Beginner Tai Chi DVD [2008] by Stephen Luff Europe Version Available. For USA version Send email Request.

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Having retired from very active jobs my wife and I needed an exercise form appropriate to our age and life style. First we tried to teach ourselves Tai Chi by DVD and then by attending classes. Being left unsatisfied by the first and confused by the second a friend introduced us to Stephen Luff's DVD. It is easy to follow and is just what a beginner needs to be able to practice the exercises and movements at home in between the weekly classes. Having now met and attended a session with Stephen I whole heartedly recommend this DVD to any beginner. The movements and the reasons for those movements are clearly explained. The instructor is filmed in a way that allows the viewer to see the whole of the movement, feet, body and arms. The accompanying commentary is excellent.

This beginners Tai-Chi DVD is extremely well designed and produced. The structure of the 'program' creates for a real and deep learning experience that many other DVDs fail to achieve. If you seek a practical and effective way to improve your health and well-being this DVD is a great investment and your time will be well spent in following Stephen's guidance and expertise!.

This is a really excellent DVD. Stephen Luff has a calm, clear and sensible approach to Tai Chi and a very pleasant voice - important when you are potentially watching a DVD over and over again. It could be used as a stand alone introduction to Tai Chi but, as he has developed his own version of the Form, might not suit anyone wanting to follow a defined set of moves as part of their night school class etc. 
I particularly liked the extras, and the Warming Up the Joints routine is fantastic. Works very gently, head to toe (literally) but in the calmest and easiest way imaginable. I have never before enjoyed a series of exercises to the point where I actually look forward to doing them, especially if I need to loosen tight muscles in the neck and shoulders. Within a few days, they were familiar enough to be able to do without reference to the DVD. 
I can't recommend this DVD enough. A friend bought a copy after simply watching the Warming Up routine, and I have just ordered another copy to give to a relative - again mainly for the exercise routine. 
I have been loaned three other Tai Chi videos, none of which suited me. This one I bought after reading the reviews on Amazon.

This is a great DVD to start learning Tai Chi. I have had three operations on my lower back and was finding it hard to get around and my posture was bad but after doing beginner Tai Chi with Stephen I have found that my walking has improved and my posture is alot better. When I do the Tai Chi I feel very relaxed and so much better and find my back isn't so tight. I would recomend this video to anyone.

Product Review Continued

Its very important that our first Tai Chi routines are Simple and Effective. This encourages our confidence and we then explore further.

The routines on this DVD are all facing forwards. This is the quickest way to learn Tai Chi Routines. To shift into a more Tranquil vibration and mindset one needs to practice slow relaxing movements with focus. The shift takes around 3 to 4 minutes to take effect. The Tai Chi Routine contains 11 movements with included guided energy visualisations to activate the Qi Energy.

The Qi Gong is a more passive routine - activating the internal Qi energy through visualisation - combined with slow and static postures. Any of the routines can be performed separately or together.

The Beginner Tai Chi Routine is based on Sun Style Tai Chi. The gentle warm up is based on Fa Soong Gong of the Hun Yuan Chen Style System. Also included on the DVD is a Beginner Tai Chi Introduction, Demonstrations of Intermediate Tai Chi Forms of the Yang 24 Forms and The New Sun Style Form :- Zen Cosmic Connection Form. There is also an Introduction to Relaxed Breathing and Tai Chi Posture. Due to the gentle nature of the routines, this is also suitable for seniors.
 

Main Features

• 8 - 12 Minute Tai Chi Routine.
• 16 Minute Warm up routine for loosening up in a gentle way.
• 20 minutes - Qi Gong - An Energy Routine
   
• Learn Tai Chi Immediately
• Very Easy to Follow and Learn
• Get that Special Feeling of well-being and Tranquility Immediately
   
• Easy to learn from this DVD.
• This routine can be followed and learnt by anyone with or without experience
• This Tai Chi Routine is a GENUINE BEGINNER Routine.
   
• Best of all, a beginner routine that lasts between 8 to 12 minutes, achieving a sustained experience.
• Only 11 sequences to learn - all simple movements - no complicated stepping - teaching the old proper ways, in a new format.
   
• Very space efficient - only requires a small space to perform.

I have chosen a style of Tai Chi known as Sun Style. This style of Tai Chi has some simple hand movements that contain powerful Qi (Life energy) Energy in them. So one gets Simplicity with full Qi Energy.

This routine is achievable by anyone.

Everyone I've taught this Routine to completes it. They practice it at work, at home, indoors or outdoors. It's very compact yet delivers the relaxation and sense of well-being that Tai Chi is so good at creating.

Developing more focus on the Tai Chi Routine

 I wish to convey the wonderful feelings one gets while practicing. Developing energy must still retain the element of fun and freshness. There is tremendous enjoyment in the beauty of moving in a energetic, effortless and graceful way. This is what I want to develop in the Tai Chi World, more emphasis on the Routine Performance while being in the present moment enjoying the experience. It should never, ever feel like a chore or something to be rushed. If you catch yourself doing this, return to relaxation and move into timelessness.

This DVD is very unique. You won't have ever seen anything like it. I wanted to give it personality, make it human. I wanted to put in a Tai Chi DVD what I always wanted to see covered, and get a feel of the personality of the performer and Instructor.

     Qi Gong - Cultivating Energy

One of the areas of Tai Chi Practice is Qi Gong. This is Energy work.

There are various types of Healing Qi Gong. Some routines focus on Internal stimulation through body movement to balance and restore the Energy in the body. In these routines the feeling of Energy is not so strong.

The routine on this DVD is more an Energy routine based on slow movements and static postures. Visualisation and imagined Universal Energy is used to bring out a strong sense of the presence of energy. So this is more a guiding of Energy into the body in a gentle manner. The end result is also to balance and restore the Energy on the body. These more passive routines bring about a very powerful sense of peace, well-being. One generally feels more oneself with less stress and more eternal connection with the present moment.

         Gentle Warm up Routine.

The DVD has a thorough Warm up routine that works all the major joints in the body. Working on loosing the wrists, ankles, shoulders, neck, hips and knees. All movements are performed slowly and without tension and speed.

To get a bit of an idea on how the routine looks I have included some compressed videos on youtube and my video gallery. Remember that compressing videos for display on the Internet greatly reduces the quality of the picture. This is why one doesn’t normally see included video clips of dvds for this reason.

Zenchestnuts Buyer Review

I've now had a chance to look at the DVD, and enjoyed it very much. It's very well put together, both in vision and sound (nicely balanced) - the Tai Chi and the scenery are beautiful too.

 
Since I started teaching, I have been looking for ways to keep the enjoyable feeling in formwork, and not to overface students with too much detail, too soon. I teach a much simpler Sun style form to my beginners, but, for some, I feel the detail can still present a problem. I would like them to try this form to see if it's simplicity helps them not only with their feeling for the form, but also with thinking their way through it, and learning how to remember the sequences.
 
Your demonstrations of subsequent (intermediate) forms could be very inspiring (and helpful) for students of any standard, and I shall have no hesitation in recommending your Dvd to anyone in my classes who inquires.
 
Many thanks,
 
Lesley Maud.