Tai Chi for Girls Newbie Workout routines with Grasp Helen Liang (YMAA) Tai Chi Dvd for Well being, All Ages, Excellent for Seniors

Great Video
Helen Liang does an excellent job of explaining the movements. I really feel this may be one of the best videos out there for beginners of Tai Chi. It may take two to three runs of this video to get the movements down, and my first time doing this video I had to split it into two separate viewings where I did the last thirty minutes of this hour and forty-eight minute video on a later day. Next time, I feel I should be able to make it through the whole video at once since I now have an idea of what the moves feel like and their general execution. Be patient with yourself the first time you try Tai Chi as it involves movement that requires proper execution to maintain balance and form, something that requires practice.Like I’ve already mentioned, Helen does a good job of explaining these movements, and in doing so the whole video is her showing the various forms. In other words, this video only shows each form separately, but rest assured that once you get the movements down, it will be easy to connect them into a sequence. Helen first breaks down each specific form into parts, and then puts the respective parts together into one whole fluid movement several times for you to follow along. Some people seemed to have complained that there is not an actual sequence, and to that I respond that if there were this would be a three hour DVD. An hour and forty-eight minutes of instruction on form is phenomenal for a beginner, and once you have the form down, you can get any Tai Chi video to follow along to a sequence. With this being said, having taken my time in properly doing the various forms, I feel like I benefited a lot without actually doing a sequence. This is most probably because these movements are new to me and thus my body has not built up a tolerance yet, or cleared out stagnant Chi all the way, and therefore an effect was felt. Learning something new does not mean that there is no benefit to be gained from the practice just because you aren’t a Master yet ;). (yes, I am an educator, so I know how the process of learning goes and can assure you there is never any reason to be frustrated and that practice does, in fact, make perfect 🙂 Stay dedicated, enjoy the learning process, and reap the rewards. Great Video!

This video is easy to follow.
This video for ES you to slow down follow direction and breath. Easy to follow and easy to leatn, I’m able to do this routine without the video but often use it as I learn something new every time I follow her video. Great for reducing stress and getting ito Tia chi as a beginner.

Good video
Educational and good but skips now and then straight out of the box

Doesn’t have rear view during initial instruction
This instructor is excellent. She explains things very clearly in many different ways – the movement itself, its purpose for your health, etc. For that alone, I give it 5 stars.Other reviewers have said that there is a rear view of the movements, and this is true, but it is not DURING the initial instruction of the move. Her movements are also not to be mirrored – she moves left, facing you, and expects you to move left as well, in the opposite direction from her on-screen movements.You can find a rear and side view of the entire ten (or eight, depending on how you count) form, but you have to switch from the instruction to those views, which are located in a different part of the DVD, on the menu.It’s probably just me, but I have a difficult time following opposite movements with a person facing me. It will take me much longer to learn these movements, doing the switching back and forth, from the instruction for each move to the entire back-facing form, finding that particular movement, reversing, repeating, etc. and then going back to the instruction.Still, even with all that, I give it five stars. This is just FYI.

I’m currently in class for 24 Yang Style Tai Chi Forms with an excellent teacher. Even so, this DVD (10 Forms) was invaluable for its extensive instruction on foundation-level stuff incl. breath, spine/ arms/ pelvis posture, heel/ toe placement. There’s a TON of useful info; time well spent to learn it correctly or to fill what can’t be covered in a weekly class with many other students. Even more so if you’re learning on your own.Helen patiently explains parts of each move with commentaries and modifications – all so helpful for an absolute beginner like moi. Makes you think & feel differently about your body esp. where tension is commonly held. Even though it’s only 10 basic forms, the DVD’s 41 tracks cover a lot of ground. It’s shot in a well-lit, spacious & empty studio as well as a beautiful garden. It includes a “Rear view” of the entire sequence shown from behind – an absolute must for a beginner’s practice. Her excellent form inspires me! LOL, she made the heel kick look so effortless until I tried it…..ha, ha, long way to go!! ;-)The list of tracks isn’t printed on the DVD itself. Here’s the playlist (90 mins): Intro Relaxations Warm-up: Deep abdominal breathing, shaking & loosening & full body warm-up of 10 diff. exercises for both sides Energy Exercises: Palms, arms & legs Tai Chi- Stepping Exercises: Demos of T-stance to bow stance, T-stance to Horse stance & stand on one leg Tai Chi Form Instruction: 10 forms shown twice from front inside studio w/ detailed instructions & then, repeated in a garden as follows: Commencing form, Repulse Monkey (hands only without step back), Brush Knee & Push Hand, Part the Wild Horse’s Mane, Waving Hands like Clouds, Golden Rooster Stands on One Leg, Cross Hands with heel kick , Grasp Sparrow’s Tail, Cross Hands & Closing Form Tai Chi Form – Front View: All 10 forms from front (in studio & garden) Tai Chi Form – Rear View: All 10 forms from back (in a garden) Keys to success – short commentary Conclusion – short commentary Follow-along workout (w/ helpful commentary on Tai Chi’s benefits): All 10 forms shown 3 times from front.I also got her other DVD; Simplified Tai Chi for Beginners – 24 Form [Import] along with Tai Chi – 24 Forms DVD By Dr. Paul Lam****UPDATED!!!****. All three were well worth the investment, IMHO.

This DVD was delivered to the Amazon UK pickup of my choice within a reasonable time. Adequate packaging and sealed DVD. Picture and sound of good quality although the editing let the DVD down slightly. Yet, not really a major problem but it, sadly, meant that I couldn’t it this product full marks.You are given clear instructions and Helen Liang demonstrates each Tia Chi move several times. This DVD is suitable for beginners as the moves are easy to learn with practice. The practice will also help improve your balance and strengthen your leg muscles. It takes good balance and a certain amount of strength to perform Tia Chi as gracefully as Helen Liang.Once you have learnt the moves, you can then bypass the instruction section and simply go straight to the full sequence section. However, you should perfect the moves first as the correct positioning of your whole body is very important. While this DVD is for exercise and relaxation, Tia Chi is also a martial art and therefore the moves should be done correctly.I’ve simply first watched the DVD all way through to check the quality of the product. I also wanted to get a quick overall idea of how Helen Liang was teaching Tia Chi and what moves she was teaching.I have attempted to learn the Tia Chi moves several times now. Obviously, I’ll need to continue using the DVD to correctly learn the Tia Chi moves, improve my balance and strengthen my leg muscles.My main reason for buying this DVD is because I believe that Tia Chi will help me to combat stress. Tia Chi has been described as meditation in motion. The slow flowing movements of Tia Chi appeal to me. In some ways, Tia Chi looks like a form of dance. Although, it was originally created as a Chinese martial art. Tia Chi has many benefits as a form of exercise and meditation.I’m really looking forward to learning Tia Chi. Helen Liang makes the moves look easy but I’m sure it will take me some time to master the moves and get into the right mindset to fully benefit from Tia Chi. With this DVD, I can learn at my own pace and do Tia Chi whenever I want. This DVD is much cheaper and more convenient than going to Tia Chi classes.