Simplified Tai Chi for Beginners - 24 Form (YMAA Tai Chi Exercise) Helen Liang **NEW BESTSELLER**

Don't buy the DVD unless you have a convenient DVD player handy. I bought this and tried to use Handbrake to convert it to a portable digital file, but the DVD is conversion-locked so now I'm stuck with a DVD that is massively inconvenient to use (none of my laptops have DVD players anymore - you too, right?).Fortunately YMAA offers an app which can be "unlocked" for $9.99 and it contains the same materials. Note that the app is free to download, but if you don't purchase the "unlock" as an in-app purchase for the aforesaid $9.99, the app will be totally useless. It's not exactly a scam, they are apparently afraid if they tell you up front the app really costs $9.99, no one will buy it.So don't do what I did and buy the DVD, then later have to buy the app anyway. Go straight to the app! (Which doesn't run on Fire tablets, btw).In terms of content, I much prefer the Kung Fu Tai Chi magazine rendition of the 24 Form (the national standardized form) by Sifu Zou Yunjian on YouTube as uploaded by kungfumagazine dot com on May 16, 2013 (there is also a rear view by the same professor but the moves aren't as beautiful). BUT I can't download YouTube videos and carry them around, and there is no breakdown of the separate moves to help me catch the details. There is no doubt that Helen Liang is terrific and I think this (the YMMA app or the old-tech DVD) is the best reference for the 24.You probably can't learn the form on your own if you are new to tai chi unless you attend a class. You CAN learn if you have some prior experience. And if you are attending a class in the 24, this is a perfect supplement.

While there's no doubt that Tai Chi is not the easiest thing to learn with a video especially due to its three dimensional nature, Helen Liang has created a really wonderful and practical teaching DVD.The different sections present the 24 form in a variety of ways including a full demonstration, a guided walkthrough of the complete 24 form, basic guidelines, individual detailed descriptions for each movement, and a rearview demonstration of the complete form (among other things).As I started to get the hang of the first few movements I started to begin each practice session by starting with the walkthrough to see how far I could get, not worrying about being perfect. Then I would focus on a new individual movement to get into the details.If you're brand-new to Tai chi, as I essentially was, the most important single thing is to be patient and realize this is a marathon not a Sprint.If you're patient and give yourself plenty of time to learn gradually, you should find this DVD to be a wonderful tool. I also purchased the app for this program so I could take it with me and practice as well as reinforce the overall concepts wherever I go.In fact the only thing I wish the DVD offered was some different angles of the walkthrough but I guess you can't have everything.Lastly, I also purchased Essentials of Tai Chi and Qigong by David Dorian Ross which is a 4 DVD Great Courses program and the two programs really compliment each other nicely!

I bought the dvd for a young friend who has done Tai Chi but due to a job change, can no longer make it to a class. I hoped she could use the dvd at home. She is thrilled to have the dvd and will wake up early to use it. I base my rating stars on the fact that my friend recognized the people in the video and talked of YMAA. My stars are not about the dvd content (I have no expertise) but rather the fact that the people are known and YMAA is a significant name to those who love to do Tai Chi. As with my own personal Amazon purchases, I find comfort in being able to purchase recognized name brands (people or products) on Amazon. So this convenience adds to my rating. And it means I am more likely to buy gifts for others from Amazon. Amazon is a good market for YMAA. Jeannie

I have to admit, this video is beautifully done. I've been doing exercise videos for about 15 years, stuff like P90X and Janis Saffell. My first intro to Tai Chi was when Janis and Scott Cole got together and did a mix of Tai Chi and Kickboxing. Since then I have done many of Scott Coles Tai Chi dvds. I know they are not super advanced Tai Chi, but he makes it easy to learn. I wanted something a little more advanced, so I tried this.For people who have done dvd workouts, you know how the instructor facing the camera will usually move the left side of their body and call it the right side? Because of the mirror image. A very simple thing that makes following a workout so much easier. The biggest problem I have with this video is that the instructor does not do that. I guess I am spoiled from years of right=left and left=right, but this video hurts my head. She moves her right side and says move right, but of course on the TV it is to your left, so it is backwards. If you DO make the mental switch and move left when she says right, then you are in effect doing the workout backwards. I don't know how much that matters, but it makes me feel I am doing everything wrong.Some people will know what I mean, others will think I'm being stupid. This review is for the former.