Most styles of Tai Chi practiced today are family styles not directly linked to Taoist training, although vestiges of Taoism can still be found in some of the theories and terminology they employ. There is no historical record of how Tai Chi originally came to be practiced by people outside of the monastic community.

It is generally accepted that the Chen family of Henan province kept the practice of Tai Chi within the clan for generations before teaching it to Yang Luchan (1799-1872). Yang moved to Beijing and became head martial arts instructor for the imperial army of the Qing dynasty. It is from here that Tai Chi became widespread as a martial art and branched into a variety of styles named for the families which taught them, such as Chen style, Yang style, Sun style, Wu style, and so on.

The lay transmission of Tai Chi has from its inception stressed the use of Tai Chi principles for martial arts purposes, while also seeking health benefits from the practice of Tai Chi. It has however, maintained a tenuous link to the more spiritual or religious facets found in Taoist training. In more recent history, the health benefits of Tai Chi have attracted an increasing degree of attention, although the principles which govern the practice of the various styles generally, remain based on martial applications of Tai Chi.

Here is an example of Taoist Tai Chi Chuan:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yktUHOiweHw

If we practiced enough it would'nt.

That takes a while though.