The Supreme Ultimate
Filed under: Health and Fitness
T’ai Chi Ch’uan - means ‘Supreme Ultimate Fist’ but is most often simply referred to as T’ai Chi (Supreme Ultimate), as by far the greatest number of people who learn T’ai Chi do so for the health benefits rather than for its martial arts aspects.
T’ai Chi conjures up images of hundreds of elderly Chinese, practicing slow and flowing movements in unison. In fact it is practised to such an extent that, in the past, it has drawn the bewildered attention of tourists. All over China many families rise early to complete their T’ai Chi movements in the park, on the rooftops, in car parks and on balconies, in fact anywhere they can find a bit of space, before they go off to work or carry on with the rest of the day. It is not just the slow practice that seems so mysterious to most Westerners, but also the complete lack of self-consciousness of the practitioners, who seem oblivious to being watched and scrutinized in public.
All T’ai Chi students in the west owe their thanks to those masters who brought their family tradition to us, so we may also get the benefit. And, as with most traditional disciplines, different concepts and ideas become fashionable in later years, which often have little to do with original facts. So let’s take a look at some common myths:
Myth 1: T’ai Chi is only for the elderly.
This is incorrect, T’ai Chi should be taught from an early age, as the art has always been passed from generation to generation, taught to the children almost as soon as they could walk. It is, however, such a safe exercise system that even the elderly benefit, which is why it is so popular amongst the older age group. Balance, the circulation within the various body systems and breathing all improve with practice, which makes T’ai Chi perfect for those who suffer from stress or effects of poor posture, for those with joint problems or for those recuperating from illness. For the perfectly healthy it is an ideal exercise to stay that way!
Myth 2: There are only two or three true, original styles.
As anyone who has ever lived in China will tell you, there are many, many different T’ai Chi styles, which were passed on as family traditions over hundreds, and thousands of years - a bit like ‘Grandmother’s best recipe’. So it is not surprising that all are a little different, some longer than others, some more theatrical than others, some more obvious as a martial art. While in China the various styles are practised next to each other in the parks, in the West there are some T’ai Chi schools which proclaim that their style is ‘best’, which of course is nonsense. At present, in England, mainly the Yang Style, the Chen Style, the Wu Style and the Lee Style (which we practise), is taught.
Myth 3: T’ai Chi is a martial art only?
It is true that T’ai Chi movements were originally developed as extremely effective, precise, yet flowing self-defence movements, which made good posture, balance, sure footing, breath-control, and self-control over one’s emotions necessary. These are precisely the requisites that make T’ai Chi so useful as a health art and as an art of self-development - the complex movements must be carried out accurately, learned patiently, the slow balance and correct breathing continuously practised.
Even though the self-defence side of the Lee Family Style (called ‘Feng Shou’, ‘Hands of the Wind Style Kung Fu’) is taught separately in our classes most find T’ai Chi Ch’uan as a health art particularly helpful. T’ai Chi is an important part of both oriental medicine and philosophy, as it helps balance personal energy and aids spiritual awareness. At its most basic level T’ai Chi is excellent for reducing mental stress, and also for reducing tension in the muscles of the body.
Who can benefit from personal T’ai Chi practice?
The answer is just about everyone can improve their general health and well-being with T’ai Chi. Regular practice reduces stress levels, relaxes the body, develops dynamic mind control and promotes good health.
Unlike physiotherapy, T’ai Chi should not be used to fix specific health problems. Instead, it treats the whole person on a continual basis, so that each individual can regain lost vitality or movement due to their whole system working more efficiently. T’ai Chi is the perfect tool to help towards lifelong good health.
As an analogy, lets say you needed to push a lorry. You might need a lot of help to get it rolling, however, once the lorry is moving smoothly little energy is required to keep the momentum going. Your health is the same, if an obstruction occurs you may need lots of help to move it, but, once good health returns only a little regular attention is needed to keep it there.
Health is not the same as fitness, as you can be very fit but still unhealthy, and you can be healthy but not necessarily extremely fit. Again balance is the key. This is where T’ai Chi leaves other forms of exercise way behind and why it is becoming more and more popular, and equally, why more and more people in the medical profession are sending their patients to T’ai Chi classes.
A couple of days ago Gisela and I were asked to give a talk and demonstration to a gathering of thirty occupational therapists. They felt they needed to know at least a little about T’ai Chi so they could recommend it to their patients when appropriate as post treatment exercise. The group as a whole was extremely attentive and every one of them had a go at the T’ai Chi form, a few breathing exercises and some K’ai Men (Chinese yoga/Chi Gung). At the beginning of the year I was asked to give a presentation at a seminar entitled ‘Health at Work in the NHS’ in York which again shows that the value of T’ai Chi is appreciated not only in the alternative health world, but by anyone with their own or their patients’ well-being at heart. T’ai Chi burns lots of calories. It improves balance and coordination more than the best balance training to be found elsewhere. There is no other exercise that can do for you physically what T’ai Chi will.
T’ai Chi is a low impact exercise. The slow movements and your attention to the practice means you can feel when you are putting undue strain on joints and muscles so you know when enough is enough - unlike fast and high impact exercise when injury is only recognized after the event has taken place.
T’ai Chi doesn’t leave you dripping with sweat - if it does you are moving too fast. (Trust me, I am a T’ai Chi teacher..) You can practice T’ai Chi in your tea break or any other suitable time, 15 minutes will refresh your mind and rebalance your body. You can practise in your work clothes, in your pyjamas or when and wherever you like - just give yourself a little time and space to get back in tune with your body - the mind and spirit connection will follow.
Practising T’ai Chi at the start of the day will focus your mind and relax your body, and that will stay with you in diminishing degrees depending on your encounters throughout your day. Therefore each new day should mean a new time of practice, after all, you cannot keep eating from the same loaf - it will not last forever, and get staler and harder as the days go by. The regular health maintenance and renewed sense of well-being is what keeps those who stick with T’ai Chi enthusiastic - there is a lot more to it all than just learning some movements by heart.
As Lao Tzu said: “Dealing with things while they are small is easy”- health care is no exception. To feel really well a healthy diet, proper sleep and fulfilling relationships at work and at home are essential. Somehow your T’ai Chi practice will encourage you to look for those things that are good for you, and leave negative situations and habits behind.
Learning T’ai Chi means you throw away tensions and unnecessary movement. You keep simplifying and going back to your essential self - your original self, if you prefer. Forward movement is a product of the mind - necessary of course as the mind is a part of our whole being - racing to accomplish this and that. T’ai Chi redresses the balance by composing and calming the mind whilst relaxing and rejuvenating the body. Coupled with a healthy diet and proper sleep it will assure sound vitality.
Science tells us we are constantly renewing cells, nearly all of the body is replaced every 5 -7 years. Some cells are renewed every minute of the day.
So change within the body and without is inevitable. We must never fight it, but embrace the developments around us. Life is change. Dance along with the flow while keeping an eye out for obstructions - you don’t have to hit them head on, but you can if you insist! The Tao gives you free will, use it wisely. The appreciation of the natural flow of ups and downs and adaptability is something we all need to learn over and over again.
Just being in the present, experiencing the pure joy of life, is the greatest gift.
Howard Gibbon is the Chief Instructor of the East-West Taoist Association. He has been practising the Chinese Health Arts for almost 34 years. The Lee Family Style, which Howard studied under the late Grand Master Chee Soo’, comprises T’ai Chi Chuan, Feng Shou Kung Fu, their related Stick, Sword and Silk forms, K’ai Men Qi Gong, Dao Yin Breathing exercises, Taoist massage, Meditation and energy work. Howard teaches from beginners to all instructor levels, assisted by his wife Gisela.
Website: http://www.ewta.co.uk
Tags: health exercise, martial arts, tai chi
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