The origin of laziness?

It is believed that laziness is a biological trait. A survival tool. In itself laziness is not necessarily a bad thing. People often see/hear the word 'lazy' as being a stigma and get defensive.

Imagine that you're a primitive human living in a valley 10000 years ago... The valley has all that you need. It is safe. It is free of hostile predators or rival tribes.

There would be no sense in going elsewhere. This is laziness. A desire to maintain the status quo. Not to change.

Isn't tai chi just slow motion exercise?

No. Some of the training methods are slow, and some are not. As the student gains greater skill, their movements become fluid and dynamic. They move at whatever speed the situation demands.

Slow motion movement, chilled out exercise or dance cannot be considered tai chi. Tai chi is more than this. It adheres to certain parameters, guidelines and rules of practice.

Intelligent exercise

In the longevity book The Blue Zones, Dr Robert Kane emphasised the fact that many forms of exercise - especially sport - often have adverse side effects that impede long-term practice. 
By contrast, as a milder form of exercise, tai chi can be practiced throughout your entire lifespan, making it a safer, sustainable choice. Tai chi is a fun, balanced way to exercise. 

What is tai chi?

When most people say 'tai chi' they mean tai chi for health. Tai chi for health is a simplified, movement-based exercise adapted from taijiquan (a Chinese martial art). 

Tai chi is intended to improve health and wellbeing through frequent, regular practice using low effort. 

What is exercise?

In order to exercise the body a person must work the muscles, tendons, ligaments, bones, nerves and cardiovascular system in a coordinated manner.
There are many different approaches.
The Western way is usually to push and punish the body.
The Taoist method is to treat the body with care and respect; to work the body gently and carefully.

Moderation

Taijiquan advocates moderation; not taxing or tiring the body.
Rather than train for a lengthy period of time, aim to practice little & often.
20-30 minute increments, with rest breaks in-between is ideal.Instead of pushing your body hard and putting it under duress, just do a little exercise.Resting will keep your concentration sharp and offset fatigue.

Sarcopenia (muscle loss with aging)

Adults over the age of 50 lose approximately 1% of muscle mass each year as a natural consequence of aging.
The only way to offset this is to engage in a strength building regime that can be sustained throughout your natural life.
Qigong and taijiquan qualify as ideal methods for accomplishing this goal.
However, daily practice is a must.

Sitting

A lot of people sit too much: on the sofa, at a desk, in a car. The lower body becomes weak, the buttocks spread and the waistline grows.
Circulation is impeded.
Sedentary lifestyle/work habits are now considered to be a major cause of illness in modern society.

Other forms of exercise

Most forms of exercise are repetitive and hard work.
Working hard is actually part of what makes it 'exercise'.

Don't be lazy

There are so many opportunities for exercise in everyday life:

1. Walking
2. Carrying shopping
3. Washing the dishes
4. Dusting
5. Mopping the floor
6. Vacuuming
7. Hanging out laundry on the line
8. Folding laundry
9. Ironing
10. Changing the bed linen
11. Rotating the mattress
12. Cooking food from scratch
13. Climbing the stairs

Each of these activities is inexpensive and requires no special equipment.
Some activities contain multiple facets (such as cooking) and may involve, lifting, squatting and walking.

Exercise is boring

http://www.newcastletaichi.co.uk/exercise_is_boring.htm

Does exercise need to be boring?

Does exercise need to be hard work?

2 reasons

There are 2 simple reasons why most people don't exercise:

1. Boredom
2. Hard work

Common knowledge

Most people know that eating healthily is good for you. They know approximately what to eat and how much. 
But how many people really eat well?
The same is true of exercise. Virtually everyone is well aware that exercise can significantly improve your health.
So why doesn't everyone exercise?

A person who is considered to be fit in the West may be able to do over 100 push-ups, run a marathon, possess a beautiful, muscular physique – and yet not be internally healthy.
He or she may have a bad back, damaged joints, liver problems, unbalanced emotions, an inability to handle stress and sexual weakness or dysfunction.

(Bruce Frantzis) 
 

No sweat

If your training causes you to sweat, you are pushing and this is not the Way.
Ease off. Do less. Rest.
Patiently build your strength.

How

It is not just a matter of exercising. 
How you exercise matters too. 
If you exercise without professional guidance, then habits of poor awareness and bad postural/alignment will persist.
The world is filled with well-meaning runners who exhibit appalling physical tension and deleterious poise.

Sifu Waller's home training

This has been Sifu Waller's daily routine since 1992:

1. Strength-building
   - balls & grips
   - self-massage (100+ exercises)
   - 3 circle qigong (15 minutes)
   - ba duan jin (8 exercises)
   - reeling silk (6 exercises)
   - 16 elbows
   - moving qigong (15 exercises)
   - leg stretches: day 1 or 2
    
2. Baguazhang
   - 8 palm changes (clockwise & anticlockwise)
   - 8 mother palms
   - 6 direction changes
    
3. Drills
   - small san sau
   - silk arms
   - 5 pre-emptive measures
   - pushing peng/double pushing hands/da lu/penetrating defences/reflex drills
   - 3-tier wallbag
    
4. Weapons
   - knife drills
   - small stick drills
   - stick drills (Monday - Saturday)
   - broadsword drills (Sunday)
   - sabre form (regular & mirrored)
   - 2 person cane form/drill (regular & mirrored)
   - staff form (regular & mirrored)
   - walking stick form (regular & mirrored)
   - straight sword form (regular & mirrored)
    
5. Tai chi chuan
   - pao chui
   - Yang Cheng Fu form (regular & mirrored)
6. Hard qigong
   - full circle qigong (2 postures)/qigong development (2 postures)/form posture qigong (2 postures)/high circle qigong/qigong on one leg
    
7. Cool down
   - stretches & joint work (10 exercises)/psoas exercises (5 exercises)
    
8. Meditation
   - constructive rest position
   - guided relaxation
9. Reading/study

How many people exercise?

Consider all the people you know.
Do many of them exercise?
Of all the people in the world, how many actually exercise?
Humans are pretty lazy and the invention of cars, televisions and computers have made things far worse.

Sifu Waller's home training

This has been Sifu Waller's daily routine since 1992:

1. Strength-building
   - balls & grips
   - self-massage (100+ exercises)
   - 3 circle qigong (15 minutes)
   - ba duan jin (8 exercises)
   - reeling silk (6 exercises)
   - 16 elbows
   - moving qigong (15 exercises)
   - leg stretches: day 1 or 2
    
2. Baguazhang
   - 8 palm changes (clockwise & anticlockwise)
   - 8 mother palms
   - 6 direction changes
    
3. Drills
   - small san sau
   - silk arms
   - 5 pre-emptive measures
   - pushing peng/double pushing hands/da lu/penetrating defences/reflex drills
   - 3-tier wallbag
    
4. Weapons
   - knife drills
   - small stick drills
   - stick drills (Monday - Saturday)
   - broadsword drills (Sunday)
   - sabre form (regular & mirrored)
   - 2 person cane form/drill (regular & mirrored)
   - staff form (regular & mirrored)
   - walking stick form (regular & mirrored)
   - straight sword form (regular & mirrored)
    
5. Tai chi chuan
   - pao chui
   - Yang Cheng Fu form (regular & mirrored)
6. Hard qigong
   - full circle qigong (2 postures)/qigong development (2 postures)/form posture qigong (2 postures)/high circle qigong/qigong on one leg
    
7. Cool down
   - stretches & joint work (10 exercises)/psoas exercises (5 exercises)
    
8. Meditation
   - constructive rest position
   - guided relaxation
9. Reading/study