Slowly

Why move slowly? How can Tai chi possibly be effective as a martial art when it is all practised at such a slow pace? Both of these are valid questions and I hear them often, they both deserve an answer. Just how much of our daily lives are spent doing something very slowly and with deliberation and intense focus.The craftsman carving wood would answer "every day" and that is true of many other professional disciplines , after all who would want a nuero-surgeon who tends to rush working on their insides! However, most of us are not practising surgeons , artists or master craftsmen, in fact many of us spend a great deal of time rushing about here and there in our daily pursuits , pushing our personal limits on many levels , professionally or in other arenas such as sport and business.We live in a very competative and rapidly changing society in which "Slowly" has perhaps lost its place and value.The practise of Tai Chi allows one to rediscover the pleasure of taking ones time , not just on those hastily grabbed and soon gone yearly vacations but on a daily basis. With Tai Chi you are brought back to centre and reaquainted with that vessel that puts up with so much and often remains unthanked or appreciated.Tai Chi works on developing an increased awareness of body and opens up the path way between mind and our physical self. My initial session with beginners often starts with how to stand still in a balanced and comfortable manner and then progresses on to how to transfer weight mindfully from one foot to the other .This we then apply to walking in a highly conscious and deliberate fashion.These are simple things , primal in quality and rarely considered in our ordinary daily lives. I often remark to my students as they apply them selves to these basic standing and walking techniques that they should not worry if they find the task challenging as after all for most of us it has has been quite some time since last learning to stand and walk! This level of self scrutiny continues throughout training and deeply affects how we move by bringing an intent and focus to our movements normally only assosiated with the complexities of heightened movement disciplines such as gymnastics or classical dance. Such performance arts require a high level of body awareness to succeed and impress.Why not then develop such awareness through the discipline of Tai Chi and apply it to more ordinary and familiar patterns of movement , those that we practise every day such as lifting and sitting, or how we position ourselves to type or sweep the floor.Mundane tasks perhaps, but ones that will always be there. One can be consciuos in their practise or not, that is the choice.By developing heightened body awareness through the practise of Tai Chi or other mind / body disciplines such as yoga we give ourselves the best chance of keeping what we have running effectively into later years and will better enjoy life for this increased vigour and awareness. The gentle stretching and fluid movements of Tai Chi keep joints subtle and help to prevent stiffness and discomfort. The lymph system is also gently pumped by the opening and closing rotational movements of the limbs , this improves immunity and helps the internal organs to position themselves correctly within the torso.Combine this with deep and gently controlled breath that utilzes the diagphram, and the heart recieves the support it needs and blood flow to the bodies extremities is improved. Most importantly , because Tai Chi is gentle in nature you do not need the stamina and physique of a gymnast to partake making it suitable to all shapes, sizes and fitness levels.In Tai Chi we operate within our personal comfort zone and this differs from individual to individual. Should you however wish to explore the martial side of Tai Chi Chuan more fully then practise will become more physically demanding and you will be expected to work in contact with others in a variety of paces which will include rapid movement at some point.We assosiate Tai Chi with slow motion movement but if you observe an experienced practittioner he or she will move easily from fast to slow and back again and will be comfortable at any pace.By learning slowly the body learns to be relaxed and weighted by the slow pace. After sufficient training this will enable highly present rapid movement that is relaxed and fully focussed and intentional.A body that moves quickly but is stressed by tension is not as effective as one that is relaxed and calm , so it is here that the Tai Chi martial practitioner finds their power, not by building muscle but by building muscle memory and economy of movement.