Guest Opinion: The art of tai chi and how it works
Tai chi has its roots in Taoism, Zen from Buddhism and the disciplined efficiency from Confucianism. Doctors recommend its practice and the health benefits are elaborated in many scientific studies, which can easily be found and perused on the Internet.
This art form is performed very slowly, with emphasis on relaxation, precision and energy movement through various body parts. The brain, which we have become alarmingly aware, becomes diseased as easily as other parts of the body, especially if it is not properly challenged.
The very slow, standing movements of tai chi go in all directions of the compass, moving all the body parts as we do in real life. We are living an imaginary battle with continuously attacking opponents coming from all directions for 15 to 20 minutes. This is the time it takes to do the entire form.
As we know from bicycle riding, it is much easier to balance at speed than at a near standstill. So, we learn balance, relaxation, precision and energy movement skills from moving slowly. Life experiences have taught us that tightness inhibits speed and power. Turning at all angles of the compass to meet the continuously attacking enemy teaches spatial concepts, coordination, balance and gracefulness. When the various body parts must do different things at the same time, we learn to be ambidextrous and graceful.
The two hours per session class time is divided into sections devoted to internal and external preparation as well as tai chi form practice. We work on loosening, stretching, breathing and meditation techniques much like what is done in other recommended health enhancing studies such as yoga. We also study Eastern philosophy during the break period in order to better understand the foundations of tai chi.
Learning how to breathe the energy through our body parts is very important. By doing this, we can change the brain mood from wherever it is to a contented or a happy state. This has now been proven and demonstrated by science to be a fact. Also, we know from life experiences that you cannot expend energy outward while breathing in, instead you must breathe out (for example, pushing a car). These breathing processes are extremely important and are foundations of tai chi.
If you are impaired by age, misuse or disease, the time it takes to learn the form and appropriate drills and exercises increases until your body is repaired or improved. However, it is the journey that provides the health benefits not receiving the certificate for your tai chi form completion. Since the form is done slowly and only with the rigor your body is capable of, your health level when you start doesn’t matter very much. As we deteriorate and stop doing things as well in life, we start to lose confidence. This makes deterioration even faster as we fear doing things we used to do regularly. Seeing and feeling this confidence return is a big step.Gaining flexibility and the resulting loosening and relaxing of the body parts allows gracefulness to appear as well as more balance. As confidence continues to rise, the spirit rises and now almost anything is possible. Increasing our longevity doesn’t count for much if we can’t enjoy a certain level of quality in our lives.
Class is held on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3-5 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. at the Fishers of Men Lutheran Church on Pine Island.
For more information regarding tai chi, contact Frank Tuma at 283-9155.