T'ai Chi in a Chair: Easy 15-Minute Routines for Beginners [Paperback]

Quarta (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 1, 2001

Simple stretches you can do anywhere-at your desk, on your couch, or even in your car!

Visit any public park in America in the morning and you'll see them-groups of people of all ages practicing the ancient and beneficial martial art called tai chi. Tai chi has been proven to lower blood pressure, improve fitness, and provide overall relaxation and well-being. Now, it's even easier!

Originally designed for the elderly, these adaptations of traditional tai chi exercises are simple and straightforward while retaining all of the important health benefits of the original movements. You can get fit without exhausting sweaty workouts. And all you need is a chair-no props, no special clothing, no VCR!

- Includes one complete routine and five 15-minute mini-routines. - Special bonus chapter on acupressure points. - Illustrated throughout with line drawings.

This book will appeal to the millions of people who want to start exercising but can't find the time, or who are intimidated by the thought of joining a gym.

- These exercises can be done in the privacy of your home. - Appeals to busy executives as well as homemakers and retired people. - First book of its kind!

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Cynthia Quarta is a t’ai chi instructor who has studied martial arts for years. She lives in Montana.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

From the Introduction:

“Within the pages of this book is a comprehensive wellness program based on the Yang style of T’ai Chi Chu’an along with an easy-to-understand guide to the healing benefits of acupressure and self-massage. You may choose to use Chapter 3, which comprises the hour-long seated exercises, or you may prefer to practice the fifteen-minute daily exercise routines that contain a list of helpful acupressure points to enhance the healing quality of each day’s exercises, as described in Chapter4. No matter which routine you select, the soft, flowing, painless movements of seated T’ai Chi will help you to achieve your ideal weight by stimulating your natural energy. This energy will flow to and through your body’s organs and systems while your bones, muscles, and joints are being exercised and strengthened. In addition, Chapter 5 provides directions for locating acupressure points that will speed recovery and alleviate pain for anything from a toothache to a broken bone. Regardless of your age, gender, or level of physical fitness—without ever leaving your living room—this seated T’ai Chi program will increase your energy, optimize your feeling of well-being, and bring your ‘self’ into harmony with your surroundings.”

Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Fair Winds Press (July 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 193141260X
• ISBN-13: 978-1931412605
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.9 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #642,819 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Tai Chi in a Chair, October 9, 2001

By 

Wanda S. Diekhans,LCPC (Fort Benton, MT USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: T'ai Chi in a Chair: Easy 15-Minute Routines for Beginners (Paperback)

This book is written with clear, concise instructions. It also gives quality background, research, historical data of T'ai Chi.The book outlines the health benefits gained when following a simple fifteen minute seated T'ai Chi exercise program. The exercise regiment contained within these pages can be used by anyone regardless of age or health handicap. Beginners as well as those who participate in daily exercise routines will reap the benefits of involving themselves in an exercise program using T'ai Chi in a Chair. It will allow muscles to gain flexibility without causing injury to the participant. I was amazed at how well the author accomplishes the task of instructing the reader in a simple, uncomplicated manner. Investing in this work is an investment in health.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great book for wheelchair users..., May 26, 2004

By 

Heather Cranor-Thrall "RottmommieVT" (Springfield, OR) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: T'ai Chi in a Chair: Easy 15-Minute Routines for Beginners (Paperback)

I'm an active paraplegic, and finding any good workout guides is difficult to say the least. This book works really well for me. I recommend it highly.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars tai chi chair VIDEO/DVD, August 28, 2004

By 

grasshopper wisdom "grasshopper" (palo alto, ca) - See all my reviews

This review is from: T'ai Chi in a Chair: Easy 15-Minute Routines for Beginners (Paperback)

there is another tai chi chair, which is
video... both VHS and DVD on AMAZON by cindy MASON,
but its hard to find for
some reason. it is ASIN B0002TJHBW (DVD)
and ASIN B0002TSJHC6 (VHS)... it is being
used at stanford health library, mass general,
and several companies have now gotten it for
their employees... its just been released.
and that may be why amazon doesn't have a lot
of links yet, although it is in their stock...
i think this book
is good in that it helps fill in knowledge,
but if you are visual like i am, you might
want to add the video by Mason.