| What does an ancient Chinese martial art such as | | | | The teacher was instantly recognizable. Other |
| Tai Chi have to offer modern day people living in | | | | than the fact that he was one out of only a few |
| the UK? The slow meditative movements of Tai | | | | people who was not pacing nervously, or |
| Chi appear to be at the opposite end of the | | | | protectively huddled in a small group, he had a |
| spectrum to modern day living, yet Tai Chi | | | | distinct air about him along with an intensity and |
| continues to gain popularity in the West. Popularity | | | | confidence in the eyes. I instantly felt as though it |
| alone, however, is rarely an indicator of intrinsic | | | | would be futile to try to deceive him in any way, |
| worth (take binge drinking for example!), so how | | | | which left me feeling quite vulnerable. It was not |
| are you to determine whether Tai Chi has | | | | that I sensed an intrusive or menacing disposition, |
| something to offer you personally? | | | | in fact quite the opposite. It was simply that the |
| This was the question I found myself facing five | | | | teacher's calm, authentic attitude demanded a |
| years ago. Unsure as to why I was even | | | | similar openness in return. |
| considering the question, I came to the conclusion | | | | The lesson began with a warm up, which involved |
| that nothing could substitute for personal | | | | gentle stretches and rotating of the body and |
| experience and, with some misgivings, I decided | | | | limbs to loosen joints and muscles. This was |
| to take the plunge. | | | | followed by some simple movement exercises, |
| On hearing that some friends of mine had | | | | two-person practice, and the Tai Chi form. |
| registered on a ten-week introductory course in | | | | Throughout the session the teacher discussed |
| Tai Chi starting the very next week, I decided to | | | | some of the concepts and principles behind Tai |
| call the course organiser immediately. Perhaps this | | | | Chi. It was stressed that without adherence to |
| was fate, perhaps it was my destiny to study Tai | | | | these principles, a student of Tai Chi would |
| Chi. Fate, however, had deviated from my | | | | achieve only minimal benefit from their practice. |
| expectations. The course was fully subscribed. | | | | These concepts were very simple to explain and |
| I felt quite aggrieved that my grand plan had | | | | conceptualise yet proved extremely difficult to |
| been thwarted. How dare my friends start Tai Chi | | | | put into practice. I left the class feeling confused |
| without me! Although living in a large town there | | | | but yet at the same time some part of me had |
| were certainly other teachers available, I failed to | | | | been inspired and I knew that I would be coming |
| overcome this set back and chose the route of | | | | back the next week. |
| apathy. Apparently my aspirations were not | | | | Five years on I still practice Tai Chi and I feel |
| particularly resilient, and I comforted myself in the | | | | fortunate to have discovered the art when I did. |
| knowledge that at least I had tried. | | | | Whilst I have made a great deal of progress, I |
| Ten weeks later my spiritually advanced friends | | | | am beginning to learn the truth that Tai Chi takes |
| told me that their Tai Chi course had ended and | | | | time and dedication to learn, and cannot ever |
| classes were now open to all comers. Although | | | | really be mastered. This is sometimes one of the |
| my initial zeal had diminished somewhat, I was left | | | | most difficult aspects to come to terms with, |
| with no excuses and agreed to join them at the | | | | especially living in our culture of impatience and |
| next class. | | | | instant material satisfaction. |
| Until we arrived on the following Tuesday I hadn't | | | | This challenge is, however, one of Tai Chi's |
| recognised the full extent of my apprehensions. | | | | greatest assets. The patience that the art |
| My desire to learn Tai Chi had been replaced with | | | | demands helps us to step out of the cycle of |
| an unsettling feeling that I could not place. I | | | | desire and satisfaction, allowing us to become |
| realised that I knew next to nothing about Tai Chi, | | | | more present and aware in everyday life. This |
| and began thinking, 'what the hell am I doing | | | | allows us to face up to things that we have |
| here?'. Understanding it was far too late to | | | | subconsciously been running away from, and to |
| entertain these thoughts I resolved myself to the | | | | solve problems that we never knew were holding |
| fact that I would be there for the next two | | | | us back. |
| hours. | | | | |