Tai Chi Chuan
the roadmap to internal health and strength
2007-09-14
By Lenzie J. Williams

Tai Chi is a very unique Art/ Health system; a stress and tension reduction method, a health exercise, a moving meditation, a philosophical path to help navigate the challenges in life, and a system of self-defense.

There are many styles and systems of Tai Chi. The system I study is called the Cheng Man Cheng Short Form, a variation of the Yang Family Form.  Professor Cheng, the developer of this style, was a famous Tai Chi Master, and also a Master Herbalist and Acupuncturist. His system places a high priority on health and relaxation. The training of the postures, form flow, and standing meditation form the basis for Tai Chi development in this system.

The initial learning phase involves practicing warm-up exercises,
which help to develop flexibility, strength, and relaxation.  Also these exercises start the articulation of the Nine Doors.  These are very important physical and energetic areas in Chinese Healing Systems.

The next phase is learning the postures and the transition movements that smoothly link the postures together.  In the process of learning the postures, the body is slowly and gently stretched, strengthened, and opened.  Externally some postures may appear to be simple, however, each posture is meeting several external and internal alignment criteria, which affect muscle, tendon, ligamental, and skeletal balance and development.  Each posture, which also has the precision and function of a self-defense condition, has to be precise in order to affect acupuncture meridians, organs, and organ systems.

The process of meeting these standards brings a tremendous amount of consciousness and awareness.  This increasing awareness begins the very important process of energy or "Chi" cultivation, the key to internal health. As the Chi develops, it circulates through the body clearing blockages, healing organs and systems, regenerating and rejuvenating not only our bodies, but also our emotions, our minds, and our Spirit. In somewhat simple terms, Chi cultivation is taking energy that is dormant and latent in the body, awakening it through awareness, beginning to circulate it through the body, and then refining the energy, which can continue to develop infinitely. As you develop strength, flexibility, relaxation, and balance from the posturing work, you move the posturing into form-flow (the postures and transitions performed as a smooth and flowing
meditation). 

Standing meditation, the third element, is a tool for developing the breath, a deeper sense of inner awareness and peace-capacity, and because of the breathing, a powerful Chi cultivator.
Self-defense comes initially from the posture work, then from cooperative training exercises that teach principles and technique with emphasis on timing, balance, and relaxation (key Tai Chi principles).

Tai Chi offers much as a health and development tool.  You may find it worth your while to go look at and try a Tai Chi class.  Our body-being has sometimes been referred to as a Temple.  Honor that truth with exercise, conscious nutrition, and a beautiful heart, so you can walk the longest of your chosen path in fulfillment and
Granted Destiny.

Lenzie J. Williams teaches Tai Chi in Berkeley, California, and does workshops nationally and internationally. He has studied various health and consciousness systems for nearly forty years.