What is the difference between yoga and tai chi

Yoga originated from the Brahmanical practice system of ancient India, and ultimately points to the connection and alignment of the body and spirit. Tai Chi was born out of the foundation of traditional Chinese Taoist thought and martial arts, and its core is the dynamic balance of yin and yang that conforms to nature.

I have been practicing these two sports for almost ten years, and I felt particularly clearly when I took a novice experience class last week. In the yoga class, when doing the mountain pose, I have to break everyone's feet one by one, requiring the five toes to spread wide to grip the ground, the knees to align with the second toe, the core to be tucked in, the ribs to sink, and the top of the head to look for the sky. The entire force is pulled up from the soles of the feet. In the second half, rest meditation is added, requiring everyone to completely return their attention to their own breathing. The sounds from the outside world and the numbness in the body must be slowly peeled away, and finally the whole person is in a state of inward retraction. When it comes to the Tai Chi experience class, it's completely the opposite. The first requirement for standing on the Wuji Pole is to relax, sink your shoulders, and sit with your hips. The whole person's energy is "punched" into the ground. When walking on the cloud hand, I will ask everyone to imagine holding a half-floating hydrogen balloon in their hands. It can't be big or small. If the wind is blowing next to you, it's okay to move your hands in the direction of the wind. When practicing, your attention is distracted. You have to take into account your own center of gravity and be aware of the surrounding environment. The whole person is in a state of being in harmony with the environment.

Nowadays, many people feel that there is not much difference between the two. After all, flow yoga and yin yoga in the gym also focus on stretching and relaxation. The simplified 24-style Tai Chi in the park also slowly moves the muscles and bones. Many classes even combine yoga stretching with Tai Chi stances for warm-up. There are many people who hold objections. Senior yoga practitioners will feel that fitness yoga that only practices postures has completely lost the core of yoga. At best, it is aerobics adapted from yoga movements. The inheritors of traditional Tai Chi will also feel that simplified Tai Chi has taken away the winding strength and offensive and defensive logic, and is essentially radio gymnastics for the elderly. Both of these opinions are actually reasonable. After all, many improved versions are originally tailored to adapt to the public's fitness needs, and are not originally intended to touch the core cultural part.

If you are just looking for a gentle exercise to move your shoulders and neck and improve back pain caused by sitting for a long time, then it doesn’t matter which one you choose, or even a mix of exercises. But if you really dig deeper, you will find that people who have practiced yoga for a long time are more or less concerned about their own status, and even a little "alone". People who have practiced Tai Chi for a long time pay more attention to the relationship with the people around them and the adaptation to the environment. To put it bluntly, the two cultures have different backgrounds engraved in the movement. In the end, they will practice a lifestyle that they agree with.