Conference Reflections on Seijaku

HYPERLINK “https://taichichih.org/teacher/pam-towne” taichichih.org/teacher/pam-towne

One of this year’s conference highlights was seeing renewed interest in Seijaku, the advanced form of T’ai Chi Chih (TCC). Over the years, many people have been put off by calling Seijaku “advanced TCC” and have thus missed out on what it offers. We could think of Seijaku as offering advanced benefits.

The benefits of practicing TCC come from circulating and balancing Chi. In fact, many of the benefits we experience could be considered side effects of circulating the Vital Force and balancing its yin and yang elements as we flow from movement into stillness. Seijaku greatly increases the flow of Chi, so it naturally accelerates the resulting health, serenity, creativity, and longevity benefits.

Another advanced benefit of practicing Seijaku is revealing Prajna (pronounced “prawnya”), the inherent wisdom aspect of the Chi. Usually when someone speaks about Chi, they are referring to Prana (pronounced “prawna”), or the energy aspect of the Chi. Yet there is much more to the Chi, and Seijaku cultivates awareness of this wisdom that lies within all of us. Justin referred to it as “That Which Knows.”

At the conference, four teachers presented four ways to practice Seijaku. Justin taught each and customized his teaching for each individual. Carmen Brocklehurst does three TCC and three Seijaku and three Fast Track on most movements.

Ann Rutherford teaches Seijaku as a kinesthetic mindfulness practice using the eight chapters of Justin’s book Heightened Awareness. Ann embeds disturbing feelings like fear, anger, or grief in the resistance section.

Dan Pienciak sandwiches three Seijaku movements between TCC movements, i.e. three TCC then three Seijaku then three TCC.

I did my preferred format of six Seijaku followed by 3 TCC on most movements.

Different approaches work for different people, and for each at different times. If you would like to advance your practice of TCC, I invite you to explore Seijaku. It can improve your TCC practice, show you what softness really means, and a whole lot more.