Page 21 - Simplifying T'ai Chi Rev3 2017

Chapter 2 The Healthy Side 13

Enjoying T'ai Chi & Qi Gong - Seated or Standing

Meditation in Motion - Swimming in Air

One of the unique features when using T'ai Chi as an exercise is that it promotes
mental relaxation during movement. Calmness prevails with mental tensions
focused but relaxed. We have Meditation in Motion.

T'ai Chi becomes a way of life........ No, I don't mean our lifestyle changes to one
of alternate meditation/martial practice. What happens is that the calmness and
controlled focused movement becomes a way of life. We think rationally and each
movement is mapped out subconsciously before it is made. We Swim in Air.
Steps are careful, smooth and balanced, minimising trips and falls.
Strong leg muscles provide support for hip and knee joints, minimising wear.
Movements are controlled.
These maxims follow into daily life where it becomes second nature to avoid
making any spontaneous, jerked actions that could potentially cause subsequent
damage to spine, hips, knees etc.

Once adopted, the same calmness takes over in everything we do. For example in
verbal argument we allow the 'opponent' to vent his anger, gently deflecting it and
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