TCC: A Mindfulness Based Practice

A presentation given at conference this year by David Parrish, The Science of Well Being – The Brain on T’ai Chi Chih, made for lively discussions in my TCC classes. The heart of what he talked about are the research studies concluding that through mindfulness based practices positive changes in the brain can be seen through magnetic resonance images.

For years most TCC teachers have touted the benefits of TCC practice in physical gains and changes, also noting the relaxation effect of the practice and how beneficial that can be for peace of mind and calm emotions and reducing stress. Many studies over the years have shown that T’ai Chi practices have many physical benefits. TCC has specifically been used for some of those studies.

But what about considering TCC a mindfulness practice? I asked my students if they thought of TCC as a mindfulness practice and if so in what way. The general consensus was yes, but the value of the discussion was not the conclusion but the discussion itself and offering them an opportunity to explore the way they think about TCC.

One of the core principles of our practice is to ground the energy. This cannot be done with a wandering inattentive mind. Practitioners not only work to master the physical movements but an important part of the practice is working with and training the mind. We are taught to keep our concentration focused on the soles of the feet or the tan t’ien. If we find the mind wandering we gentle nudge it back to the present moment being mindful of feeling every inch of our movement through every moment. It becomes a feeling awareness practice. We are mindfully present without processing.

Justin said, never do a careless TCC practice, and, never go on automatic. Both these statements imply that we are to be mindfully present as we move. I would conclude that TCC is very much a mindfulness practice.

Is TCC a mindfulness meditation practice? In Justin’s book, Meditation for Healing, he has a chapter titled, “Moving Meditation,” in which he writes about TCC specifically as a moving meditation and includes instruction on a few of the movements.

In Spiritual Odyssey, he writes about Zen practice training the mind, then goes on to write, “T’ai Chi Chih works from the other end, not from Mind but from the Chi, which affects the Mind, just as the Mind affects the Chi. But T’ai Chi Chih also affects the health, through circulation and balancing of the Chi = this is the great bonus.”

Justin recognized the power and value of the practice to influence the mind and considered TCC a moving meditation.

Often in my classes, after we have concluded a full practice, we sit in silence for a few minutes. I do not call it meditation. I ask that students be present with the moment, aware of now, sensations, breathing, state of mind. It is simply mindful sitting.

I know of one teacher that has to label her class as a Moving Meditation class because it would not be accepted at a particular facility as a TCC class because of the martial arts connotation regardless of her explanation to them. On the door to one of my classes I had a sign, “Quite Please, TCC Class in Session.” We still had people walking through the room and talking. When I changed the sign to, “Moving Meditation Class in Session,” the interruptions nearly ceased. Then there are places that will not allow TCC to be taught there if it is called a meditation. Regardless of the label, it is a powerful practice that brings about physical and mental changes.

TCC is a valuable tool for health and wellbeing but not of much use if people don’t know about it. I am not at all suggesting that we change the name of TCC. But I think we can consider TCC a moving meditation practice and a mindfulness practice. Talking about it in those terms may interest more people, should that be appropriate for your audience, especially by pointing out the evidenced-based studies that show the value of those types of practices in affecting the brain.

I’m very excited as a teacher to talk about these studies with my students and I know they are excited about knowing that the practice they enjoy doing is giving them one more huge benefit, positive changes in the brain.