TAI CHI CHUAN, The Fine Wine of Exercises
by Paul Campbell Ed.S., L.M.T.
In our culture, we reach our physical peak somewhere between our early 20s and late 30s. From that point on, we try to grow obsolescent with as much grace as possible, eyeing the younger ones behind us, still in their prime, with a silent envy. At the same time, during those same 20s and 30s, our actions bear all the fruits of the inexperience with which we guide them. What an incredible irony that by the time we’re old enough to know how to live (say 50 or 60), we’re losing our bodies with which to live. Either God is particularly cruel by design or we’re approaching physical development from a limited point of view.
Tai Chi Chuan offers us a possibility that we can truly live with. Understanding the training of the human body as the ground for training the human spirit, Tai Chi tunes us to inner principles that lead to acontinually fuller, healthier life.
Let us look at three of these principles. First, there is uprightness. Externally, this means being in perfect equilibrium with gravity; internally, this means facing reality without pretense. Next, there is relaxation. At rest, a person is serene and attentive, while in action every cell is available for the simplest, most complete response. Action and rest, one is always contained within the other. The third principle is the Tan Tien--our physical center of gravity. Having our Heart-Mind focused at the Tan Tien means harmony in all aspects of our life, and it means our full being, our spirit, our internal unity can manifest.
Tai Chi classes last one hour, the movements are done slowly so that the body can learn thoroughly, the instructions are simple and precise so that the mind can learn clearly, and the general tone of the class is one of respect and good humor so that the heart can have a full impulse for learning. In other words, students love doing Tai Chi.
Seeing the human body as an exact expression of the maturing human spirit and training it accordingly, Tai Chi Chuan is like a fine wine--the older you get, the better you get.
by Paul Campbell Ed.S., L.M.T.
In our culture, we reach our physical peak somewhere between our early 20s and late 30s. From that point on, we try to grow obsolescent with as much grace as possible, eyeing the younger ones behind us, still in their prime, with a silent envy. At the same time, during those same 20s and 30s, our actions bear all the fruits of the inexperience with which we guide them. What an incredible irony that by the time we’re old enough to know how to live (say 50 or 60), we’re losing our bodies with which to live. Either God is particularly cruel by design or we’re approaching physical development from a limited point of view.
Tai Chi Chuan offers us a possibility that we can truly live with. Understanding the training of the human body as the ground for training the human spirit, Tai Chi tunes us to inner principles that lead to acontinually fuller, healthier life.
Let us look at three of these principles. First, there is uprightness. Externally, this means being in perfect equilibrium with gravity; internally, this means facing reality without pretense. Next, there is relaxation. At rest, a person is serene and attentive, while in action every cell is available for the simplest, most complete response. Action and rest, one is always contained within the other. The third principle is the Tan Tien--our physical center of gravity. Having our Heart-Mind focused at the Tan Tien means harmony in all aspects of our life, and it means our full being, our spirit, our internal unity can manifest.
Tai Chi classes last one hour, the movements are done slowly so that the body can learn thoroughly, the instructions are simple and precise so that the mind can learn clearly, and the general tone of the class is one of respect and good humor so that the heart can have a full impulse for learning. In other words, students love doing Tai Chi.
Seeing the human body as an exact expression of the maturing human spirit and training it accordingly, Tai Chi Chuan is like a fine wine--the older you get, the better you get.