T’ai Chi What?

I was among the many people for whom the term, T’ai Chi, evoked images of venerable, ancient sages, who moved with the graceful agility of those much younger in years. The only true practitioners were from the remote villages of China, where the forms originated. Because I was waist high in this stereotype’s quagmire, I was a little skeptical when I first heard about T’ai Chi Chih, created by Justin Stone, who obviously was not from the Eastern culture. I had, however, been seeking to study T’ai Chi for years and the only course that didn’t require a lengthy commute was being taught by Sister Morales in Newburgh where I live.

I had had meniscus surgery four years prior to enrolling in TCC, and even though I was doing physical therapy exercises daily, my knee still hurt going up or down stairs. By my sixth lesson with Sister Morales my knee hurt considerably less. By the time my ten sessions were completed, I had replaced the physical therapy regimen with an hour of TCC, and I felt absolutely no more pain. More than that, I no longer had to use the handrails to get up and down stairs. The improvement was so dramatic that when my daughter came to visit, she noted that I could put on my shoes without having to sit down or hold on to something to steady myself. By my second session of lessons I could skip down the stairs or go up them two at a time. My posture and my breathing had improved considerably. I was shifting from shallow breathing to the deep oxygenating breaths that fill the body with vitality.

It was then that I decided to examine TCC’s nineteen movements more closely to see just how they measured up against the older forms. It was obvious that not only had Justin Stone studied and mastered traditional T’ai Chi; he understood it so thoroughly he could create another style, T’ai Chi Chih. It is tantamount to the old forms in its health benefits, and in its ability to restore both physical and cognitive vitality. Besides practicing daily, I also use some of the movements to warm up before playing tennis or gardening. It has improved my balance, the stride of my walk, my posture and my breathing capacity. In short, it has improved my general well being immeasurably.

I Live In Faith

Chi bubbling up like a 

mountain spring

sinking back into the earth

ever flowing renewing

moving living free

– Valerie Siemer, CA

Practice

settling,

feel free, smooth Chi,

source subtly shifting,

lengthening leg lightens,

expanding space supporting spine,

arms float, glide,

tan t’ien guides,

the soft,

centering,

sincerity.

– Carol Spicer, Fair Lawn, NJ