Tai-chi Exercises for Seniors

Does NOT deliver what it promises
As a learning tool for beginners this video fails. The first 20 minutes are spent on the same kind of stretching and warm-ups you did in gym class or can read about for free anywhere. He then does 10 minutes of chigung warms ups, which are simply more slow stretching (and better presented in any book). Next theres a 10 minute demonstration moves from the short form, all seen from the front and not structured for the beginner. When he finally gets around to the form there's one runthru (front only, no replay) of about 6 minutes, and that it - 40 minutes of warmup for one demo. The production values are crummy, looks like the whole thing was shot on a home camcorder with poor focus. Having taught martial arts for years I can tell you that few beginners will get the moves from presentations like this. As a learning video for people of any age this video is poor, but putting "for seniors" in the title to hook novices or their caregivers is cheating. Save your money !

A MUST for seniors!
This is a wonderful video for seniors. It has warm up, flexibility exercises, chi-gung energy exercises, T'ai-chi exercises, T'ai-chi form. There is so much here. And unlike some videos, the teacher speaks clearly, shows everything very clearly and even explains the importance of proper breathing and the principles behind T'ai-chi - how it improves your health. It would be wonderful if every senior used this video. A lot of the exercises are shown from a seated position so you don't even need to stand up. Get this video for a senior you know.

Very helpful but...
I bought this video for my 82 year old mother-in-law who is quite active despite severe arthritis, but beginning to slow down rather alarmingly.

The short form is broken down into exercises that are easy to follow and quite relaxing, however if you are buying the tape for someone who is hard of hearing, I don't recommend it unless you plan to exercise with them and they are comfortable in admitting that they cannot make out many of the verbal instructions, all of which are quite important to doing the exercises correctly. Though she has top of the line hearing aids, the nature of the sound track makes it difficult to distinquish many of the instructions over the background music and white noise.

Other than that, I highly recommend the tape. Though the exercises appear to be easy to a 45 year old such as myself, they seem to be at just the right level to challenge an elder without wearing him or her out. Though I feel refreshed after completing the exercises, she is tired, but...

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