Seijaku: The Bigger Picture

How do you think of Seijaku? Many T’ai Chi Chih (TCC) practitioners think of it as the advanced form of TCC. That was the succinct description Justin offered. Some of my students describe it relative to the benefits that Seijaku brings — it amplifies the flow of Chi; it helps me move through challenges; it cultivates awareness of what’s happening in my body; it makes me more aware of tension and letting go; it’s a deeper moving meditation than TCC; it gives me a connection and trust in the Chi.

I think of Seijaku as applying the principles of yin and yang to TCC movements in a different way: beginning each movement with soft TCC (yin) then encountering a resistance that requires some physical effort to move through (yang) and returning to softness (yin). This has been referred to as the Seijaku principle.

In Justin’s writings, he emphasized the importance of softness in practicing TCC, for where there is tension, the Chi cannot flow freely. He even described softness and continuity as the essence of TCC. In Seijaku classes he told us that softness means letting go, which is essential to the practice of Seijaku. We break through resistance we have encountered. We alternate holding fast (yang) and letting go (yin), always returning to softness. To me, letting go is the essence of Seijaku, as softness is the essence of TCC.

After practicing Seijaku for 38 years, I question my old assumption that Seijaku is part of TCC and I’m asking if TCC is a part of Seijaku! Seijaku is comprised of more than just applying its principles to TCC movements. It also includes preliminary massages, tonings, the Jing, Fast Track, the Joy Song and a few meditations.

Justin Stone thought very highly of Seijaku. At the age of 72, after practicing Seijaku for more than a year, he said, “It is Seijaku that has given me the confidence to look forward to many years of continued health and strength.” Years later he told us that the most important event in his life was discovering Seijaku. Is it time for you to re-think Seijaku and give it more importance (i.e., more practice) in your life?