Ali Rahnema

Senior Instructor

Ji Hong Tai Chi & Qi Gong

Senior Instructor Ali started learning Tai Chi in the year 1995. His understanding of Tai Chi was very limited at that time and the only exposure to Martial Arts was taking Taekwando in his 20’s which lasted less than 6 months.He started learning ­Chen style tai chi and with somewhat poor hand eye coordination, the first few months proved to be very challenging but he remained persistent. As time went on, the art grew on him and he started enjoying the learning and have not stopped since. In addition to Chen style, he also practices Yang, Wu and Hao styles as well as multiple weapon forms.There are countless articles and publications speaking of the many benefits of Tai Chi. For Ali, the physical benefits that stood out for him are improved posture, flexibility and much stronger legs and core muscles.The mental benefits include a much more focused and calm mind, with improved self confidence and a surprising removal of aggressive behaviour. In addition, remembering all the moves has been a form of mental exercise.For most people, the image of Tai Chi is what old Chinese people do in the park but it is much more than that. In terms of concentration and focus, it rivals Yoga with the added benefit of movement. It can be a soft and relaxing form or a must know for a true martial arts practitioner. Most will find learning Tai Chi at the beginning a challenge as Ali did but it won’t be long before you will enjoy it’s many benefits.