Tai chi and Pilates guides for beginners
How to start tai chi and gentle Pilates with a few calm minutes a day, standing or in a chair, plus honest comparisons. No medical advice: gentle movement only, and facts about other apps are dated and come from their store listings.
App StoreiPhone: coming soon
Tai chi for beginners
- Tai chi for beginners: how to start with three minutes a dayWhere to start, what to learn first and how much is enough at the beginning.
- A 3-minute tai chi routine you can do anywhereBreathe, one slow move, one gentle move, a closing breath. Four steps, three minutes.
- Cloud Hands: the tai chi move to learn firstYun Shou, step by step, standing or seated. The classic first move.
- Chair tai chi: gentle seated moves for beginnersSame slow arm paths and breathing, from a steady chair.
- How much tai chi a day is enough for a beginner?Why short and regular works, and when to add time.
Gentle Pilates at home
- Gentle Pilates at home, for beginners, no mat neededSmall, slow moves standing or seated. No mat, no floor, no equipment.
- Standing Pilates: gentle moves with no matFour slow standing moves with a chair for support.
- Chair Pilates for beginners: gentle seated movesRib breathing, pelvic tilts and side bends from a steady chair.
Short breaks for desk days
Comparisons and choosing an app
- Tai chi vs Pilates: which should a beginner try?Flowing versus controlled, and why a little of both works well.
- Tai chi apps for beginners, compared honestly (2026)Instructor or avatar, session length, price model and free tier, dated.
- A daily movement habit without streak guiltMiss a day and Bao naps. Nothing is lost.