Customer Reviews

Discover Tai Chi for Beginners: Workout Essentials

5 star:		(4)
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3 star:		(1)
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however, you have to listen to a lot of New Age blabber. If you don't have much time to spend, have never done Tai Chi before, and you need a workout that is not too physically demanding, scott Cole's program really will fill the bill. However, this is not the traditional short form and the individual positions are performed differently by Cole (though they are easier to do) than by traditional Tai Chi teachers. Paul Lam's Tai Chi - The 24 Forms is a much better place to start if you've had some Tai Chi background or you want to learn according to the traditional style. Lam's DVD is detailed and precise, and includes 6 Qigong exercises as well. Personally, I found Cole's DVD a good springboard to get back into Tai Chi, but probably won't view it again now that I've stumbled across Paul Lam. Lam (a medical doctor) also has Tai Chi programs for people with diabetes, arthritis, folks who are over 50, and for absoulte beginners who need an easier introduction. But most of all, no New Age mental clutter to distract you from the beauty of the Tai Chi movements.

"...because he is alive to difficulty. That is why he meets with no difficulty." ~Lao Tzu

Firstly this workout DVD has so many features it was quite amazing. If you are new to Tai Chi this is a perfect place to start. The music is soothing and exotic, the scenery is beautiful and the instructor's voice is calming.

Secondly, I could actually do the workout on the first try. Tai Chi looks difficult when it is done too quickly. On many other DVDs I felt that I could not learn the moves fast enough so I gave up. Scott Cole moves at a perfect pace.

Scott Cole focuses on guiding you through Tai Chi postures and training techniques. He blends martial and healing arts in order to empower you and motivate you to move in a healing direction. He was named one of the Top 5 Fitness Instructors in the world and has appeared in over 300 publications worldwide.

DVD Contents:

1. Play Features - Plays all the features

2. Chapter Selections - Pushing the Wave, Beautiful Woman Turns Her Waist, Grounded Chi Journey in Hawaii, Parting Horses Mane

3. Special Features - Postures with Narration, Postures With Music, Workbook Slideshow, Hawaii Workout to Music.

4. Audio Features - Dolby Digital 2.0 and 5.1

The benefits of this DVD are immediately apparent:

Renewed Strength
Upper Body Warming - blood flow definitely increases in the upper body.
Increased Flexibility
Increase in Energy and Confidence

This Tai Chi workout is the best I've ever tried. It was easy to learn the exercises and I also had a few great laughs because, well, some of the postures and movements are rather funny the first time you do them.

Once you have learned the moves you can then try the workouts with just music. Once you have memorized the workouts you may find yourself wanting to do the exercises outside. The exercise routines can be done almost anywhere and you need very little space to do them indoors at home.

~TheRebeccaReview.com

I have been doing Tai Chi in my home in front of the TV now for about 8 weeks. Scott Cole presents the material in an easy to digest way and keeps it light and interesting. I own this disc and the AM/PM workout disc. This disc is a little more advanced than the AM/PM workout disc in my opinion, but it doesn't move too fast. I would recommend the AM/PM disc if you haven't studied any martial arts before. I think that the postures in the AM/PM disc are a little easier to do than the moves on this disc.

That said, I think this disc is also appropriate for a beginner. The disc presents an introductory workout that gets the juices flowing. The disc menu is organized to help you do the workout, but also to get additional help on the postures. All of the moves are available from the postures menu. This is a good feature in my opinion - you can review any posture you are having problems with.

Overall I really like the disc. One complaint that I do have is that the default audio is stereo. The default should be Dolby digital 5.1. The DVD player and TV can convert that signal to stereo so why make that the default mode? Anyway, enjoy.

Cheers,

Chris

This is a great video for anyone starting out with tai chi. The pace is perfect. A section of extras takes you through additional postures and a do-it-yourself segment of extra music.
I would greatly recomend this dvd or along with the rest of the series. It's refreshing to have an "instructor" that does not take away from the exercise.

My 8 yr old son and I have started an exercise regime. Since my father has been involved in the martial arts all of his life, us kids really never got involved with him on a regular basis - it was his freedom, his release. Well, after 17 years away from home, I have decided to try Tai Chi out for myself. Now, I am familiar with the basics, but you do not have to be with this DVD. My son had no problem keeping up, and even my girls (3 & 5) got into the routine and learned a few of the moves. I now know why my dad faithfully did his Tai Chi (and still does!. I feel energized, and it really does help in releasing stress! It is a great way to get the kids moving as it is low impact and as my son says - it looks cool. I will keep an eye out for more like these, but more advanced as I really enjoyed Scott Cole's approach, teaching techniques, and of course how great he looks doing these fluid motions - I only hope to look that graceful!

The start of the DVD, where you have to go through all the company's crud that made the DVD, is really really annoying. Scott is fairly easy to follow, but I'm still not all the way through the DVD. I wish he went into some stretches, and how you're supposed to breathe and all a bit more; he goes a bit fast, sometimes. Which may seem a strange complaint, given he's moving in slooooow motion, but this is the very first time I've ever tried this stuff; I'm not just in it to learn the forms, I'm in a remote area and have no other way to learn this stuff. I guess I was hoping for a bit more of an introduction to Tai Chi; but if you already have a bit of experience in yoga or martial arts, and just want to learn & practice with the basic forms, this is a good DVD.

This is my first encounter with Tai Chi and I found Scott very easy to follow. I am now waiting to receive the AM/PM DVD's. I will make this a part of my life.