| Feature Article
Integrating Mind, Body and Spirit through Tai Chi
–
Chief Instructor Brett Wagland
After 700 years
of recorded history, Tai Chi is still weaving its magic.
Our students
are constantly amazed at its healing and health benefits. Every week, we hear comments about
how much stronger or relaxed they
feel. Many health conditions, such as back aches, neck problems, tumours, high blood pressure and breathing difficulties have been
healed or alleviated through the regular practice of this time proven
health system.
The first stage of the training deals with the physical.
At this stage, you become aware of how little your body listens to you.
You can’t feel the waist, coordinate your arms or relax your shoulders.
Your legs are weak and your back is stiff. Some students have
commented, “I didn’t realise I have so many problems until I began
learning Tai Chi.” The Chinese masters call this the Mushroom Body
phenomenon – top heavy and no roots.
The various Tai Chi exercises are designed to develop
relaxation, coordination and strength with mindfulness. In other words,
you can overcome the physical limitations of your body with the help of
your mind. In the Tai Chi classics, it says, “use the intention, not
brute force, to lead your movements.”
 When you begin to listen to your internal dialogue, you
realise that many physical limitations are usually self-imposed. This
is also the case with excuses for not practising, or attributing blame
to external circumstances when things go wrong. Recognising these
patterns of behaviour is the initial stage of understanding the link
between the mind and body. You notice how unruly your mind is,
especially when you are trying to relax and calm down. It seems that
this is when your mind begins to rebel and brings up all sorts of
irrelevant thoughts. In reality, these thoughts are a replay of the
programming that is going on in your head all the time. Normally, you
are unaware of it. Through self discipline, regular practice and
determination, the programming will gradually disintegrate. Eventually,
windows which offer you glimpses of immense calm, joy and serenity will
begin to appear.
When learning Tai Chi or other internal martial arts such
as Ba Gua or Xing Yi, the student uses the mind to guide the movements.
Initially, you feel awkward and may even feel like giving up. This is
the time to realise that what you are learning is an art and that this
art is training for life. Tai Chi is a sophisticated tool for
developing your potential. It stimulates your mind, persuading it to
pay attention and focus on what it is doing. A momentary lapse in
concentration will cause you lose where you are. Then, the whole flow
of energy and momentum is disrupted. Paying attention to what you are
doing in the present moment is how you train the mind to focus.
Tai Chi is the balance of Yin Yang, firmness and
softness. It avoids extremes. In terms of developing focus and
concentration, it values gentle awareness over a teeth-clenching,
white-knuckled type of concentration. Good concentration skills will
help you in many ways – at work or in other activities. The quality of
your concentration will improve your efficiency in everything you do.
In the realm of martial arts, a moment’s break in concentration could be
fatal.
In the context of Chinese health and martial arts, spirit
relates to your higher qualities, such as patience, determination,
honesty, good heartedness, confidence and generosity. It relates to an
overall willingness to learn from your weaknesses and develop your full
potential. When you observe the practice of a good level Tai Chi
practitioner, you will notice that his manner and movements look
spirited, although he is very relaxed. His expression is neither empty
nor sleepy.
We hear stories of the old grandmother lifting a car off
her grandchild and many other superhuman feats. This shows that we all
have a huge store of untapped ability. Tai Chi and Wu Dao Gong are methods
of helping you develop your hidden potential. My teacher, Fei Wang,
always tells us to show him our spirit when we train. Students who
train in the martial art of Wu Dao Gong usually think they can punch
correctly or do a particular movement well. However, when they see an
advanced student practise, they are surprised at how much more power he
generates. Your nervous systems will only adapt to the amount of
stimulus you place on them. If you practise in a half-hearted way, you
will achieve only half-hearted results. So try to always do your best
and you will gradually become the best you can be.
Integrating the mind, body and spirit is the goal of Tai
Chi training. The three are interconnected and are to be developed
together. To get the best results, you need to train your body to
listen to your mind and allow your true spirit to shine. One day, when
you look back, you will be glad that you have begun on this journey of
self-discovery!
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