Exercise for Life

TCC for Vital Health, Beauty and Peace of Mind

Story by Roberta Wilson

(excerpt from LET’S LIVE, Feb 1995)

Are you waiting for the hectic pace of your life to slow down so you can catch your breath, begin enjoying life and find some inner peace? Chances are, if you’re caught up in a typical 20th century lifestyle, the tempo will pick up before it slows down. Modern life’s lively momentum tends to fling people fast forward into a frenzy of perpetual motion.

Even if you can’t jump off life’s high-speed merry-go-round, you can create a lasting sense of tranquility amid the chaos, commotion and confusion. How? With a series of movements called t’ai chi chih. “Achieving serenity in the midst of activitiy is what TCC is all about,” says Carmen Brocklehurst, instructor of TCC in Albuquerque, NM.

According to Justin Stone, developer of TCC, and author of T’ai Chi Chih! Joy Thru Movement (Good Karma Publishing)..T’ai chi chih means “Knowledge of the ultimate supreme.” It is a form of moving meditation consisting of 19 movements and one pose that can help balance and circulate the flow of energy (chi) within the body. He describes the movements performed as either “slow motion in a dream” or “swimming through very heavy air.”

Stone who formerly taught t’ai chi chuan, explains that the 19 movements of t’ai chi chih can be performed in any order desired. One can even leave out movements if desired. None of the movements are difficult to perform and most people begin feeling the benefits soon. All TCC teachers have gone through an accredited training program designed by Stone.

People may confuse t’ai chi chih with t’ai chi chuan. Stone describes t’ai chi chuan as a traditional martial art that is a valuable discipline. He explains that it consists of 108 movements (simpler forms are known, i.e., 37 movements) that must be done in a specified sequence. Many different forms or variations of t’ai chi chuan are being taught.

Traditional Chinese medicine recognizes chi as the energy that propels not only the human body, but also the entire universe. It considers the balance of this vital energy a key to life. Chi runs through the channels (meridians) in the body and imbalances or blocks in the energy can result in illness, poor health or disease.

Chi comprises both yin and yang energy. Yin is the calming, pacifying and assisting feminine energy that the earth and water elements represent. Yang is an energizing, stimulating and active masculine energy that manifests through fire and air elements. When there is a healthy balance between yin and yang, chi flows correctly.

Tai chi balances the yin and yang energy, promotes better health, helps restore harmony to the body and establishes a more optimistic outlook. One of t’ai chi’s goals is to bring the inner self into better balance with the outer self, achieving harmony between the physical and emotional selves. “With t’ai chi chih, you move inwardly,” explains Brocklehurst. “The idea is to get to know yourself and how you and your body function.”

T’ai Chi Chih is a simple way to generate vital health and peace of mind. Some people claim it has transformed their lives. Students attribute it with benefits such as enhanced coordination, better balance, increased flexibility and improved posture. Others notice they move more gracefully and feel more serene with a definite reduction in stress. Still others say they feel more energetic and alive a greater sense of health and well-being. Some practitioners claim T’ai chi chih can result in greater longevity.

T’ai Chi Chih fits easily into modern lifestyles. Most people can derive lasting benefits in about 10 to 15 minutes a day. It requires little space and can be practiced just about anywhere. No special equipment or clothing is needed with t’ai chi chih. In fact, work clothing can be worn.

It’s easy for people of any age to master t’ai chi chih because its results and rewards come quickly. Its slow movements, relaxed breathing and the quieting of the mind can open channels, moving chi through the body and restoring the balanced flow of yin and yang energy.

“The essence of t’ai chi chih is joy through movement,” says Brocklehurst. It can also help soothe emotional upsets and present people with a new way of dealing with them. It often reveals creative ideas and perspectives.

Brocklehurst explains, “It may help you look at your life and ask ‘Is the old gone? Has the new come? Did I enjoy it while it was happening? Or, was I so busy obsessing with the outcome that I forgot to enjoy the process?'”

Stone sums up the effects of t’ai chi chih: “When chi is balanced, the other systems of the body become balanced. In other words, it helps everything. When everything flows properly and is in balance, people are more beautiful.”

Roberta Wilson is a freelance writer specializing in the topics of health and beauty. She is also a licensed esthetician and certified aromatherapist.