TAI CHI - Healing Mind

Tai Chi is the art of mindful movement, where mind, body, and spirit merge into an intimate aspect where balance and flow become more dynamic than physical strength.

Performing Tai Chi correctly means entering a realm of knowledge and self discovery which is as much spiritual as it is physical, where slowness of movement enables us to use our intuition to see our bodies move in balance with everything around us. Even in the martial aspect of Tai Chi, like other Asian martial arts, offence is never the final aim. The true goal is an enhanced knowledge of ourselves and our balance.

In a distant time, in a world that would one day become known as China, existed a highly advanced culture of people known as the Shang. Rediscovered in the 1990s, Shang writings found carved into oxen bones and turtle shells tell of a great natural calamity. People became ill and then died. It was during this time a great emperor consulted shamen who fashioned a dance to restore and maintain people's health.

In 1972, construction workers in southern China's Muwangdui, (Horse King Mound) uncovered a massive burial tomb. Lady Dai, as she is known, died in 163 B.C.E. She was buried in a massive tomb perfectly preserved along with many of her favorite possessions. Among the items is a silk tapestry depicting people performing movements they called health and longevity exercises that resemble Tai Chi movements.

High is the mist covered mountains of China's Hubei Provence sits Mount Wudang, the ancestral home of Taoist practitioners. Dotted with shrines and temples Mount Wudang is the birthplace of Acupuncture, Acupressure, Internal Alchemy, Chi Kung and Tai Chi. For over 3,000 years, the Taoist have followed a natural way of living that stresses cultivating health and wisdom through exercise, diet, and meditation. The three jewels of Taoist philosophy are Simplicity, Humility, and Compassion.

For centuries China and Europe traded goods, news, and philosophy along the Silk Road. Buddhist, Christian, and Muslim missionaries entered China to spread their wisdom. Taoist traditions likewise made their way into Europe. Many people do not know about Taoist or Taoism but, most western people can recite Taoist philosophical doctrine. The journey of ten thousand miles begins with the first step. One picture is worth 10,000 words. Give a man a fish and you feed him for the day, teach him to fish and you feed him for a life time. No man should expect any better treatment than he shows his fellow man. No fight, no blame. To know others is knowledge, to know oneself is wisdom. A rich man is one who knows when he has enough. Anything taken to the extreme yields the opposite results.

The Taoist hid Tai Chi from the rest of world because Tai Chi like their other arts, was considered a treasure of great value. Because of their training as healers, negotiation skills, and martial arts, Taoist practitioners were sought after to accompany the caravans on their long journey. The Ang Lee movie Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is based on two such Taoist masters. Over the centuries Chinese emperors treated the Taoist as a national treasure making Taoist temples equivalents to Western Universities.

During the Cultural Revolution in China (1966 - 1976 C.E.) Tai Chi and Taoist philosophy along with all other forms of religions were banned and outlawed in China. Had it not been for the Cultural Revolution Tai Chi may have well remained hidden from the rest of world. Tai Chi Masters fled China and settled in Taiwan, Australia, and The United States. Eventually these Masters sensing that their art would die if not passed on reluctantly began teaching select students the ancient art of Tai Chi and Chi Kung (chee-gong). One such Master was Chen Manching (1902 - 1975) who settled in New York in 1964 after fleeing China. He eventually formed the New York Tai Chi Association, a Club for Teaching Tai Chi. Master Chen studied Tai Chi from the Yang Chen Fu (1883-1936) the Grandson of Yang Lu Chan (1799 - 1872). Yang Lu Chan is considered one of the greatest Tai Chi masters in modern history. Yang the Invincible as he was known developed a style of Tai Chi that bears his name "Yang Style."

Tai Chi has a rich history and tradition. One tradition is the master - student relationship and the relationship of circles and influence. A traditional Tai Chi master seldom teaches one individual student everything he/she knows. The master will select a close inner circle of perhaps half a dozen dedicated and worthy students to share his/her knowledge. A second circle outside his dedicated student will learn basic disciplines of Tai Chi. At the outer most circle the Master usually installs one of his closest senior students to be in charge and teach (influence) and then observe the student and give subtle directions on how to teach a certain aspect of Tai Chi.

Tai Chi is in peril of becoming commercialized and stripped of it essence. To learn Tai Chi movements for health and fitness are good reasons to take up the practice. To delve deeper into the philosophy and traditions of Tai Chi can also be very rewarding.