Discover Tai Chi - AM & PM Workouts (2002)
Review by Dindrane
Film:
DVD:

Instructor: Scott Cole
Music: New Age/Asian
Difficulty: Easy

Features:

• Wordless videos of the two routines
  
• Photo gallery
  
• Hawaii workout to music
  

My Advice: Buy it.

Discover Tai Chi: AM & PM Workouts purports to present two distinct tai chi workouts--one energizing and suitable for morning, and the other more tranquil, designed to "cleanse the mind, body, and spirit," suitable for winding down during the evening. While the term "workout" is a bit of a misnomer here, unless you significantly increase the tempo of the routine, Cole's version of tai chi is still a wonderful way to learn more about your body--something modern life teaches us to ignore, hastily address, or even revile more than heed or truly nourish.

Cole's instruction is, as always, top notch. This, and the other discs in the Discover Tai Chi series, demonstrate why he has won accolades as an instructional video leader. He makes viewers believe that they can learn this ancient martial art, while also being quite convincing about the benefits of tai chi.

The extras on this disc are of a different and less instructional bend than the other discs in this series. I confess I do not see the point of the photo gallery, though I do appreciate that the producers at least made an effort to provide some extra content. Once you have learned the routines from the instructional portions, it is useful to have the wordless "meditations" on video to follow along. The morning and evening meditations are quite nice and are a solid accompaniment to the tai chi routines the disc teaches. The chapter breaks allow viewers to highlight a specific move for additional practice or just when you feel the need to be "Pushing the Waves" or a "Golden Rooster Standing on One Leg."

The music is interesting and pleasant enough--New Age instrumental with a touch of Asia. The word of the day here is "tranquil," the morning workout is a bit more up-tempo.

The video and sound quality are excellent, as with the rest of this series. Camera angles are chosen carefully to perfectly show each posture as its introduced, allowing the viewer to learn quickly and with minimum frustration.

In short, if you're interested in using tai chi as a stress buster or a way to wind down after a long day, this disc is just right. The AM workout is invigorating, and the PM workout is suitably relaxing and tranquil. Although the entire Discover Tai Chi series is professionally done, AM & PM Workouts is wonderful for its daily applicability--who doesn't need to gear up for a busy day or wind down afterwards? Who doesn't need a few moments to clear their mind and sync themselves up with their body and soul? Discover Tai Chi: AM & PM Workouts is a wonderful antidote to modern life; check it out and see.