Standing Energy Tai Chi for Beginners with Master Tommy Kirchhoff: an Easy to Follow Tai Chi Video to Learn Tai Chi at Home, Lessons are Great for Balance & Mobility

This is overall a very beneficial video for anyone dealing with pain, immobility, autoimmune disease, inflammation, or any number of things that I'm not even thinking of. Let me say that I am not new to Tai chi. Tai chi is a moving meditation, and it is very calming and soothing. This video uses various individual movements from tai chi. You do several repetitions of each "exercise" in the video along with one instructor. It is much easier to follow than whole-sequence tai chi dvds because tai chi in its entire sequence is very difficult to learn on a screen. You move back and forth an around in many different directions and planes. I have found it almost impossible to do except in a live class. It's also difficult to do the entire tai chi sequence without doing it several times a week, since the sequence is very long. I always find myself starting over.Enter this dvd. It is really a plus that it encompassed individual "exercises." It's not overwhelming, and, in my opinion, it still offers the same benefits as tai chi. Doing the slow movements combined with the breath work focuses your attention on the specific movement so that your mind can't wander off and start thinking about other things. Hence, the effect is like that derived from meditation: a calm, centered, refreshed feeling.About a year ago, I committed to practicing meditation daily, and this dvd offers a nice alternative to the sitting still meditation. The movement is very soothing, and I have noticed that it helps a lot with my chronic pain. I also do yoga and pilates however.All that said, there are a few problems with the dvd:1. There's no main menu from which to switch off and move in the order of your choosing.2. The background is very boring. Probably good to not make it too interesting, because it shouldn't distract, my MY G_D this is bad. The instructor is wearing medical scrubs and standing on an all-white floor and background. Would it have killed them to put him in a studio with a few plants in the background or perhaps outside??? It looks sterile, not soothing.3. There's no instruction regarding modifications for common problems. I have a very bad arthritic knee, and I would have appreciated some pointers on how to modify for problem knees (which I imagine are a common problem among people interested in this routine.4. There are a few spots in which the audio had problems, but this is no big deal reallyAll in all, I do like the dvd a lot, hence the 4 stars. I plan to keep it in my meditation rotation.

I own many Tai Chi DVDs and have for years attended in-person Tai Chi classes taught by different masters. Vast majority of the teachers I’ve met do not go into the fundamentals and movement details as the author of this DVD. The pitfall of most Tai Chi teaching is telling the students to try their best in following sequences that are hard to memorize. The students just end up drawing circles and lines in the air slowly, not knowing what’s what. I can tell from this author’s movement details that he came from a Wudang Taoist lineage (such as Bagua Kung Fu). The exquisite twisting movements of the wrists and hips show that. I understand the reviewers who complain about how boring this dvd is, starting with the unadorned plain white background. To me that’s not a deal breaker. I use this dvd to help me polish the tiny bodily movements that will help me not only add grace but also generate power. I practice several styles of martial arts in the gym and I use this dvd for cool down at home. I understand that the original intent of this dvd is for healing, particularly for seniors who have arthritis. But it’s also good for my own training and conditioning purposes. That said, I do believe that the author can probably design a set of video instructions to show the intermediate to advanced techniques.

This video has become my daily exercise no matter what exercises I do each day. Or should I say I alternated between the seated and standing Tai Chi. I have arthritis and I saw marked improvements in my flexibility after the first use, from my feet to my head. If you are wanting to feel greateveryday use this tape. My sister i law, who is in perfect health, feels the same way. I plan to purchase all five.

The instructor could improve by using a more enthustiac voice, not the monotone voice he used to speak with. Also, the forms were great and he did explain them clearly, but too repetative and again, boring. I would recommend some background to look at, such as the mountains in Alaska, interesting but not distracting. Compared to the Jane Adams video Balance & Strength which shows traditional exercises, modified Tai Chi and Yoga for seniors and older adults, I recommend the Jane Adams DVD.

Tougher exercise than you would think but really strengthens and helps balance

Loved it, I can do this at home the same as I do in the Silver Sneakers class that I have to drive 45 min to get to.

I bought this DVD and soon as I started I feel the difference........ I'm gonna used it every day.... I Love it

Step by step instructions and easy to begin and maintain the regimen