The Best Tai Chi DVDs for Beginners

Although it is better for beginners to attend a tai chi class, a good DVD can undoubtedly help to keep your practice going at home. As a rule, you should look for a DVD that sticks to beginners' sequences, provides clear explanations of each move and allows you to establish a daily routine. DVDs that blend tai chi with qigong provide dual benefits.

A Beginners' Guide to Short Form Tai Chi

Renowned teacher, Chris Pei's "Tai Chi for Beginners," provides you with eight classes covering the basics of the Yang style tai chi 24 form, which is a simplified version of tai chi based on 24 movements. His clear step-by-step instructions and the low-impact routine make his classes particularly suited to older learners and people with less mobility.

Qigong For Energy

Qigong is the basis of the martial arts family that includes tai chi and kung fu. Qigong's simple moves focus on drawing in energy and revitalizing all of the body's systems and are easier to learn than a tai chi sequence, making qigong a good starting point.

Qigong-Tai Chi Blends

Samuel Barnes' "Element: Tai Chi for Beginners" provides a blend of qigong and tai chi that ultimately gives you a flowing sequence of moves. Barnes uses a two-prong technique of teaching the qigong basics first before moving on to tai chi. Scott Cole, well-known for his media appearances, has a number of tai chi DVDs. His "Discover Tai Chi for Beginners" gives you a series of well-directed blend of simple tai chi and qigong exercises that allow beginners who have never attended a class to get started.