Amazon.com
The hectic pace of our modern age is sending many of us to calming exercise such as tai chi, which slows us down, draws us into ourselves, and provides harmony, balance, and myriad health and stress-reduction benefits. There are many good tai chi videotapes, but this one stands out for superb instruction and a flawless production. The video demonstrates and instructs tai chi in a peaceful, grassy park setting, with additional clips from nature: a goldfish darting in a pond or a butterfly emerging from its cocoon, for example. First you learn the principles of tai chi, and next you see a demonstration of the form. Then you do a slow warm-up that prepares your muscles and mental focus. Then each movement is meticulously taught, with careful attention not only to how to do it, but also how to visualize it: "Your movements are effortless, like mist rising from the air," or "Your hands rise like the moon rising over the mountain." Whether you're a beginner just learning the form or a student who wants to practice and improve, you won't tire of this beautiful video.
--Joan Price
