Tai Chi for Health & Vitality: A Comprehensive Guide to the Short Yang Form (Hamlyn Health & Well Being S.) [Paperback]

Robert Parry (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 28, 2005 | Series: Hamlyn Health & Well Being S.

Tai chi is good for everyone, of any age or fitness level. An experienced tai chi teacher presents one of the most popular styles--the Short Yang form--and shows complete beginners how they too can enjoy its many health benefits. These richly illustrated and information-filled pages make it amazingly easy to follow every move. Generously sized photographs with numbered, comprehensive instructions show all the positions in every sequence. Inset close-ups focus in on details. There's also guidance on shifting body weight and notations on when to inhale and exhale. Begin with a warm-up, and then try narrow stances, diagonal steps, steps that go backwards and sideways, rotations and turns, and closing movements. For easy reference, a summary of movements features 160 mini-photos.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Robert Parry is a tai chi teacher and practitioner of oriental medicine, specializing in acupuncture and shiatsu. He has been actively involved in Eastern systems of exercise for over 30 years. He is the author of a number of books on tai chi.

Product Details

• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: Hamlyn (March 28, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 060061090X
• ISBN-13: 978-0600610908
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 7.6 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #815,471 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Not bad for a book, March 20, 2006

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This review is from: Tai Chi for Health & Vitality: A Comprehensive Guide to the Short Yang Form (Hamlyn Health & Well Being S.) (Paperback)

I am taking a beginning Tai Chi class, in which we are learning the Yang Short form. I bought this book to help me practice and learn the moves in between my once-a-week classes. The book is very well illustrated and the moves are explained clearly. There's also a most helpful visual review of the entire sequence at the end of the book. I also really like the explanations of the health benefits of each move and posture.

I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 for two reasons, both limitations of the book form itself. First, it would be nice if this book had the kind of binding where it would stay open to a page so that you could look at the pictures at the same time you're practicing the moves. Second, I find it just very difficult to learn movement from a book. Far more helpful to me is the DVD: T'ai Chi for Health/Yang Short Form by Terence Dunn.

I recommend this book as an accompaniment to a class. I think it would be close to impossible to teach yourself the Tai Chi Yang short form using this book by itself.