Purposeful Pause

Author’s Note: Recently many students have asked what “the pause” means to me. Putting it in words has been extremely powerful and a blessing to share with all of them as we have all grown from the conversation.

Pause is part of the Resting Pose; for me T’ai Chi Chih is a sacred practice and it is because of this Pause/Resting Pose. Our pause in TCC is one of the components that differentiate TCC from most other forms.

Resting Pose allows us to come to a place of rest after we have completed nine repetitions on one side. (These nine repetitions allow us the opportunity/time to become softer and more grounded with each repetition.) We let go just a little bit more with each repetition. We balance this by doing nine on the other side and resting again. This pause allows us to balance our yin yang energies.

Resting Pose allows us to sink into the soles of the feet. With correct softness our spine aligns and the bubbling spring opens up. Exploring softness in the balance between the left and right side of the body and front (ball) and back (heel) of each foot allows the energy from the earth to enter the body. It allows us to keep intact the string of pearls that connects us to the heavens. When I am in this place of groundedness, I am connected on all planes. We are humankind; this is where we live, somewhere between heaven and earth. This is our home.

Resting Pose allows us to settle into/sit with our own softness. Resting Pose allows us to gather the energy created with each move and bring it down to the tan t’ien. We have activated and circulated our divine energy with each repetition, and by bringing it down with Resting Pose we are balancing it in our tan t’ien.

Resting Pose allows us to store this energy in our center, in our Chi account. Remember, it is there for us to use as needed, at any moment. What a gift.

Resting Pose allows us to pause. How often do we take the time to be still, to be in the moment, to be present right here and right now? For me it is in these moments of stillness/rest where I learn the most about myself. It is not in our crazy world of checking off the “to do” list of our daily lives. It is in the quiet pause, with softness permeating my body, completely unattached to any outcome, completely letting go, that I can go deeply enough to be open to my true being. No judgment. Completely open to being in the present and trusting I will be all right with whatever comes my way. I am grounded and can carry this experience with me throughout my day. Every cell of my being permeates gratitude.

The depth of TCC continues to blow me away daily. Thank you students for all your wonderful questions and insights. We each grow with each question. Thank you Justin and to this incredible community, local and elsewhere.