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Ceaseless
activity
People seek to feel vital and alive as they
grow older.
They engage in vigorous activities and work hard to keep their thoughts
continually occupied.
Hurrying around, taking on new commitments, watching
the news, playing with technology, gossiping, getting
upset about political issues...
This is not rejuvenation.
It is a recipe for mental health issues, a
heart attack or a
stroke.
Nervous agitation
Neurotic conduct is not youthful.
Look at small children, unhindered by adult interference.
They are usually curious about their immediate environment.
Taste, smell, touch, sounds, sights.
The child is not fidgeting or restless, bored or
emotional.
They are filled with awe and
wonder.
Taijiquan is about changing our internal environment so that life becomes a
joy to live and not a burden to drag into old age and death. It is about
helping your body to let go of the past and your mind to slow down and cease
churning. Taijiquan encourages your internal focus to shift toward
cherishing and remembering all that is wonderful in your life. It
predisposes you to look forward to ways to make life better, rather than
remembering how unsatisfying it has been.
Most importantly, taijiquan gives us the ability to realise a greater human
potential in ourselves and to have genuine compassion for others. Taijiquan,
with its gentle strength, moves us closer to feeling more truly alive.
(Bruce Frantzis)
Freedom from chit-chat
Talking is considered to be a form of restlessness,
of agitation. Curious?
Only when the mind is both silent and
still can deeper thought
take place, unimpeded by chit-chat.
The mind must settle. Relax.
Stop.
Faux methods?
Spa day, plastic surgery, poor exercise and
dyeing your hair are not ideal methods for rejuvenation.
Many modern methods have no
lineage.
There is no long-term evidence to support their claims.
The Old Ways
Yoga has been practiced since the dawn of recorded
history.
So has qigong.
The principles and
precepts of tai chi are
Ancient...
These methods have been proved over millennia.
How
we move conveys energy and
youth – not how buff we are.
(Anne Elliott)
Mind, body,
spirit
Tai chi combines mind, body and spirit in every action.
The student feels acutely alive and alert; energy-filled and
passionate.
By using the body more efficiently, you can become less tired and feel more
lively.
Wear & tear
Suppose you buy a car in 2010 and use it very rarely. In 2016 you decide to sell
the car and take it to a dealership.
The mileage is unusually low for a car of its age.
Yet the car is still 6 years
old chronologically.
In terms of wear and tear the car is 6 months old.
Tai chi is about spending your energy frugally.
That way, as you get older, your wear and tear is unusually low for a person of
your age.
Tai chi is like a tonic
A tonic is a medicine taken
daily in order to maintain and invigorate the body.
It may significantly improve your fitness.
However, you should take note of the small print, the conditions of use:
It must be administered every day
When you stop taking it, the fitness benefits go away
In order to rejuvenate with the
Art, it must become part of your daily
routine.
Daily qigong
Coupled with good
diet, water,
rest and sleep -
daily qigong is a fabulous place to start. Standing and moving qigong offer a workout that
can last between
30-60 minutes.
It is great for both body and
mind.
Daily qigong +
tai chi for health
After qigong, the student can perform a tai chi for
health routine. This can add another
30 minutes of
training and will increase the effects considerably.
Ending the routine with
constructive
reading and a short lie down is perfect.
Daily qigong +
tai chi for fitness
Adding a
more demanding fitness component will increase the effectiveness of the
training.
Daily qigong +
taijiquan
Taijiquan students have the opportunity
to really take the training to a
higher level. The routine is vastly more demanding and
thorough.
Heavy weapons and
nimble-footed
forms ask far more of the body.
Strength, agility,
fluid movement and sustained
concentration produce
a truly terrific way to start the day.
A martial routine can last as long as you
want it to; it is all a question of knowledge, material, commitment and
time.
Daily qigong + taijiquan +
baguazhang
This is the
powerhouse approach. Certainly not for
everyone. It offers an outrageously
demanding workout without straining the body.
The
fitness benefits are off the charts. Your body will feel and move like a dancer's.
Brain work
(meditation, awareness, metacognition)
Once you are training
taijiquan every day, you must supplement physical training by
reading the recommended books.
These titles will expand your consciousness, increase your
awareness,
develop a more flexible mind and make you receptive to unforeseen
possibilities.
Ultimately, the time you commit to your mental
development will prove to be
just as valuable as the physical training.
Before & after work
The old method of
training was to practice hard
before work, and gently after. The dawn routine prepares the
body,
emotions, mind and
spirit for the day.
The dusk routine calms
you down after work and replenishes your energy for the
evening.
Page created
11 February 2001
Last updated
08 June 2018
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