Tai Chi for Beginners-8 Lessons

Very good introduction to Tai Chi. Easy to follow and understand the movements . Great for beginners.

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 DVD I. How to Use this Program II. Introduction III. Stay Safe IV. Eight Lessons with Dr. Lam (the following sequence occurs 8 times for Lessons #1 – #8) A. Welcome B. Warm Up Exercises C. Learn Through Lesson # (previous lesson) D. Learn New Forms E. Learn Through Lesson # (current lesson) F. Cool Down Exercises G. Message V. Demonstration by Dr. Lam (front facing) VI. Demonstration by Dr. Lam (back facing) VII. The Six Easy Steps A. Step 1 – One Warm Up Exercises B. Step 2 – Two Stretching Exercises for each part of the body 1. Neck 2. Shoulders 3. Hips 4. Knees 5. Ankles C. Step 3 – Three Cooling Down Exercises 1. Punching Thigh 2. Tense and Relax 3. Gathering Qi D. Step 4 – Four Qigong Exercises 1. The Posture of Infinity 2. The Posture of Tai Chi 3. The Posture of Opening and Closing 4. The Posture of Yin-Yang Harmony E. Step 5 – Five Foundational Movements 1. Stepping Forward 2. Parting the Wild Horse’s Mane 3. Brush Knee 4. Stepping Backwards 5. Repulse the Monkey F. Step 6 – Tai Chi – The Beginner’s Set 1. Commencement 2. Parting the Wild Horse’s Mane 3. White Crane Flashing Wings 4. Brush Knee 5. Playing the Lute 6. Repulse the Monkey 7. Closing

It was ok, ended up going to a class. Too slow and i needed someone to make me get going and do it.. The CD still sits in the CD player. ( alone and sad) But it was good, slow ...easy to follow. Really for the beginner. After going to class, i realized i could of done it by myself. but the motivation was not there. I really helps my balance a ton. IF YOUR THE MOTIVATED SORT OF PERSON....

Dr. Paul Lam does an excellent job of introducing Tai Chi to beginning students. His step by step process, repeating each move and demonstrating the parts of the moves really helps someone new to Tai Chi to grasp the concepts. Both my husband and I were newcomers to Tai Chi. As senior citizens, we were unsure if we'd be able to learn to do the basics. We have now (pretty much) mastered the basic movements in a short time, and have just purchased the 24 Forms video by Dr. Lam as our next step. Tai Chi is wonderful for balance and stress relief. And Dr. Paul is the best to learn from! I highly recommend this video.

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...?

Bought this for my son for home PE and he really loves it. Dr Lam is a wonderful instructor and makes following along and encouraging great. Highly recommended for any new comer to Tai chi.

I joined a local Tai Chi class and was struggling to understand and follow the instructor. I was reluctant to buy a CD and just go it alone because I seriously wanted a good introduction so I can use Tai Chi as I age into my 70's. Dr Lam's CD is very good for a beginner like me. Clear no nonsense instruction with understandable explanations of how, why, and when to use Tai Chi as a lifelong exercise. Well worth the price to get started on the right foot.

I like that it's slow and step by step the breathing and Meditation will come once I learn the moves more fluidly

Very prompt delivery. DVD is absolute rubbish, all talk and very little worthwhile demonstration of exercises. I do NOT recommend this DVD.very disappointed.