Announcement!

T’ai Chi is the synonym for Supreme Ultimate which is ”The state of undifferentiated absolute and infinite potentiality.” The T’ai Chi symbol shown here is also known as the Yin-Yang . The circle itself represents a whole, while the black and white areas within it represent interacting parts or manifestations of the whole. The white area represents yang or positive elements, while the dark area represents the yin or negative. The principles of the Supreme Ultimate date back to over 5000 years of Chinese Cosmology.

The practice of T’ai Chi, mostly known as the martial art Tai Chi Chuan consists of movements done in soft circular patterns with no effort. The legs are used to move the body by constantly shifting the weight from front to back or left to right. There are hundreds of T’ai Chi forms to practice.

For Active Recovery at my studio Supreme Ultimate Fitness in Boca Raton I use a form called T’ai Chi Chih, which actually means “Knowledge of the Supreme Ultimate” and was created by Justin Stone in 1974.  T’ai Chi Chih is a system of 19 movements and one pose done softly without effort to allow the chi to flow through the body.  It is not an exercise or martial art, it is a system of movement. When me and Rocco Castellano branded my company we looked deep into what I have done for the past 28 years with martial arts, t’ai chi, fitness, health, movement, and wellness. There is deep meaning behind the name Supreme Ultimate Fitness and it essentially comes down to one word: BALANCE!

Note: You can read more about T’ai Chi Chih on my website Joy Thru Movement.

Digging deeper

I have found that using a combination of hard and soft movement works best for total health.  Here are just a few examples of how Kettlebell lifting and T’ai Chi Chih compliment each other as a real yin-yang fitness system.  The antagonists are amazing when you think of it.  I am so blessed to have learned these 2 styles of movement to create the perfect balance.

• Hardstyle Kettlebell Training (RKC method) training is equally internal as external, marrying proper breath with well-timed max effort.
  
• In T’ai Chi Chih there is also equally internal and external with emphasis on the softness of the body to allow the chi to flow.
• There are no wrists in kettlebell training – T’ai Chi Chih is done mostly with the wrists which when relaxed with reduce stress
• Kettlebell training involves varrying amounts of muscular tension to move the kettlebell – T’ai Chi Chih is internal and done without muscular effort to massage the internal organs.
• In kettlebell lifting the joints lock in all movements for strength, power, and safety – T’ai Chi Chih we never lock the joints so the chi can flow through the meridians.

Balanced Fitness comes to life!

In a balanced fitness program you are not just working towards the physical, it’s also about the mental and spiritual (not religious) aspects of health and wellness. I like to call it “working in” vs working out. In fact I try not to use the term workout very much because to me that refers only to the external and escaping from yourself and your body so you can exercise. I say let’s go inside and see what’s there first and holding you back from achieving your goals and then build the body from the inside out.

At Supreme Ultimate Fitness I also use principles and mindset that I learned from studying martial arts such as Tae Kwon Do and Hap Ki Do which is exactly what the RKC program does as well.  Some of these principles include:

• Rooting the energy to the earth for more strength and power
• Mental focus and how to manage fatigue
• Power Breathing to add explosiveness and strength
• Upright posture and alignment of the spine.

For more information on how to create your own balanced fitness program contact me at dale@supremeultimatefitness.com

I look forward to hearing your thoughts. Please leave your comments below