Tai Ji Quan

Taijiquan trains two foundational abilities that are key to both awareness and balance. The fear of falling is inbred in human beings. The ability to stand upright is one of the unique features of mankind. This ability requires refinement and practice. As people age, their balance tends to worsen. Taijiquan practice emphasizes keeping balance in every moment.

Balance is a product of proper alignment. The muscles of the body are not intended to hold the body’s weight up against gravity. Instead, it is the skeletal system where structural strength is held. Taijiquan trains you to rely on the bones to hold your weight. The connective tissue—ligaments, fascia, and tendons—are responsible for maintaining the alignment of the skeletal system so that the soft tissues of the muscles play a minimal role in balance and can therefore allow them to relax any excess effort. By refining the ability to remain centered and upright, the body becomes stronger and more confident.

By relaxing the mind from the tensions and stresses of daily living and allowing the body and the mind to recover you permit the release of the blockages and open the channels so that the energy begins to flow freely in the body's natural inclination toward healing continues. As with any journey, knowing your starting place is prerequisite to reaching your destination. The careful slow practice of Taijiquan provides a pathway into the depths of awareness.

Tai Chi