What the Philosophy of Tai Chi Can Do For You
Taoist Philosophy
To
understand the purpose of the form it is important to understand its basis and
roots.
The origins of Tai Chi go back over 5,000 years and are based
in Taoist philosophy developed and refined by the great Taoist thinkers such
as, Tao Te Ching, Lao Tzu and Chuang Tzu.
The core concept of Taoism
and Taoist philosophy is that everything in the universe is subject to change
and when dealing with this change we should act not to fight it but work with
it and avoid conflict.
The core Of Taoism is that action should always
be effortless and come from spontaneous creativity, but this should not require
mental or physical effort.
According to Taoist philosophy change is constant
but, by understanding change and acting in accordance with the laws that govern
it, we can work effortlessly to achieve our aims.
Taoism is about working
within the laws of change, not struggling to oppose them, this is seen as futile
and a waste of energy.
In Tai Chi this manifests itself in that a posture
will always be difficult and a struggle, unless there is union of mind and body,
to make the move an effortless interaction.
Yin and Yang
Another
concept in Chinese philosophy related to change is yin and yang.
These
two opposing, yet complimentary forces are constantly at work in the universe
and in our lives.
Yin and yang are the basis of change but they also
come together in harmony to create a balanced whole.
The simplest example
of this is breathing. We breathe in and we breathe out - an opposing action
that comes together to create balance and harmony. Change and harmony, is the
basis of yin and yang and of Tai Chi.
The principles of yin and yang
are reflected in the form the sequence of movements that make up the Tai Chi
discipline.
The form is actually a sequence of movements that flow continuously
representing both change and harmony.
A movement begins, grows completes
and empties then another begins until the sequence is completed.
The
Tai Chi Philosophy
The aim of the Tai Chi form is to create streams of
energy to flow through the body.
In the philosophy of Tai Chi, it is
said Chi (life energy) follows the mind; each posture and movement creates a
different energy flow, which, has a beneficial overall affect on overall well-being.
Tai
Chi stimulates circulation, aligns the skeleton and joints correctly, stimulates
the organs of the body and helps digestion.
It increases muscle tone,
strength, improves balance and co ordination and improves breathing.
Tai
Chi does not just provide physical benefits; by raising energy levels, it also
affects the mind and the spirit.
Tai Chi focuses thought, so that mind
and body energy works together as one.
Tai Chi reflects both Taoism in
terms of effortless interaction and yin and yang in terms of reconciling two
opposing forces, to create harmony and equilibrium. This combination is the
very essence of the Tai Chi philosophy.
Re Vitalise offer a warm welcome to both novice and experienced pupils. In addition to offering, regular Tai Chi tuition there are several weekend breaks available. To learn more about our services go to:
http://www.re-vitalise.co.uk
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