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A journey to centre...

26/4/2015

Tai Chi Chuan
A Journey to Centre.

In trying out new things or when learning new ways undoubtedly, you will feel stiff and awkward. This is natural because it is not something you “normally” do or may have done previously. But anything you are shown, if you like it or if you can see the sense in it, then you should allow yourself the time to practice it...

Learning anything new at first, can be very frustrating. When beginning to learn Tai Chi Chuan this can be particularly so. You are encouraged to relax at every class, yet, initially in commencing class, we only seem to create more of the very thing we are told to release ourselves of… tension.

Now, it is not that we cannot do it, that it is too difficult for us, we are not suited to learning it, we are too uncoordinated or any of the 1001 excuses we may conjure up to become discouraged and justify leaving our learning altogether. The point is, that we have now discovered that we are so full of tension/s.

Strange as it may be, this should be cause for celebration, not further frustration, as your practice is now beginning to take hold and know it, or not, you have now reached an important and crucial stage in your learning Tai Chi Chuan, you have now realized and become fully aware of the tension you carry in your body.

Having become aware of your tension, you can now begin the systematic process of releasing it. After a time, having dissolved fearl and accumulated tension/s you will gradually, soften and sink, and at the same time you will feel upright, centred, balanced, connected and grounded and you will find not further frustration but joy simply in the act of doing your Tai Chi Chuan and every day you will smile and learn something new.

So do not despair. At first it’s a matter of laboriously re-wiring the many shapes and forms and hardwiring the principles into our body, then later, with Ch’i sunk, intention strengthened and moving in accordance with the principles Tai Chi Chuan returns again to a function of a calm mind.

- John H

3 Comments

Felicity

31/12/2015 03:42:32 pm

This really resonates with me, as it’s a particular thought I’ve had all week.

On Tuesday's class, we were lucky to have a very small turn out, which allowed Sifu Roman to really reinforce those key principals of relaxation, that are the foundation to all we do, yet so easy to overlook.

I’ve become increasingly more aware of the different points of tension within my body and as you’ve pointed out, it really is a cause for celebration because it means I am aware. No longer is there a disconnect between my head and the rest of me, I can feel what is occurring and I can now learn to let go.

A helpful point that has made a difference to me in this area is that of understanding what is in my body, but letting go of ideas of “doing” something with this. I’ve slowly learnt that the road to relaxation comes from a sense of inquisitiveness to the tension you feel, exploring it and playing with different ways of moving (within the principles of course) to find where and how this tension can be dissipated. Doing this with interest and a playful mindset helps prevent you from adding more tension into the body.

For me, it is the breath that holds the key to this. Once we can draw the breath to the dan t’ien without force, we can then use this focus to help release tension in other places. The outward breath if thought of as a sigh can really help you release tension held. This in turn begins to permeate all aspects of life, not just practise. There is an awareness in all that you do, conversations had, pathways to follow. It all comes from that sense of relaxation, centredness and balance.

This is the beauty of Tai Chi Chuan.

John H link

31/12/2015 03:43:12 pm

Hello Felicity
Good to hear from you and thankyou for sharing your practice experience and insightful observations.

I like your ideas of "not doing the doing" and acquainting the out breath being like a sigh and remaining inquisitive to tension. The later two ideas better situates us internally and through focusing our attention inwardly it fundamentally accords with the classical advice to "gather the spirit within". Your idea of breath like a sigh is descriptive, as the out breath can naturally release and sink us downward, this is important as tension has an upward tendency which ripples throughout the body. To illustrate, if we lift and draw the big toe or middle finger backwards we can feel the tension travel up our lower leg or forearm. Your 'remaining inquisitive to tension' is insightful, subtle and effective I would suggest? In attempting to add to your observations of releasing tension I think its good we remain mindful to sink tension systematically downward through the body to be released through the bubbling well. This is about efficiency of practice and has a two-fold effect, 1, we further develop our root and 2, we are also learning to absorb and lead energy downward before returning it unobstructed.

I agree wholeheartedly with you Felicity in that it is most important to cultivate a playful attitude in our Tai Chi Chuan. I remember my Tai Chi teacher saying our attitude when pushing hands or in martial usage should be friendly, as if playing with a big puppy dog.

Thanks again Felicity enjoyed reading of your inspiring experiences.

Regards
John H

Jen B

31/12/2015 03:44:38 pm

Great to read John and Felicity – I agree that we really need to soften into the idea of releasing tension – tension gained gradually over many decades will take time to unravel – I get a sense of that sometimes..like a trickle through a part of my body – like the tide coming in and just finding a little bit of space to open up. Systematically releasing tension sounds good – think mine is more erratic at the moment so focusing releasing tension downwards is really helpful and warming on a cool day.
- Jen Binney

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