Customer Reviews

Tai Chi for Busy People [VHS]

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1 star:		(1)

 

 

This is a wonderful video -- easy to follow with great explanations and something other t'ai chi videos don't have -- humor! Dr. Keith Jeffery is a very witty guy and his humor really helps one learn the simple, yet effective, t'ai chi moves. This video also has great scenes of wildlife in action that serve to illustrate the origin of the often odd t'ai chi names. Keith performs the t'ai chi moves in gorgeous British Columbia settings, as well as in a well-designed studio setting with a mirror to help the student view his movements from front and back. I have eight t'ai chi videos; this is the best of the bunch and the only one I view/do on a regular basis. Buy it!

I was surprised that starting this tape at the end of a tiring day got me up on my feet repeatedly as a willing participant (with no experience)! Yes, the amiable Keith talks a lot, but "you have control" with your remote, and short sessions are designated. The message is sound and positive, though, and the beach scenes and background sounds are peaceful. He uses a wall mirror and you view him from the back like you're in his class to learn the 5-minute (although extendable), easy-to-memorize "infinite nine" form. The best part of this long and thorough tape is the last sequence, where breathing is finally added, making this the closest to swimming I've felt on dry land. I accomplished my purpose -- to improve my balance in my less competitively athletic mid life -- and more. It's the perfect way to start or end the day and one can't argue that there isn't time or space!

I just got this video and was very impressed with the content. Unlike most other tai chi tapes it's not just a demonstration of the movements, but an explanation of the principles, the benefits, and the self defense application.

The video is well designed to learn the movements in short stints. Dr. Jeffrey demonstrates with his back to you but facing a mirror so you don't have to go the opposite way while learning. Why haven't others thought of this way of teaching before.

The movements are chunked into easy to learn bits. This way you can learn one small set and practice that till you've learned it, and then move on. This is in opposition to most other tapes I've seen that do too much at once.

Time is spent on balance and posture which a previous reviewer panned, but I would say is a very important and valuable part of the tape. If you understand why you do the movements in certain ways you will learn them better.

I would commend Dr. Jeffrey on the amount of thought that went into the pedogogical parts of the tape. You can learn a short form of tai chi, understand what you should get from each movement, and then reap the rewards from practice.

Just great.

I can't say enough about Keith Jeffery's wonderful video, "Tai Chi for Busy People". Within 30 minutes of receiving the tape I was practicing and enjoying Tai Chi. Jeffery provides a lengthy step by step explanation of each move, breaking the move down into individual motions. The explanation is followed by a single complete run-through of the move with a few words of guidance as you make each motion. This two-part approach is very effective in teaching you the move motion by motion and then letting you practice it. The setting of the run-throughs in serene natural scenes with peaceful music is profoundly restful.

Ironically, Jeffery's approach requires patience during the long explanations, but patience will be rewarded as you will be doing beautiful, graceful Tai Chi in a just a few minutes. Eventually, when you have learned each move, you can simply fast forward to the end and follow along as Jeffery leads you in a complete run-through of all of the moves put together into a 5-minute routine for daily performance. You will experience not only the pleasure Tai Chi in five minutes a day, but also the peace and serenity for which Tai Chi is so renowned.

And one last word...if I can do it, anybody can! I've always been a klutz, but the practice of Tai Chi actually makes me feel more graceful.

Dr. Jeffrey has made Tai Chi learning inspirational. Tai Chi is not really that easy, but he makes things much easier to understand and a lot of fun to do! Highly recommended for anyone who wants to learn Tai Chi or just simply wants to know what Tai Chi is.

I expected the best from this video per other viewers' reviews but was very upset as I viewed it. There is so little time spent on the movements.
This video goes on and on with lengthy explanation and very little
instruction. It was a great disappointment.