In traditional Western exercise, you are encouraged to push
through your limits. "Feel the burn." "No pain, no gain."
"Pain is just a sensation." These thoughts may possibly be
appropriate if you are a teenager learning Kung Fu and running bags of rocks up
a mountain or playing barehand catch with concrete blocks. It is not
appropriate for anyone else.
Tai chi (and qi gong) is entirely different. It took me a
long time to realize this. I had to learn to relax and let go of tension. I had
to learn how powerful tai chi can be at reshaping my body and mind without the
tough exercise of Western exercise.
I am not an expert on traditional Asian medicine, but I
believe other people when they talk about how qi flow affects our health. Pain
indicates damage to your body and blocked flow. Tension blocks flow. Tai chi
forms work your body and mind in ways that enhance the flow of qi and how it
connects all parts of our body. It restores and strengthens flow.
Sun Lu Tang wrote a book, A Study of Taijiquan, in
1924. In it he said
"Those of you who are weak, who suffer from fatigue
and injury or illness, or who have weakened your qi from the practice of other
martial arts to the point that you no longer have the strength to train, all of
you may practice tai ji quan. With practice, the qi will quickly return to a
balanced state and will become strong, while the spirit naturally returns to a
state of wholeness. Disease will be eliminated and the length of life
increased." (Translated by Tim Cartmell, p. 60.)
If you feel any pain during your tai chi for health
practice, you are not getting any gain. However, that is not to mean that you
won't be working hard. You may be tired after practicing, but you should not
feel any pain.
© 2012 Eric Borreson
hi I read your explination of yin/yang in taiji,
ReplyDeletein 24 yangstyle arent both hand and feet the same? in the 3 horse mane? you write that it alway if one foot is yang the hand must be yin.
sincerely michael
Michael, I have not analyzed that Yang style form in detail. The intent of my post about yin/yang was to get people thinking about the details of what is happening. Review what I wrote and think carefully about how to apply it to your forms. There certainly may be exceptions to what I wrote. Let me know what you conclude.
ReplyDelete