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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 taijiquan 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.
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
29 April 2021
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