Tai Chi movements: The Beauty of Tai Chi Movements

By Sensei Sandeep Desai

Tai Chi movements have a ballet-like quality; yet there is an underlying strength.

Tai Chi is the most highly evolved art, science and philosophy of mind and body development, which gives you the - strength of a bull; the serenity of a Buddha.

The Tai Chi movements were originated and refined by those who were highly knowledgeable about the principles of movement, action, physiology and health. It is usual for people unacquainted with Tai Chi to remark: - It looks just like balletÓ.

Tai Chi movements have a ballet-like quality; yet there is an underlying strength, just as silk is both soft and strong. If the movement is beautiful, it is because a human body, moving in accordance with the principles of physiology and health, is beautiful to watch.

Without principles in place, Tai Chi is mere calisthenics which looks cool on the surface, but does not give you internal benefits. Although you may come to Tai Chi for movement, you may find that you want to stay for the principles and the internal changes that you experience.

Nothing gives you a better chance to work on the principles than the forms. The forms are your alphabets, and when they become linked, they are your Tai Chi vocabulary. All together, the forms are indispensable for developing balance, honing co-ordination and building strength. Forms help you fine-tune the energy flow that helps unblock chi in your body.

One of the basic principles of Tai Chi is that all movements are initiated with turning of the waist. Alignment and posture are not only about your legs and arms. They are about your core, your centre, the lower part of your torso. Your physical power centre is right in your core. This area is basically around your navel and abdomen. If you try to walk, balance, stand up from sitting, reach into a cabinet or do any daily movement without engaging your core, you are not able to move smoothly, strongly, or with any amount of control.

No matter what you do, imagine that the movement resonates from your power centre, and not from the limbs doing the action. Think that you are strong - to the coreÓ. Ever wonder why people say that something is good or bad to the core? Because the core is the centre of what you are all about. Mindfully speaking, your core is the fountain of all your bodys energy, and it must be worked and massaged so you can break free of pain, fill yourself with positive energy, successfully complete a move, or find the true meaning of bliss.

The principles of Tai Chi are not really something that you just practise dutifully for an hour in class, and then forget about until the next session. These principles become a part of your blood, sweat, soul and psyche. Learning the forms is well and good; the movements may feel good and you may feel superficially and physically stronger and more flexible.

As you learn to breathe, develop your chi and root yourself, you will find an amazing thing; the forms are just the vehicle to help you go farther on your journey Ñ a journey that can transform your life and thoughts. These forms are only the physical expression of what is happening inside of you.

While you are so dutifully discovering how to do - White Crane Spreads its Wings - or - Walking ObliquelyÓ, something else is taking place; you learn, for example, about the power of softness, the strength of peace, and the stillness that you can reap by using and appreciating opposites taught by the principles of Yin and Yang.

Discovering the underlying principles of Tai Chi and how they relate to your life can be a very personal journey because everybodys needs are different. Take what you want; leave the rest. Then step out and explore on your own to find out where you may want to add a little Tai Chi to your life Ñ in practical or philosophic terms.