The Art of Moving Meditation

'ai Chi has been practiced in China for thousands of years. It is performed in slow motion based on a continuous flowing movement coordinated with deep breathing. It resembles an effortless dance, but every movement is precise and is performed with a great deal of internal strength.

T'ai Chi has its roots in Taoism. One of the major goals of Taoism is "to live forever and be forever young." To achieve this, one must follow the Tao (the Way or Path), which means harmonizing with nature and the universe. This harmonization must be both external and internal. Early Taoist monks observed movement and interchanges between animals and birds within the elements. From their observations, they developed the now famous moving exercises that integrate nature within ourselves to achieve harmony and balance.

T'ai Chi is an art. One who practices T'ai Chi is actually directing the movement of the internal, invisible energy of Ch’i throughout the entire body. The swimming, weaving motions of T'ai Chi soothe tired, over-stimulated nerves and loosen tense muscles. T'ai Chi has the therapeutic effect of slowing down the mind and refreshing the body. T'ai Chi is used by the Chinese to treat conditions of stress, depression, mental strain, listlessness, chronic indigestion, insomnia, arthritis, rheumatism, obesity, and sciatica.

Ch’i is subtle vitality. It animates all the processes of the body and stimulates the creativity of the mind. It is the invisible, protective and defensive energy of the body and is diffused throughout the body, where it warms the flesh, regulates the pores, maintains the complexion, and protects bones and joints. It resides in the tan tien, or psychic center, just below the navel. When the flow is strong and unhindered, we are healthy. A slight reduction causes sickness. If the flow stops temporarily, we become unconscious. It manifests as a layer of warm atmosphere on the skin’s surface - the aura- and circulates through the meridian system and around all organs, muscles and bones. It is through the resonances of Ch’i that we become sensitive to others - their movements, manners, gaining intuition and synchronicity.

The basic aim is to silence the thinking mind and shift the awareness from the rational to the intuitive mode of consciousness. In T'ai Chi practice the Chi is lowered to the tan tien, thus lowering one’s center of gravity and establishing a more stable position. At this point, the mind and body become peaceful and tranquil, and all movements become graceful and harmonious.

The 64 movement Yang Style is a beautiful, rounded style of body movement. The complete form takes about 20 minutes to perform. The space required is about 12’ to the right and to the left, and about 6’ in front and behind you. Many prefer to practice outdoors, not just because of the space used, but because of the pleasure of integrating one’s energy with the universe. Each movement is a succession of an opposite action, so that the hand which is above descends and the hand which is below rises. No movement is complete in itself; it is always moving towards its opposite. The end of one is the beginning of another. This reflects the way of nature. Everything in the universe is constantly changing and renewing itself in a cyclical pattern, so it is with T'ai Chi. Movements are forever changing. No posture is held - it is a continuous flow, each posture melting away as soon as it is formed. It is by practicing T'ai Chi that one is able to harmonize oneself with internal balancing changes, and to flow peacefully with eternal change.