THERAPIES & TRADITIONS · GUIDE
Movement Practices Glossary: Tai Chi, Qigong, Pilates and Somatic Terms
Plain meanings of tai chi, qigong, Pilates, Feldenkrais, Alexander Technique and somatic movement terms, with where each word comes from and what it does not claim.
Content last updated . This page has not been medically reviewed.
Back to Yoga & MovementMovement practices come with their own vocabulary. Some words are Chinese (tai chi, qigong, qi), some come from one founder (Contrology, Awareness Through Movement) and some are broad labels (somatic, meditative movement). This glossary gives plain meanings and says which words are traditional ideas, not measured facts.
NCCIH notes that yoga and two practices of Chinese origin, tai chi and qigong, are sometimes called "meditative movement" practices, because each includes both meditative and physical elements.[1] Yoga terms are on the Yoga Glossary.
Tai chi terms
| Term | Plain meaning |
|---|---|
| Tai chi (taijiquan) | A Chinese martial art initially created for combat and self-defense. For most practitioners it has become an exercise, a relaxation technique and a sport.[2] NCCIH describes slow, gentle movements and postures, a meditative state of mind and controlled breathing.[3] |
| Form (taolu) | A set sequence of movements, usually gentle and flowing, often described as "meditation in motion".[2] |
| Styles | Most modern styles trace back to five traditional schools: Chen, Yang, Wu (Hao), Wu and Sun.[2] See Tai Chi Styles. |
| Pushing hands (tuishou) | A competitive format in which two people try to unbalance one another while keeping sensitivity and control.[2] It is separate from the gentle health classes most people attend. |
Qigong terms
| Term | Plain meaning |
|---|---|
| Qigong | A system of coordinated posture and movement, breathing and meditation, said to be useful for health, spirituality and martial arts training.[4] NCCIH says it was developed in China as part of traditional Chinese medicine and involves regulating the mind, breath, body movement and posture.[5] |
| Qi | Traditionally, a vital force believed to be part of all living things. A general reference describes the idea as originally prescientific and, today, not corresponding to the concept of energy used in the physical sciences.[6] |
| Dynamic and meditative qigong | NCCIH separates dynamic (active) qigong, which focuses on body movement, from meditative (passive) qigong, which uses breath and mind exercises with almost no movement.[5] |
| Baduanjin | Often translated "Eight Pieces of Brocade". It is one of the most common qigong forms used as exercise.[7] See Qigong Forms. |
The same reference notes that Baduanjin is primarily designated a form of medical qigong, meant to improve health.[7] Evidence label for qi as an energy: traditional use only. Research on this site looks at the practice itself; see Qigong.
Pilates terms
| Term | Plain meaning |
|---|---|
| Pilates | A method of exercise and physical movement designed to stretch, strengthen and balance the body. It is named for Joseph H. Pilates, born in Germany in 1883.[8] |
| Contrology | The name Joseph Pilates gave his method.[9] His 1945 book was titled Return To Life Through Contrology.[10] |
| Mat and Reformer | Classes are most commonly group Mat classes, group Reformer classes, and private or small-group studio sessions using the full range of apparatus.[8] |
| Apparatus | Equipment Pilates invented, such as the Reformer, Trapeze Table, Ladder Barrel, Wunda Chair and Spine Corrector.[8] |
| Powerhouse | A nickname for the core: the muscles of the abdomen, low back and hips, thought in the method to be key to stability.[9] |
See Pilates and The Pilates Method.
Feldenkrais, Alexander Technique and somatic terms
| Term | Plain meaning |
|---|---|
| Somatics | A field that emphasizes internal physical perception. The term was coined in 1967 by Thomas Hanna and refers to "the body as perceived from within".[11] |
| Awareness Through Movement | A Feldenkrais lesson taught in a group, with students following the teacher's spoken instructions.[12] |
| Functional Integration | A one-on-one Feldenkrais session in which a fully clothed student is guided through touch, movement and spoken instruction.[12] |
| Alexander Technique | Named for Frederick Matthias Alexander (1869 to 1955).[13] Its teachers describe it as a method for changing movement habits in everyday activities.[14] |
A general reference notes that teachers of the Alexander Technique believe it can address a variety of health conditions, but that research to support those claims is lacking.[13] See Feldenkrais Method, Alexander Technique and Somatic Movement and Somatic Exercises.
Frequently asked questions
Is tai chi a form of qigong?
NCCIH says that when tai chi is done for health it is considered a form of qigong, and that tai chi is one of hundreds of qigong forms developed in China.[5] See Tai Chi vs Qigong.
Do tai chi and qigong teachers need a license?
In the United States, NCCIH says instructors do not have to be licensed, the practice is not regulated by the federal government or individual states, and there is no national standard for certification.[3][5] Rules elsewhere are not described in the sources we read.
What is Contrology?
It is the name Joseph Pilates gave to his method of exercise,[9] and the title word of his 1945 book.[10]
Has science measured qi?
Proper evidence not found in the sources we read for qi as a measurable energy. A general reference describes the idea as not corresponding to the energy of the physical sciences.[6] Research summaries, such as NCCIH's, look at qigong practice and outcomes such as pain, not at qi itself.[5]
What does "somatic" mean?
It comes from the idea of the body as perceived from within.[11] Methods such as Feldenkrais and the Alexander Technique are grouped under the term.[11]
References
- NCCIH, Yoga: Effectiveness and Safety. Read 2026-10-22.
- Wikipedia, Tai chi (general reference; edited by volunteers). Read 2026-10-22.
- NCCIH, Tai Chi: What You Need To Know. Read 2026-10-22.
- Wikipedia, Qigong (general reference; edited by volunteers). Read 2026-10-22.
- NCCIH, Qigong: What You Need To Know. Read 2026-10-22.
- Wikipedia, Qi (general reference; edited by volunteers). Read 2026-10-22.
- Wikipedia, Baduanjin qigong (general reference; edited by volunteers). Read 2026-10-22.
- Pilates Method Alliance, About the Pilates Method: What Is Pilates. Read 2026-10-22.
- Wikipedia, Pilates (general reference; edited by volunteers). Read 2026-10-22.
- Pilates Method Alliance, Pilates History. Read 2026-10-22.
- Wikipedia, Somatics (general reference; edited by volunteers). Read 2026-10-22.
- Feldenkrais Method, About the Feldenkrais Method. Read 2026-10-22.
- Wikipedia, Alexander Technique (general reference; edited by volunteers). Read 2026-10-22.
- alexandertechnique.com, What is the Alexander Technique and what are its Benefits?. Read 2026-10-22.