One of the most popular forms of Yoga, in both the USA and Europe, is “Power Yoga”. The origins of “Power Yoga” lie in “Ashtanga Yoga”, founded by Pattabhi Jois of Mysore, India. Ashtanga Yoga consists of set routines or forms and has a very strong root in Indian philosophy and culture.

Many Americans, being pragmatic and also being strongly rooted within their own culture, prefer the health and fitness benefits without some of the to them unfamiliar cultural trappings. Also, doing the exact same sequences over and over again may have proved boring for many students.

In the East it is commonly accepted that one might spend several decades in attempting to achieve mastery in a task that physically may be very small or very repetitive.

As a result of this “re-working” of Ashtanga Yoga, Power Yoga teaches a wide variety of sequences of asanas (postures) and whilst there is a strong eastern philosophical flavor in the teaching, the guru worship, Sanskrit chanting and the like are usually no longer part of the classes. For the minority of dedicated seekers who are able to dedicate many hours and years to the study of both the art and the culture (be it Yoga or Tai Chi Chuan), the traditional teachers are and always will be available and waiting for them.

What I have done in the last few years, both for myself and students, is to do an analogous overhaul of traditional Yang and Hwa Yu (liu he ba fa) style Tai Chi. Starting with basic movements, then going on to combinations, all done with a strong emphasis on dynamic movement and cardiovascular benefit, yet retaining the stress relieving / relaxation oriented benefits.

I have been a student of Tai Chi Chuan since 1980 and an instructor since 1986. My teaching methods have been popular enough for me to be invited to teach several seminars in Israel and Germany. Whilst Tai chi is not currently as popular as Yoga or Pilates, it is well known to the general public and has a strong following.

From the point-of-view of students who are interested in the benefits of Tai Chi but don’t have the time or dedication needed for the traditional forms, Tai Chi has always had a few disadvantages:
Firstly, it is mostly taught by means of a long dance-like form. This means that the student does the same sequence of movements for years on end (i.e the average Westerner becomes bored). Also, it means that Tai Chi requires a great deal of floor space, as the stepping/ footwork within the form covers quite a lot of ground, so group classes require a large space..

Secondly, with two notable exceptions, many Tai Chi styles have the same level of muscular and cardiovascular exertion as a gentle stroll in the park. The primary benefit of such styles is stress relief plus a mild leg workout. This perception has been changing over the last few years, as these more dynamic styles have become known in the West. It is one of these two styles that I am an instructor in plus I have also had some training in the other style.

Finally, to learn the more advanced levels of the art, the student often has to buy into the Chinese culture to quite a large degree so as to convince the sifu to teach him the deeper aspects of the art.

Another innovation I have implemented in my classes is to practice with music playing in the background. Traditionally, music is frowned upon as a distraction, although some instructors like T.T. Liang have been teaching the traditional Tai Chi form to music for some time.
I decided to call it “Power Tai Chi” not just so as to mimic “Power Yoga”, but also in homage to my first Tai Chi teacher, Mr. Fok; Si Yue, of Fatsan, Canton, who emphasized the power production exercises and the integration of power into the form.

Feeling, increasing and directing your chi-flow has a powerful effect on your stress-levels and your well-being. Learning to co-ordinate your four sources of physical power to create a single explosive force and issue it ( “fat gen” in Cantonese) gives you the ability to use your body in your everyday existence in a much more powerful way.

Learning to harmonize your breathing with the many movements that extensively work your leg muscles results in cardiovascular benefits. Ultimately you are aiming at the movement qualities of a big cat, such as a tiger. Totally relaxed whilst at rest, utterly confident of its own abilities, it is able to go from relaxation to an explosive attack in an instant, its every movement sinuous and powerful !