In Print: T’ai Chi Guiding Principles – Stillness in Motion

Hope Ridley of San Mateo, CA submitted an article on t’ai chi she read in a magazine for the disabled. Here are some excerpts from Accent on Living, written by Joi V. Eden (Summer 1992 issue) that describe exercises and their guiding principles to help you harmonize your health.

Relax: spend a moment enjoying a holistic health method combining stillness and motion, simultaneous exercise and relaxation. T’ai Chi’s repeated patterned movements improve memory, awareness of body position, concentration and ability to perform tasks with greater ease. Slow, curved movements decrease tenseness of body and muscles become more resilient. Force isn’t exerted so the body isn’t overtaxed or under activated; strength/energy aren’t wasted; and endurance increases.

Physical responses are triggered by thoughts/feelings/visualization. Bodily systems are linked into a single brain-regulated network. Positive images assist good health and vice-versa.

Follow these guiding principles:

1. Set your own comfortable pace.

2. Exert no force. Research shows benefit is obtained from less exertion than originally thought.

3. Movements are slow, curved, soft: build strength through softness.

4. Breathe normally and efficiently.

5. Focus on your movements.

6. To improve balance, keep as much weight as possible over weight bearing area.

7. Practice regularly, be patient, to allow gradual, lasting improvement, and enjoy each moment.

If possible, find a T’ai Chi instructor who understands physical challenges or purchase a video. Remember, with T’ai Chi there’s no limit to what you can accomplish; what the caterpillar calls the end, the believer calls the butterfly.