Dao 'The Way of Tai Chi'

“The Dao that can be spoken of is not the true Dao” Lao Tsu – Tao Te Ting.
And yet so much has been spoken – and written – about the Dao, and this is also true for tai chi. So here at Tai Chi Sydney we will attempt to clarify some basic methods and ideas relating to the form, techniques, and inner listening qualities of tai chi so beginners of tai-chi in their journey can understand these principles. We first activate the body-mind, then the mind-body sphere;

we circulate the energy through the open joints with a deeper understanding of muscles and pressures; through various tai chi and qigong postures and stances of the forms, we then stimulate the meridians and channels; and finally we refine ourselves through self-awareness, self-discipline and meditation.

Knowledge and understanding of the methods, techniques, energetics and meditative quality of taiji can lead to wisdom.  We can then be revitalised, energised, sensitised, stimulated and refined to deepen our inner knowledge, inner calmness and peace. Self-awareness, and discipline improves our connection to our body – mind – energy sphere. Learning to absorb pressure helps to resolve conflict. Taiji promotes sensitivity and allows us to move from outer worldly affairs to an inner meditative space.

Tai Chi nourishes the internal organs, strengthens the bones, increases muscle elasticity, manages foot and waist pressure more efficiently, stimulates brain activity, promotes peace, faith, love, trust, justice and truth, although these ideas may be difficult to understand or implement in our busy and stressful everyday lives. So, for example, our digestive, respiratory and immune systems, which will typically register and react to distress and develop dis-ease, are strengthened through training, which helps to counter such attacks and assist the functioning of our sensory and endocrine systems.

We seek to integrate the parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous systems which we might think of as the respective energy-getting and spending systems of the body (and are also analogous to the right and left sides of the brain – broadly, the intuitive, poetic vs the analytic, controlling spheres) – through particular exercises which stimulate the flow of energy to strengthen the organs, tissues and bones of the body and, consequently, develop greater mental and emotional well-being.  As these systems become more closely aligned, the parasympathetic (yin) will be favoured, producing inner calm and peace. The three stages of relaxation is first to relax the body, then to sink our energy and finally to empty our thoughts.