Beginners-8 Lessons

I am just beginning to learn Tai Chi and taking a class once per week. The teacher is a lovely woman, but all we do is follow her movements (as she faces the class – unfortunately), which are different each time (except for the warm up exercises) – I am learning nothing about Tai Chi itself and I basically feel like a clumsy idiot. This five-hour instructional DVD provides an overview of relevant Tai Chi information, as well as clear verbal and visual (including both front-facing and back facing views) explanations for each and every movement noted below. Dr. Lam is highly knowledgeable, wonderfully encouraging and beautifully graceful. By following his guidance for a few months, it might be a pleasure to rejoin the live class. The DVD includes the following:Tai Chi for Beginners DVDI. How to Use this ProgramII. IntroductionIII. Stay SafeIV. Eight Lessons with Dr. Lam(the following sequence occurs 8 times for Lessons #1 – #8)A. WelcomeB. Warm Up ExercisesC. Learn Through Lesson # (previous lesson)D. Learn New FormsE. Learn Through Lesson # (current lesson)F. Cool Down ExercisesG. MessageV. Demonstration by Dr. Lam (front facing)VI. Demonstration by Dr. Lam (back facing)VII. The Six Easy StepsA. Step 1 – One Warm Up ExercisesB. Step 2 – Two Stretching Exercises for each part of the body1. Neck2. Shoulders3. Hips4. Knees5. AnklesC. Step 3 – Three Cooling Down Exercises1. Punching Thigh2. Tense and Relax3. Gathering QiD. Step 4 – Four Qigong Exercises1. The Posture of Infinity2. The Posture of Tai Chi3. The Posture of Opening and Closing4. The Posture of Yin-Yang HarmonyE. Step 5 – Five Foundational Movements1. Stepping Forward2. Parting the Wild Horse’s Mane3. Brush Knee4. Stepping Backwards5. Repulse the MonkeyF. Step 6 – Tai Chi – The Beginner’s Set1. Commencement2. Parting the Wild Horse’s Mane3. White Crane Flashing Wings4. Brush Knee5. Playing the Lute6. Repulse the Monkey7. Closing

A friend asked me to order this, and he uses it as part of his work out to stay limber. He has a lot of old injuries and he says this helps him stay limber where he can get around and not stiffen up

It may be slow for some but that is Tai Chi. Slow careful movements. The master is very patient and careful in teaching and gives time for students to pick up the methods. Not fancy. Does the job well of teaching beginners.

Lessons were well paced and reasonably easy to follow. Note, however, that all of this material is included in the follow-on DVD by Dr. Lam, "Tai Chi the 24 Forms". But this "Tai Chi Beginners" DVD is a bit better organized IMO.

This Tai-Chi CD is a calming workout. It’s for beginners. If you watch it; it looks easy but when doing it for the 1st time it’s not so easy for a senior citizen with bad balance. I’ll continue to practice cause I believe it will help my balance.

This tape is really good for beginners in tai chi or those who have already taken classes and just want to start doing it at home. Easy to understand and follow.

I am taking Tai Chi lessons and I bought this dvd to practice at home as my instructor uses Dr Paul Lam's techniques. I found that I understand the movements much better when using the dvd at home than in the class. Dr Lam instructs you very slowly and clearly; the movements are more precise and simplified. You are able to go back and repeat a lesson if you are not confident that you are doing it correctly. The warm up section is great for gaining balance, confidence and peacefulness. If all I have time for are the warm up movements and lesson one I still have a calm, relaxed feeling when I head out the door. One of the best things about this dvd is that you can practice over and over again in the privacy of your own home and not be concerned if you make a mistake; you can just keep moving and do not have to be concerned about keeping the pace with the rest of the class.I purchased this dvd from Amazon.com and I am completely satisfied and happy with the purchase!

Dr. Lam explains basic Tai Chi clearly and slowly, in a friendly manner, with a lot of repetition, so this CD is good for beginners like me. Exercises are often presented with one person facing you, and the other facing away, which is good when you are trying to keep left and right straight. Unfortunately, the virtue of the presentation is also its main problem. Once you start to learn, the slow-paced repetition of basic moves becomes tedious. I haven't tried other Tai Chi methods, so I don't have anything to compare this too. I would not try to discourage someone from trying it. You just have to be ready with time and patience--which is sort of what Tai Chi is about anyway, isn't it...?