Don’t Forget, TCC Is A Moving Meditation

Prior to learning T’ai Chi Chih and becoming an accredited teacher I had a daily meditation practice for many years. One clear difference between sitting meditation and TCC is that it isn’t necessary to be concerned about how you move, since being still is a key aspect of the practice. As I was learning TCC I focused much attention on the form, i.e. “the what you move and the correct body positions.” Having a great teacher, I know it is much more important to attend to how you move than what you move. So I tried to be aware of both.

As I continued to practice, the body learned the correct positions and I could focus more on being soft and moving with continuity. Then the time came when TCC started to just happen when I set out to practice. This was when I began to intentionally focus on TCC as a meditation. I found that taking more time to settle, ground, and “let go” of thinking and physical tensions upon first taking the rest pose allowed me to move into a meditative state. As I worked with this I found that I could continuously drop my attention to the soles of the feet and continuously let go – and that the meditative quality of my practices was increasing the “joy thru movement” that Justin Stone proclaimed was found in the practice.

As my practice came together I was often moved and taken by wonder at the experience of TCC happening. Not only was it “the effort of no effort,” but there was no me there to make any effort, just the Chi doing TCC. Now I do my TCC practice followed by a sitting practice and it is a perfect yin–yang: active then passive.

Since I started teaching TCC, my teaching style emphasizes the meditative aspects of the practice. I take extra time with my students to settle, ground, take a deep breath and let go between each movement. I also emphasize the importance of maintaining not just softness in the movement, but cultivating a soft gaze and calm mind during practice.

TCC is a wonderful experience that encompasses all aspects of the wisdom teachings and offers its practitioners access to a truly powerful path of self-realization and freedom. So I offer all my TCC friends the suggestion: “Don’t Forget to meditate when doing your practice.”