Page 20 - Simplifying T'ai Chi Rev3 2017

12 Simplifying T'ai Chi

Consider a cat hunting, the smooth stalking and the dynamic pounce for the kill.
No wasted energy or effort, just perfect body control. Consider the way that a
standing stork or crane slowly spreads its wings, one up one down, or the smooth
undulating advance of a snake.
The qualities of fitness, alertness, reaction and mental control are definitely
required for an effective martial art, but are equally beneficial to help fight dis-ease
and the traumas that life brings.

By behaving like the animals above and employing their skills of awareness,
assessment, smoothness and control to perform a complete action, whether in a
martial or general health sense, a T'ai Chi practitioner will be optimising his body
movement and balance, maintaining reserves, and avoiding actions that may be
potentially damaging such as uncontrolled twists and falls.

Age and Ability

When teaching T'ai Chi for health
purposes, we are not attempting to
produce unstoppable martial movement,
but to introduce the basics and sound
concepts of T'ai Chi in the hope that
benefit will be gained by all who join in,
enjoying the practice as their health or
ability dictate.

T'ai Chi is a very good form of exercise,
particularly for the older age groups. The
youngest I have taught has been 3 years
old and the oldest 105!
T'ai Chi is not limited to the able either. I
have taught several with severe disability
- many wheelchair bound after a serious
accident or stroke. In many of our normal
sessions there are often seated members,
and often this can be an excuse for everyone to sit to enjoy form in this way.
I have also developed a program based on basic T'ai Chi and Qi Gong movements
that I use with groups of people suffering from dementia. The response and
interaction achieved when compared to normal 'movement and exercise' sessions
is truly amazing.

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