Spiraling Secret

Breath leading the qi is like muscle leading the qi. The progression should be yi-qi-body. The task in taiji is to recognize which is leading in any given movement and any given moment. Even if muscles do lead, you can improve how they do that but when you do, you will see that they are a secondary movement to the primary one of yi-qi.

You can add a spiral into the movement of the muscles. When you do you will see that you were barely moving them before. You were tensing and releasing them. The tension-release motion is what you are accustomed to and most familiar with. The idea of the muscles spiraling is new enough, but actually getting yourself to make it happen is the real challenge. The first time you find yourself spiraling, though, will thrill you. Like the first time for so many things in life; in elation, you mark a significant moment in life.

A hint of cold draws near. The temperature falls ever so slightly and you anticipate it falling to frigid depths. You worry, but what exactly worries you is not obvious. If someone asked what disturbs you, you couldn’t say exactly. Everything is not absolute in your world. In mine, everything is changeable, fluctuating with the mysterious quirks of an unseen being. I call it a being, because I don’t think of another word-way to refer to it. What do you call a mysterious presence that you sense but can’t actually see? One that appears conscious … aware very much more of us than we are of it. The Tao?

Two ways of perceiving our bodies and its role in living

the body channels energy and tai chi is a method for learning to perceive this natural ability of the human being.

 

I choose the path of health, talking about it with others. We all may not want to live forever, but we do want to live well while we’re alive. The physcial body is important, because through it we feel the health of our energy bodies. Our bodies can be perceived as conduits or as containers. Most people probably perceive the human body as a container. Alternatively, we can also be conduits of energy. We can generate a vibrating action/ sensation, frequency … Being in a flow of energy is a contemporary possibilitiy for those who dare to shift the perception a little to the side and freshen their options.

The Dragon is Waking

A student said whole-heartedly one day that “the (tai chi) moves themselves teach you.” This rings true even though we may not have words to describe exactly how they teach us. What exactly do they do? I am figuring this out. In short, they teach you the next step, the show you the feeling that you are ready to evolve into. They teach the nature of chi and open doors to new ways of perceiving yourself, your world, and the very nature of movement, the thing that distinguishes humans from other forms of life.

Learn Tai Chi in Durango, Colorado

Tai chi (also T’ai Chi, Taijiquan, Taiji, Tai Chi Chuan) is a centuries-old Chinese system of exercise that has become one of the world’s most popular forms of exercise. Tai chi’s deliberately slow body movements and carefully executed stances and positions cultivate mental relaxation and strengthen the body. It was originally, and still is, a martial art; but, now is practiced more as “meditation in motion.” Scientific research is showing that tai chi can provide many health benefits, such as improved blood circulation to almost magical curative properties in treatment of degenerative diseases.
Several styles of tai chi have developed over time, all of which are characterized by “forms.” The form links various postures with transitions between each posture. Most people practice a Yang style form of tai chi that originally linked 108 movements, but these days, a shorter 24 and 37 posture forms are more and more popular.
Taijiquan is actually only one of several ancient Chinese martial art systems that are referred to as “internal” systems. Internal aspects are the secrets to tai chi’s effectiveness and its distinction from other forms of exercise or martial arts. Durango is lucky to have a number of accomplished practitioners living in the area who share their knowledge and teach others. Instructor Tim Richard, who teaches publicly at Trimble Hot Springs and Durango Sports Club, practices three styles of taijiquan, as well as aspects of other internal arts. He employs 13 years of intensive study in helping others who seek better health and are interested in learning fundamental principles of Chinese internal martial arts.
“The proper progression of movement in Taiji is ‘mind moves energy moves body’,” Mr. Richard explains. “This sounds simple, but it is not easy to do at first, because most of us are accustomed to a different way of moving that we take for granted. Without a mindful awareness of how we move we cannot affect change in our energetic and physical beings. And change is why we do Taiji. Change is why we do any exercise, but of course I prefer Taiji for the way it engages the whole being—mind, energy, body.”
Mr. Richard describes tai chi as a complementary exercise, and although it stands alone among exercise routines, rather than an alternative to other exercise routines that so many in our community participate in. Bicyclists, hikers, runners, skiers, swimmers, golfers, rafters and so on can benefit from tai chi secrets, he says. He adds that the only thing he sees that competes with tai chi is time. Even though many feel some benefits in their first few practice sessions, few seem to have the time it takes to learn tai chi to the most beneficial degree.
He recommends that two years of weekly classes is a good measure of building capacity to get the most and the best from tai chi. By then, he says, you will have memorized the forms and you will be familiar and comfortable with them and can do them anywhere, anytime.
Anytime is a good time to begin tai chi he says; adding that “now” is the best time. He teaches Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays at Trimble Hot Springs and Durango Sports Club, and privately by appointment. He also co-teaches with his teacher and kungfu sister, Sifu Susan A. Matthews, on Friday afternoons at First United Methodist Church. Call him for details at 970-749-0891, or email at taichiquest@durangotaichi.com.

Dragon Awaken!!

Tai chi appeals to many, but they have a hard time fitting even a single class into their weekly schedules. They already have so much to do, would hate to break any regular exercise routine they might have. Getting back a disrupted routine is not easy. Adding another commitment to your health regime is just too hard, even if you know you’re missing out.

Such a scheduling snafu gives tai chi a poor first impression before you even know what it really is and what it can do for you. Part of the problem might also be that conventional thinking has us assuming that lots of effort and time are needed in order to feel the effects. But tai chi is not like muscle-building or working out at the gym (or even like jogging or swimming; although you can incorporate tai chi principles into such routines with great results). Actually, you can feel the difference quite quickly. Of course, regular, long-term practice produces more in-depth knowledge and ability, as well as longer lasting benefits. Taijiquan becomes a life-long pursuit for many.

Lately, I’ve been wondering how necessary it actually is to think that you need to do tai chi regularly over time to get much out of it. Can you actually learn something about tai chi in a relatively short time and practice it without disrupting established routines? I think you can. I’ve suspected so for a long time, but the subject just recently surfaced to the forefront of my attention.

I was hiking with an acquaintance who had taken some tai chi classes in the past and had learned a little form. Along the way, she had moved to a town that had no tai chi teacher; so she got a membership at a health club to exercise. She likes to hike, but she goes to the club, which is handy when the weather is bad (What? No tai chi class at the club?!). While we were hiking she pointed out to me a strain that was bothering her. She had turned up the resistance factor on the machine to work her arms against it, which turned out to be too much. She hyper-extended a ligament, tendon, or muscle…whatever. … Her shoulder was still hurting weeks later and her range of motion was painfully constrained.

Hearing her story got me to thinking. I knew that she had injured herself because she had used her body incorrectly. I could have told her about whole body movement and initiating and completing moves from the lower dantian. I see it all the time. People don’t know they could avoid injury if they knew just a little bit about tai chi principles of movement. In a relatively short time, she could produce equal-to-better effects less hazardously by knowing some tai chi. For one thing, she would know how not to hyper-extend any part of the body.

If I showed someone just one thing about taiji it could make a difference in their exercise routine. They could reduce the risk of, or even prevent, injury just by practicing whole body moves as a single unit.

You can learn how to move from the dantian in a very short time with a good teacher and a balanced frame of mind. Just initiate and finish each move in the abdominal area. It’s enough even if that’s the only task you do for a long time. You can practice it at the gym on those contraptions that you push and pull against.

Wake the Dragon!