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The slow, soft and gentle movements of Tai-chi are a perfect way to allow stress and tension to drain away, leaving you feeling relaxed, peaceful and energised.
What is it?
Tai-chi has its roots in Ancient China where it was originally developed as a martial art. It is a flowing sequence of choreographed moves done in a very particular way - slow and focused, gentle and relaxed - called a form.
There are many styles of Tai-chi but the same principles are observed. Different styles will execute these forms in their own, unique way.
The style we practice is from the Yang Family tradition.
There are 3 main ways that Tai-chi is practised.
- As a martial art.
- As a competition form, similar to a dance routine.
- As a moving meditation, enhancing your energy and well being.
The Inward Adventure focuses on the Meditative aspects.
What are the benefits?
- Physically - the gentle, relaxed movements allow waste products to be cleared from our Lymphatic system through muscular action and the movement of the diaphgram during deep breathing.
~ By connecting into how our bodies allow energy to flow when our muscles are relaxed and everything is in correct alignment, we can move through the day with greater poise and happiness, using minimum effort.
~ We will feel more energised.
~ Our immune system becomes stronger. - Mentally - the focus of the mind on the movements and breathing allows the seemingly never ending chatter in our brains to take a break, so allowing a sense of peace to flow through us.
~ We become more resiliant to stresses.
~ We can hold focus and concentration for longer and more deeply. - Emotionally - we can find a space of stillness and peace.
~ Stress originates in our minds because of where we focus our thoughts.
~ By letting go the thinking process we can easily connect back into our basic nature which is one of caring, joy, and compassion.
There is nothing to find 'out there.'
All the answers are already inside us.
We only need to let go of what stops us feeling great now.
How is it done?
- You will learn to move in a Tai-chi way.
Your hips lead, you are rooted to the ground, your back stays upright, you move in a balanced and co-ordinated way so that as one move finishes the next is beginning, smooth and focused.
Every move is circular at it's core so that there is no beginning nor an end, just a beautiful, rhythmic, flowing sequence of movements. - You then learn to ‘hold the ball’ whilst moving freely.
This is the core of Tai-chi. It is from here that all the movements originate so, without a firm grasp of this, your form will not function properly and many benefits will be lost. - Next, the individual moves are learnt and practiced before being put together into a form.
8 step, 12 step, 16 step, 24 step and so on.
It takes time to learn a form and there are deeper and deeper levels of awareness to plumb, the depths of which can never be reached. - Tai-chi has it's origins as a martial art.
So it is important that you understand the story behind each form otherwise you are just waving your arms and moving your body in some random way.
You are taught the origin and purpose of each move and so the story of the form unfolds before you. Now you move with purpose. - It is only once you have learnt a form that your journey in Tai-chi begins.
- After the physical aspects have been learnt the form is performed in a completely relaxed way, connecting into Chi energy.
- Going deeper, it is moving from mind intention, not muscular effort.
- Deeper still, it is moving from stillness.
Somehow your body is moving but your mind is completely still and aware and at peace.
Effortless effort!! - The physical, mental and emotional health benefits come from the way in which the moves are done.
Not from the moves themselves, so you can begin to feel amazing from the first class. - All forms follow certain principles.
An opening, expansive movement (Yang) will be followed by a contracting, closing movement (Yin).
Holding the ball then moving outward to perform a move then moving back into holding the ball.
A beautiful, flowing sequence of interconnected moves.
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