01/31/2019
How to Succeed
Often after many years of indifference and neglect, a person reads an article about Tai Chi Chuan, and being inspired about all the wonderful benefits of its practice, joins a class.
Although it is true, Tai Chi Chuan is an excellent form of therapeutic exercise, but just like modern medicine, there is no quick fix. It takes time and effort. This requires patience and determination.
Being interested and enthusiast at the beginning of any new venture is common, but when that thin veneer wears off, and the real work begins, many don't realize this is part of the training too. Not only does the body change physically, but the mind has to adapt mentally to endure.
Tai Chi Chuan has two basic strategies.
1. Softness overcomes hardness
Slow down. Take your time. Light load, many trips.
Instead of forcing the learning experience, yield and relax. Wherever we are; beginner, intermediate, advance, that is the perfect place to be in our practice.
Slow and steady wins the race.
2. Stillness overcomes motion
Economy of motion is to do more with less. Stay in the present moment. From the beginning to the end of any one technique in the Form, there are countless skills to be refined, but only if we take the time to become aware of them. Effectiveness and efficiency are not based on how much we do, but how we do it.
How we understand and apply Tai Chi is mind.
When we practice Chuan; boxing it is an action (verb) of the body.
First we have to understand Tai Chi practice cerebrally and foster the right attitude. Then we can apply it to the body.
The mind leads the body.
The body communicates back to the mind.
We have to listen to ourselves.
Mind is not only directing, but experiencing what is really happening.
If it goes right, how can I improve it further.
Being satiated too early leads to a superficial accomplishment.
If it goes wrong, what caused it, and how do I fix it.
Don't get upset, just try again, and again, and again...
We have to stop fighting with ourselves.
Accept, what we can't change. Peace of mind.
The practice is never about forcing ourselves to do what we can't.
Change, what we can. Courage.
The practice is about learning "how" we can do things we can't.
Wisdom, discriminate substantial from insubstantial.
Image: Snake Creep Downs - Movements present challenges to be worked on over the years. Going mindlessly through the movements redundantly, they will never change. Practicing to refine skill is the means to improve.
Embrace change.
