Initiating/Completing

Tai Chi Awareness of Life’s Process

As I contemplate what I want to say here, I am aware of hesitancy: What wants to be said? Can I do it succinctly, well enough to be read by people and somehow be useful and interesting? This questioning initiates a starting point.

On the other side of me is a confident voice and feeling that say: Knowledge and experience of polarities and how they perdure, either unconsciously or consciously, and perchance to integrate them and positively influence life for myself and others for the Benefit of All, thereby facilitates completing this little thesis.

Jumping to the point……. We are speaking of the basic energies of life: One is active, or Yang as tai chi says; The other is attracting or Yin and reacts in one way or another. Interaction between them is a fundamental fact within ourselves as individuals and in our relations with others and the world.

Apparent opposites are always coming and going in our minds and lives.

Voice in audience asks:… “Patrik, isn’t most of what you say obvious?”

P responds: “Well what is obvious at-a-distance is not always automatic awareness in the heat of the moment”.

The unaware mind is quick to marginalize things and feelings that frighten or spook it. This may be an unconscious act, but not an unimportant one to conscious evolution.

And..and what is really good to know is that this is not an immutable and static condition; We needn’t be stuck with fear and marginalized potential forever.

Wholeness and process integration of missing parts of self are the logical outcome of practicing our tai chi, processing confusing mind stuff and meditating.

Change and cycles are constantly happening. Results can be suffering or peace of mind.

Awareness gives us choice.

Why is Tai Chi Important Today?

Why is Tai Chi, developed by the legendary Taoist master Chang San-Feng during the Sung Dynasty (960-1279 C.E.) still a valuable resource for the 21^st century?

Because it has a positive effect on some very basic issues that we all face. Tai Chi is a classic health exercise for well-being; a moving meditation, and a soft martial art, based on yielding.

1. All of us want to maintain optimal health throughout our lives:

a. We all want to develop and maintain our vital energy to enhance our lives and improve our health. Tai Chi is based on the awareness and development of our Chi – vital energy.

b. That vital energy needs to be distributed throughout our bodies, penetrating to the depths of our bones. When our Chi is distributed harmoniously throughout the body, mind and spirit, we are in optimal health. This is an enjoyable, rewarding place to be in our lives.

c. Our chi rides on the breath. Stress can cause us to breathe shallowly, affecting our circulation, raising blood pressure, and decreasing our energy. The moving meditation aspect of Tai Chi will help you to relax and balance and calm your emotions, thus relieving stress and contributing to physical, emotional, and spiritual good health.

d. Tai Chi helps us to yield and circulate energy, thus uprooting our conflicts.

2. In pursuing this kind of awareness and self understanding, the Tai Chi School offers a diverse curriculum including:

* tai chi form,

* traditional and modern chi kung (study of chi energy that uses time-tested short exercises that help bring the experience of consciousness.

* kath (chi) generation exercises

* tui sho or push hands in partnership with another person

* and the Tai Chi staff and sword, an opportunity to practice principles of Tai Chi using an object, which can be useful, practical and enjoyable to do.

3. Our curriculum unfolds in the following levels:

* Beginning – learning the moves

* Foundational or fundamental – embodying principle

* and intermediate – use this to bring grace and strength into our movements the form and in your life.

* Apprentice teacher training

4. One important map to help us make these discoveries and to develop them in ourselves is the 5 elements, a very old, classical way to explore knowledge and movement experiences in ourselves and in our spirits. We will explore the 5 elements throughout the curriculum.

Are you ready to experience and develop your Chi Energy? If so, join us for a FREE CLASS the first Saturday of each month at 11 AM, Viscount Dance Studio #B, 724 E. Burnside, Portland, OR, at 10 AM.

A Tai Chi Health Story

Many people who visit Tai Chi hope to find an exercise and/or some symptomatic relief for health issues. In the late sixties, when I first saw Tai Chi being performed at a class in Cambridge, Massachusetts, its beautiful, graceful and relaxed movements mesmerized me. Having had chronic lower back pain which had caused me difficulty most of my life, I wasn’t sure I could even do the Tai Chi movements; but I joined a class and found almost immediate relief.

After learning some elementary steps, I went on to find my teacher, Patrick Watson, a senior student of the Master of 5 Excellences, Professor Cheng Man-Ch’ing. Fortunately, Patrick Watson selected me as an apprentice teacher. I have been teaching Tai Chi for the last 35 years – with no recurrence of lower back pain.

Perhaps, because you are reading this now, you are seeking ways to improve your own health and balance. Many Westerners have found Tai Chi to be a bridge between East and West, a bridge that provides an easy-to-learn and satisfying life enhancement tool to maintain vitality, increase strength, improve balance, clarify thinking and integrate the body, mind, and spirit.

Come join us for a free class and see for yourself.

Patrik Donahue