T'ai Chi Beginning Practice

This is an OK beginning practice of Tai Chi. There are two sequences you can watch. The first if a complete beginning sequence/routine. The second is more of a follow-along.

One thing that decreases the quality of this beginning practice is that in the first sequence he does not use mirrored left and right direction. So if he says do something to the left, he does it too the left and you need to do it to the left as well. However, this becomes a little difficult when focusing on learning new movements.

Furthermore, in the second sequence he does use mirrored direction. This makes the second sequence quite a bit easier to follow along.

I like this video because I see a genuine Tai Chi master teaching authentic forms.

Before I received this video I had been attending Tai Chi classes for more than 3 years. I constantly experienced sore knees after each class. After I followed this video a few times, my knee pain disappeared. In this video Master Ross' constant reminder: `Don't forget, adjust your....' helped me correct my postures. Now I use this video everyday to check my postures. I am grateful to the person who gave me this precious gift.

For students taking Tai Chi Classes this video is a useful supplement between classes.

This video is an excellent learning tool for beginners. Once you have learned this video course, you will have no problem moving on to the next level: an instructional video entitled "Tai Chi with David Dorian Ross" (a/k Tai Chi in Paradise).

For someone thinking of doing some workout having maximum health benefit with minimal time, this video will give you inspiration.

There is a bonus featured in this DVD in which Master Ross teaches the eight pieces of brocade, excellent.

I highly recommend this DVD.

I feel a bit releived after reading some of the reviews on here. I thought I was too uncoordinated to get this down, but the left to right on this DVD is REALLY confusing. Once I get messed up, there's no getting it back. I DO NOT recommend this for anyone who is just starting out. It's not easy to pick up the flow. He goes from showing you the name of the movement and how to it, to telling you to mix them all together by name. I'm sorry, but when I am learning a movement, I can't remember what to do after only being told once. I am paying more attention to the movements and doing them correctly than I am to the names of them! I'm just left frustrated and wondering which DVD I should start with instead!

I completely agree with the reviewer who loves the A.M. Chi on this DVD. This has been a wonderful surprise. I've never been much of a morning person, but I now look forward to getting up a half hour earlier each day to do this routine. My energy level has definitely increased as well. The beach setting, the music, and the queing are excellent. It also seems to be perfect timing that as the routine ends, a gentle wave finally laps in to brush David-Dorian Ross's feet. I, too, am not as fond of the Tai Chi for Beginners section but intend to alternate it with several other tapes and DVD's I have of DDR's. His Tai Chi Daily Practice DVD is fabulous and I use it in conjunction with the A.M. Chi.

Yes, it's true the tai chi routine is a bit confusing initially as far as which direction to go, to follow the instructor. But with practice this can be overcome... Nonetheless, I've given this DVD 5 stars because I LOVE(!) the bonus "A.M. Chi for Beginners" workout which follows. I originally had it on video but so many people would borrow it somehow it never got returned to me. Well it's no longer available on video unfortunately. So I was thrilled beyond belief to find out I could get it on this tai chi DVD. I personally don't do the tai chi segment as my apartment is too small for all the leg work tai chi usually involves, but for qigong lovers the "A.M. Chi for Beginners" routine is well worth the price alone! (and requires little floor space). It's a classic and I'm surprised they don't have a separate DVD with that title for the throngs of us who loved it on video. And only 20 minutes long, so I can easily fit it into my schedule even on the busiest days. There are three parts to the 20 minute A.M. Chi routine, which was filmed at sunrise on a beautiful Maui beach: (1) "Gathering Chi from the 6 Directions and Mixing it in the Cauldron of the Body", (2) the classic "8 Pieces of Brocade" qigong series, and (3) "Opening the Heart". The movements are so easy to follow (no confusion here), and never fail to put me in that peaceful frame of mind to help get me through life's ups and downs. I look at this as my A.M. Chi DVD which just happens to have a bonus tai chi workout... In short, the tai chi segment might be disappointing for some, but the bonus track may just surpass your expectations.