How I Came to Embrace Mental TCC

I teach my students standing and seated T’ai Chi Chih (TCC) and explain that they can derive the same benefits from both. I usually begin my very first class for beginners by teaching Rocking Motion in the seated position. Throughout every class (other than with advanced students), I do some teaching of various seated moves. I find it extremely beneficial to teach that way, plus I am giving my students an alternative way to derive the benefits if and when they are unable to stand to practice.

Prior to COVID, I taught seated TCC exclusively to patients in a cancer center while they were receiving their chemo infusions. I experienced first-hand how incredibly powerful this was as many — within 15 minutes of beginning their first lesson — had feeling in their fingertips for the first time since before beginning chemotherapy. The looks of surprise and joy on their faces were incredible!

There have been times since beginning TCC that I could not stand to practice for extended periods —when I was not allowed to place any weight on an ankle/leg for six months; when I was diagnosed with global cerebral atrophy and could not stand without holding onto something; and when my blood pressure and heart rate were so high I could barely stand to go to the bathroom.

Given that, you’d think I’d be in love with seated TCC. Not true though. Although I never share this with my students, I do not enjoy practicing seated TCC. Yes, I definitely derive benefits from practicing that way, but the joy I feel while doing the practice standing or mentally is missing. I love experiencing the weight shifts of my entire body.

Many practitioners have told me they do not feel the full potential of their practice when done mentally. I, however, am a huge fan and advocate of mental TCC. I find it the most powerful practice of all. When I practice mentally, I have to take great care to remain totally grounded as I actually feel my weight shifting and my limbs extending (as much if not more than if I am standing).

I feel it so completely internally that I could not practice it mentally when I had an MRI of my shoulder. They were totally immobile, yet the technician had to restart the test twice because he was positive that I was moving my shoulder and arm instead of lying still. He even checked if the support on my shoulder was tight. At the time he was complaining about my movement, I had been doing Working the Pulley. I did a mental check to make certain I was not tensing the muscles; I wasn’t. I was simply feeling the gentle rhythmic movements through heavy air in my mind. To complete the test, I had to abandon TCC and instead repeat the Nei Kung.

I find mental practice so powerful because my weight shifts are always complete and balanced. I feel myself moving through the heavy air. I feel full completion of every movement without my body anticipating the next weight shift or movement. For me, mental TCC is the most powerful of them all. When healthy I try to do a daily standing practice, but I always do a shortened mental practice.

My students will always be taught that the seated version is just as effective as standing. And I will continue to sporadically practice that way, but I simply do not find the personal joy in seated TCC as I do with standing and mental.