Have You Tried Doing TCC Mentally?

I love to visualize the movements of T’ai Chi Chih as a meditation. Some years ago, when I heard Justin talk about this I decided to experiment with it and have been practicing ever since.

This practice is not a substitute for standing TCC that I’ve done almost every day for over 20 years, but it’s been helpful in situations where the moving meditation is not possible. For instance, I do mental TCC in the dentist’s chair or in the doctor’s waiting room. The other day it helped relieve my impatience while waiting for a friend who is always late.

As well as being effective in stressful situations, mental TCC can make good experiences even better. Last spring my husband and I decided to do some hiking in a local state park that is an hour away by metro. Instead of reading during the trip, I settled into my seat, closed my eyes and began to visualize the TCC movements.

It didn’t take long before train noises and passenger sounds were blocked out. As I visualized myself doing each movement the mental practice became much deeper, and I began to feel the peaceful and enjoyable effect of the circulation of Chi.

The train ride seemed to go by quickly, but best of all, when we arrived I was both energized and in a very relaxed state of mind. The practice had also increased my sensory awareness so as we walked everything was more vivid. I felt that I was absorbing some of the energy of the prairies and woodlands.

Mental TCC is another gift from Justin Stone. He talks about the surprise when we begin to do the movements in our minds. The Chi then begins to flow just as if we were standing and moving.* It would be interesting to hear of other people’s experience with mental TCC.

* 10 Ways to Know TCC Practice is Working, November 2016 issue of the The Vital Force.