Seijaku — Because It Is Freeing

In Carmen’s Seijaku class earlier this year (remember when we could leave our homes and go to classes?), she asked us each to give a word that describes Seijaku. I said, “Freeing.” Carmen then asked me to clarify what I meant. (No free rides here.) Here’s what I mean:

Most of the Seijaku movements include a strong phase, followed by a soft phase. When the tension of the strong phase is released, and the hands and arms become soft, like the effortless softness of T’ai Chi Chih, there is a wonderful release, or let-go. This release is very freeing.

We perform “three, three and three” during Seijaku: three soft TCC-style repetitions followed by three Seijaku-style strong/soft reps, and we end with three Fast Track repetitions. We feel an extremely strong let-go as we hop briskly from Seijaku to Fast Track. Doing Fast Track is like experiencing childhood again. We can’t help smiling or even laughing. We are free! We feel lightness, brightness, joy. What is more freeing than childlike joy?