Being present with the practice

T’ai Chi Chih is a mindfulness-moving meditation practice that’s easy to learn. The series of 19 movements and one pose helps circulate the Vital Energy, the Chi. Practitioners experience peace, improved health, and many more benefits. Our free monthly e-newsletter offers inspiration between issues of the TCC quarterly journal, The Vital Force, in which teachers and students tell stories about ways they’ve benefited from the practice. 

Teh (inner sincerity) is the basis of TCC. – Justin F. Stone, TCC Originator

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From the recent issue of The Vital Force:

Gliding: “It’s all about the tan t’ien. It doesn’t happen every time. Yet, today I experienced once again the joy of the ‘glide.’ The first time I felt this glide was while practicing the forward-to-back motion of Working the Pulley on the right side. On or about the third motion of this TCC movement, I suddenly became aware of the lack of tension I previously experienced from trying so hard. Gone was the reaching, grabbing, pulling and stretching. While obeying my tan t’ien, and not traveling beyond the point of its permission, I started to glide.” – BM,Corozal, Belize

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Editor’s Note: Learn more from TCC teachers with more than 25 years of experience in the February issue of The Vital Force.

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Flowing: “It’s often hard to find words to describe all of the feelings in a TCC practice. Slowly, over these past 22 years, I can more successfully move from my head analyzing my movements and just allow myself to feel what’s happening. I notice when the t’an tien seems to catch my wrists and hands, drawing them across and releasing them only to pick them up and move again. Words do not capture the experience but maybe that’s the point: Allowing myself to simply flow like a river without trying to interfere with the Chi.” – SB, Bloomington, MN

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Calming: “Thoughts and feelings after a practice? The cool breeze coming in through my open patio door feels so good as I sit down and write this. I’m thirsty from practice and drink from a nearby glass of water. My whole body is tingling and relaxed. Thoughts of the activities of the rest of my day are waiting just outside my mind’s peaceful bubble generated from practice. The thoughts can wait a while longer. I want to bask in this peaceful state of being for a bit because it feels good.” –  DW, Albuquerque, NM

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Being: TEH — ‘Power of inner sincerity’ might perhaps fit this difficult word. Mencius, the great Confucian of China, said, ‘What is whispered in the ear is heard 1000 miles away.’ So saying, he was pointing at this power. Confucius felt the superior (person) must have both human-heartedness and the power of inner sincerity. – Justin F. Stone

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Subscribe to The Vital Force. Our quarterly journal offers engaging stories, hints, and insights from TCC teachers and students. We also highlight wisdom by, and photos rarely seen of, originator Justin Stone.