As, like 'yoga' (root = 'yoke') it is not about just physical exercise or relaxation - though that is surely a by-product. I guess simplest way to put it is - you can get 'more' out of it than say, "just another way to move the muscles around". 'Chi' means energy. 'Tai' ~ 'tao' ~ "way".

Another variant "Chi Kung" (phonetically) has accumulated millions of practitioners over past 20 years or so - also growth in US. Similar ideas.

Might be worth talking to some local practitioner (of either) - after all, we all mean different things by 'relaxation'..


A.