Chow says that tai chi invigorates the entire body, rebuilding cells
and energy, while facilitating an improved state of being. "It works
on all the bones, muscles, sinews and tendons; the stretching helps
to facilitate circulation, and it helps to facilitate breath. When the
circulation is better, you have a relaxation of the body. With relaxation,
you're more flexible and more mobile. It therefore enables your muscles
to relax and allows your joints to be more pliable."
The different styles of tai chi accomplish the same ends, though in
different ways and through different processes, Chow says. Many
of the movements resemble the movement of animals, but the
flowing motion reflects the circular motions of the universe and the
connectedness of the universe. During each session, students perfect
motions and movements, adding a couple of motions or movements
over time. "It's good if they practice daily," Chow says.
"Just What the Doctor Ordered"
In addition to adhering to the basic principles of balance, body
alignment and relaxation, Chow says group energy is critical.
"The more powerful the master is in the chi, the more he or she
will be able to facilitate the chi in the individuals and the group
as a whole.
"The teacher should be compassionate, warm, kind, knowing, wise.
And check on the person's experience in teaching, not necessarily
whether he's from a particular lineage" of tai chi, she says.
Because there is no standard certification of tai chi teachers, the
burden of finding a good instructor, or master, is on the student.
Patrick Merrill, a 52-year-old artist from Los Angeles, took up tai
chi after injuries curtailed his tennis playing about 12 years ago.
He says the concept of slowly building strength and flexibility rather
than the Western method of pounding the body into shape was just
what the doctor ordered. "The pain in my knee just sort of disappeared,"
he reports.
Recently, he lost his temper about something, and later realized how
long it had been since he had done so, something that wasn't the case
before he started tai chi. "It reminded me that I had maintained on a
regular basis a level of balance and peace I didn't have to focus on or
be conscious of."
Each morning he practices 108 forms for about 45 minutes. While
he prefers to practice on his own, he said that sometimes in groups
he has "experienced the chi. When you have a group of 10 people in
a room and they're all moving the same, their breathing is going to
come in sync with each other; there's a chemical exchange going on.
It's really a high sometimes. It manifests itself often, as your body
temperature going way up, you sweat profusely, but you're not tired.
You feel floaty. It's a very forceful effect."
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