Tai Chi Chuan classes and experiences for New York, Long Island, and beyond.
Tai Chi Chuan Observations by Master David B. Alexander
The Importance of Releasing in Tai Chi Chuan
One aspect of Tai Chi Chuan that I have found most important to teach over the years is the release aspect. Why is this important?
Our Western culture, and perhaps human nature, emphasizes the active yang aspect, with less understanding and practice of the receptive yin aspect.
But a soft release and connection of the whole body is essential in order for the action from toes to fingers to be precise, powerful, and free of tension.
Can We Say That Tai Chi Chuan Is a Spiritual Practice?
The problem is that if you call Tai Chi Chuan a spiritual practice, that can imply that other activities are not spiritual. But everything we do in life is “spiritual” and wonderful, when we see it clearly. We can say that Tai Chi Chuan is spiritual, but that can lead to problems.
What if we said “Tai Chi Chuan is a meaningful practice”? Tai Chi Chuan practice is certainly meaningful, and perhaps using a neutral word like that allows the person hearing it to ask themselves, “Oh, what is meaningful about it?” which allows further exploration.
An Empty, Receptive, Trained Brain Is Your Best Natural Weapon
The key part of the brain that is trained through sports training, including Tai Chi Chuan training, is the cerebellum. Far from being a “lizard brain” as it has been nicknamed, science has discovered that the cerebellum is crucial for smooth, regulated movement, in complex motion sequences, and even in logical thinking and sequential reasoning.
When a person learns to ride a bicycle or play scales on a piano, that knowledge resides in the cerebellum. We will see why that matters.
Zen and Tai Chi Chuan: How They Relate for Well-Being
Zen and Buddhism emphasize not only mindfulness, but also the importance of ethics and behavior.
On the other hand, in Tai Chi Chuan practice there are few teachers who will directly bring up the latter matters. Instead, there is much focus on mindfulness and movement.
So, mindfulness is central to Tai Chi Chuan practice, just as it is in Zen practice. But what about the differences, and how can we reconcile these two approaches?
Three Core Principles of Tai Chi Chuan, for an Endless Path of Growth
Here are the fundamental principles that describe three aspects of Tai Chi Chuan practice for our physical and mental well-being:
* Action originates in the brain, and expresses in the toes and fingers.
* Fulfilling function of body / brain requires both a deep release, and an awake energizing.
* The language of the brain is fundamentally frictionless and spacious.
Research on Blood Pressure Benefits of Tai Chi Chuan
Twenty years ago, it was commonly understood that science had not studied the benefits of Tai Chi Chuan, so reports of benefits were anecdotal or personal opinions.
That has changed. Balance benefits are well researched, and as this article shows, so has reduction or control of blood pressure.
There are muscles lining the walls of our arteries and veins. Wherever there are muscles, there are also nerves, hormones, and other internal factors affecting function…
Nosey, Noisy Muscles and Training Your Brain
In our daily lives, most of us, even those who consider themselves relatively relaxed and stress-free, are holding a lot of muscle tension in our bodies, and corresponding tension in thoughts and feelings.
Tai Chi Chuan practice is one way to gradually release that tension. By focusing on full brain / mind / body integration and action, we start to cut through our own seemingly endless loops of thought and feeling, loops that create stress and loss of simple enjoyment in our selves.
Why Tai Chi Chuan is a Great Martial Art Practice
Many people come to practice Tai Chi Chuan for good reasons: the most common reasons are better balance, “relaxation”, and maintaining or improving health.
However, there can be a tendency to forget that Tai Chi Chuan is a martial art.
In this article I share WHY it is important to remember that Tai Chi Chuan is a martial art, even if you never intend to use it for that purpose.
The Real Meaning of Relaxation for Health, Well-Being, and Martial Arts
People pursue Tai Chi Chuan practice for a variety of reasons: health, fall prevention / balance, well-being, improvement in martial arts and other sports, and for relaxation / de-stressing.
I can make the case that to deeply relax and de-stress is the most central experience in Tai Chi Chuan practice that explains all the other benefits.