| ress free living | | | | to get the results. It’s hard to get your |
| When I began practicing Tai Chi in 1991 the thing | | | | head around that something so graceful and |
| that struck me about it was its power or at least | | | | elegant can be used for self defense too, but |
| the promise of its power. What I went on to | | | | then again there is an old Chinese saying that |
| witness and discover was that there was nothing | | | | the best fighters never fight’ i.e. if you |
| mystical or particularly esoteric about the power | | | | have no enemies internally or externally then |
| of tai chi it was more just a case of doing it, | | | | there is no need for conflict. The philosophy |
| following tai chi’s unique set of principles | | | | behind Tai Chi (Taoism) is really useful too and |
| and just witnessing what arose within me. When I | | | | includes the theory that if you fight force with |
| practice my form (sequence of movements) it is | | | | force any conflict will get worse. It teaches |
| never exactly the same but it is always beneficial. | | | | yielding and flexibility to overcome any situation. |
| Tai Chi means the supreme ultimate and | | | | This can diffuse a situation leaving room for |
| Chuan means, fist so Tai Chi Chuan is in | | | | negotiation and dialogue. When you take |
| fact a martial art despite it’s reputation for | | | | something like that into your daily life then you |
| just being a gentle meditative exercise. When | | | | have gained a distinct advantage. Yielding |
| practiced as a martial art Tai Chi is both effective | | | | encourages listening and when you listen you gain |
| and powerful (but this takes a lot of practice to | | | | more information and it is easier to see where |
| even glimpse especially when you learn that in Tai | | | | someone is coming from. In the workplace such a |
| Chi, the main focus is to use the power of the | | | | strategy would create less stress for everyone! |
| mind in unison with the energy and power of the | | | | Part of the physiological aspect of tai chi includes |
| body to release force in whatever direction you | | | | the effect it has on our brain, our lymphatic |
| want). | | | | system and our joints. Recent neurological |
| The benefits of Tai Chi are immense and include | | | | research has found that tai chi practice |
| improved co-ordination, circulation, posture, | | | | encourages the brain to perform more |
| balance and well-being. Because tai chi is practiced | | | | effectively. This is partly due to the brain |
| slowly and with a relaxed focus the nervous | | | | receiving more oxygenated blood (as the |
| system becomes calmer and so do you. This | | | | breathing technique in tai chi improves lung |
| meditative effect gives you a clearer perspective | | | | capacity and elasticity) but also because the |
| mentally and in today’s fast and hectic | | | | meditative, calming effect of tai chi changes the |
| world this can only be a huge resource. In fact | | | | brains frequency from beta (active normal waking |
| the stress relieving attributes are one of the main | | | | waves) to alpha (receptive between sleep and |
| reasons why people start Tai Chi as it gives them | | | | awake waves which are related to improved |
| a calm mind and real sense of physical emotional | | | | ability to learn and remember). The lymphatic |
| and spiritual health | | | | system is partly responsible for detoxifying the |
| Tai Chi started a long time ago so it’s had | | | | blood and is stimulated by the gentle muscular |
| time to develop and evolve into what we see | | | | work in tai chi. The soft relaxed movements of |
| today. This slow process of change which has | | | | Tai Chi massage the lymph nodes improving their |
| happened to tai chi over the centuries is mirrored | | | | function and boosting the immune system. The |
| in the way tai chi is practiced i.e. at a meditative | | | | joints of the body are often where aches and |
| pace with no rush to complete it’s intricate | | | | pains first creep in so maintaining healthy active |
| and engrossing movements. The softness and | | | | joints is important at any age. Because the load |
| flow of tai chi make you relax (you just | | | | bearing joints of the body are kept in strong |
| can’t help it!) but it’s a rejuvenating | | | | alignment throughout Tai Chi and are never |
| kind of relaxation. At the end of a Tai Chi class | | | | abused nor greatly impacted upon, their health |
| people are buzzing with Qi (life-force), as the | | | | and function is protected whilst the circulation of |
| practice encourages your energy to flow and | | | | blood in and around the joints is increased. |
| tension and blockages just seem to dissolve | | | | All in all Tai Chi offers us a unique way to combat |
| away. It all sounds very blissful and beautiful, | | | | stress and learn new and valuable skills. |
| which it is but you do have to put a little effort in | | | | |