Tai Chi for health & wellbeing
Some of the odd places I have performed Tai Chi include;
But I’ve never performed Tai Chi at an airport.
Check out this clip of ‘Airport Tai Chi’.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=syGasscRmh8&feature=youtu.be
Heel breathing is a good energiser.
It can be done either sitting down or standing up.
I normally practice it sitting down as part of a series of chi kung exercises I do.
Sometimes I do it standing, whenever I need an energy boost.
Here’s how to do heel breathing.
Footnote: Expanded from Tai Chi Tip #35 – I discovered this technique several years ago while reading ‘Complete Tai Chi’ by Master Alfred Huang.
In the early years of my Tai Chi training my instructor would demonstrate a technique quickly and wait for a reaction from the class.
If we were confused at what we had seen he would say ‘clear as mud?’ and then laugh.
I’ve been thinking of what he’d said and now realise there was depth in that remark besides the humour.
As a beginner, the techniques and most of the classical Tai Chi sayings were as ‘clear as mud’ to me.
I couldn’t see the correct technique or the meaning of a saying because of my inexperience and my tendency to analyse too much.
I now realise it’s about the doing rather than the anlaysing that will clear the mud away.
23 years since I started I still make pleasant discoveries of what appears to be a simple technique or saying by practicing more and analysing less.
It’s something I teach beginners – just do – and you will discover the meaning.
For safety reasons I keep a close eye on beginners so they don’t injure themselves.
As long as they’re within the safety limits of a technique I let them discover the meaning for themselves.
And this can be achieved by constant practice.
Otherwise, it will be ‘clear as mud’.
A few years ago I was training with our instructor and a small group of students in a garage.
We were practising some techniques and my training partner mentioned an idea that I found unusual.
I didn’t give it too much thought at the time but later on I started to use it in my training and found it to be very beneficial.
Although it may sound a bit weird, here is the technique.
1. Imagine there is a little man inside your tan tien.
2. Each time you practice a technique, imagine the little man doing exactly the same thing at the same time as you are, perfectly.
It’s a simple concept and here are the reasons why it works for me.
1. It keeps my focus in the tan tien area – stops my mind from wandering.
2. My movements are more precise.
3. Improves my speed when practising a technique.
When I have reflected on this technique I’ve wondered if points 2 & 3 were part of my imagination or just a placebo effect. But it doesn’t really matter. If the only benefit I get from this concept is that it keeps me focused on my tan tien then it is worthwhile.
Before trying this technique make sure you have mastered the skill you are practising. If you don’t you could be fine tuning a bad habit.
If you decide to have a go, let me know if it works for you or not.
Footnote: re title – no, I was not influenced by Bob Dylan or The Byrds singing ‘Hey Mr Tambourine Man … Oh, hang on, maybe I was?
Don’t be fooled by this fellow.
In the photo he was on his best behaviour.
I was in Nepal recently for the World Appreciative Inquiry conference where Sue and I delivered our ‘Power of AQ/KQ workshop.
After the conference, a group of us travelled to the Chitwan provence, which was a 5 hour drive from Kathmandu.
I saw this calm looking buffalo at one of the villages we visited and took his photo.
On the way back I was about to cross a narrow footbridge when I stopped to take another photograph of the water buffalo who was by now in the creek.
As I raised my camera he started to splash about and came charging towards me.
I did what any Tai Chi person would do.
I used one of the 8 powers.
I retreated. And fast.
To add insult to injury I ended up drenched by the spraying water and no photo.
The classics say ‘4 ounces leads a 1000 pounds.’
No it doesn’t.
When 1000 lbs comes charging at you, forget 4 ounces.
And forget about brush knee twist step.
Just run.
In the opposite direction!