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Tai Chi is a beautiful art to watch and yet many beginning students are frustrated by the numerous veils that seem to
keep them from seeing what Tai Chi is, how it works, how it can benefit them and the best way to learn it’s intricate
and flowing movements. The veils start with how the Western mind perceives things in contrast to Eastern
perspectives and concepts, or, in many ways, a left versus right brain approach. We'll explore both points of view so
you can see behind the curtain and integrate what you currently know with Tai Chi Concepts and Principles.
Western Left Brain: Tai Chi is a low impact anaerobic exercise using slow movements and deep breathing to:
•Allow the muscles to relax and lengthen relieving stress and tension
•Develops tendon and ligament strength by keeping the joints slightly bent and utilizing twisting and spiraling
movements
•Diaphragmatic breathing promotes better balance or “centeredness” and combined with the gentle twisting
movements boosts lymphatic movement and immune function
•Improves lung capacity and digestion
•Improves nervous system function
•Improves skeletal structure through compression exercise
•Integrates left and right brain into whole brain neural net through left and ride side movement ‘switching’
•Improves cardio function
Eastern Right Brain: Tai Chi is not something you learn, it is something you become.
The ideogram for ‘Tai’ is a person stretching out their arms opening wide their heart and embracing everything the
world throws at them while keeping their ‘center’. ‘Chi’ or ‘Qi’ is a person standing between heaven and earth
carving out their world (symbolized by a tree) with their mouth (words) and hands (actions). Tai is often translated
as “Great” and Chi as “Energy” or together a great person cultivating their energy. When you have enough energy,
you can say and do what you WILL with conscious intent rather than being afraid of what others will think or do. The
art of Tai Chi is made up of qigong (energy work) and tao yin (movements promoting pliability). When you connect
the body, energy and mind with movement and balance you have achieved the Tai Chi, also known as “Moving
Meditation”.
It is very common for a beginner to do a class and then marvel at how sore they are the next day when they didn’t
feel like they were really doing anything. Stretching your muscles, working your tendons and ligaments while
engaging your brain has a powerful ripple effect that you have to experience to appreciate. Tai Chi is a laboratory
science class where your body and mind is the laboratory and you get to play with the energy that is around and
within you. As you free up more energy, you may find that you will unveil some great things that are within you as
well.
keep them from seeing what Tai Chi is, how it works, how it can benefit them and the best way to learn it’s intricate
and flowing movements. The veils start with how the Western mind perceives things in contrast to Eastern
perspectives and concepts, or, in many ways, a left versus right brain approach. We'll explore both points of view so
you can see behind the curtain and integrate what you currently know with Tai Chi Concepts and Principles.
Western Left Brain: Tai Chi is a low impact anaerobic exercise using slow movements and deep breathing to:
•Allow the muscles to relax and lengthen relieving stress and tension
•Develops tendon and ligament strength by keeping the joints slightly bent and utilizing twisting and spiraling
movements
•Diaphragmatic breathing promotes better balance or “centeredness” and combined with the gentle twisting
movements boosts lymphatic movement and immune function
•Improves lung capacity and digestion
•Improves nervous system function
•Improves skeletal structure through compression exercise
•Integrates left and right brain into whole brain neural net through left and ride side movement ‘switching’
•Improves cardio function
Eastern Right Brain: Tai Chi is not something you learn, it is something you become.
The ideogram for ‘Tai’ is a person stretching out their arms opening wide their heart and embracing everything the
world throws at them while keeping their ‘center’. ‘Chi’ or ‘Qi’ is a person standing between heaven and earth
carving out their world (symbolized by a tree) with their mouth (words) and hands (actions). Tai is often translated
as “Great” and Chi as “Energy” or together a great person cultivating their energy. When you have enough energy,
you can say and do what you WILL with conscious intent rather than being afraid of what others will think or do. The
art of Tai Chi is made up of qigong (energy work) and tao yin (movements promoting pliability). When you connect
the body, energy and mind with movement and balance you have achieved the Tai Chi, also known as “Moving
Meditation”.
It is very common for a beginner to do a class and then marvel at how sore they are the next day when they didn’t
feel like they were really doing anything. Stretching your muscles, working your tendons and ligaments while
engaging your brain has a powerful ripple effect that you have to experience to appreciate. Tai Chi is a laboratory
science class where your body and mind is the laboratory and you get to play with the energy that is around and
within you. As you free up more energy, you may find that you will unveil some great things that are within you as
well.
| "Mental bearing (calmness), not skill, is the sign of a matured samurai. A samurai therefore should neither be pompous nor arrogant." -Tsukahara Bokuden |
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| Copyright ©2005-2012 CG Martial Arts Academy |
| (623) 810-8701 cgmartialarts@yahoo.com |
| CG Martial Arts Academy |
