Absolutely, but with your health care professional's permission. All the upper body movements, and even the leg movements (if possible) can be adapted to a sitting position. The moves can provide significant back stretching and exercise - an important and valuable feature to the exercise - but only if your back is in reasonable shape.

    "I just can't believe that these slow moves are exercise, or increase flexibility. How does it work?"

    Some styles of tai chi lean more toward the meditative aspects, and others are more physically demanding. Personally - I want to get the most out of my tai chi and to offer the most - so I practice and teach ways to maximize stretching and strength, while at the same time - enhance breathing and the meditative qualities. I guess I want it all, and I figure that many of you do, too!

Every instructor choose his/her own methods. I chose dynamic moves that can strengthen the legs, and loosen the hips; I teach simple methods to increase spinal flexibility (so important, and so often forgotten), enhance breathing skills and stimulate the immune system, and I offer ways to relax at the same time.

The best part of these moves is that they can be done with a different focus each time. In the morning - perhaps focus on the flexibility, at work - maybe the breathing and concentration becomes the focus, and before bed - the relaxation and peaceful aspects may be most important.

     "How can anything as slow and soft as tai chi be powerful?"

     First thing to realize is that soft doesn't mean without structure, or being wimpy. Soft refers more to the concept of going with the flow, being relaxed in the face of hardness.

When you learn to become grounded, you become difficult to uproot. When you learn to punch with softness, the snap at the end of the punch is explosive (like the slowness of a whip through the air - the snap at the end is potent).

People who practice tai chi for the health benefits actually train their bodies to find better balance, to be more rooted - so that they respond in better ways in real life situations (walking on ice, being bumped at a shopping mall - and not falling over). They carry themselves in a softer manner - (i.e.: shoulders relaxed, reducing head and back aches). The learn to breath more deeply, improving body functioning and reducing stress. All this is learned at a slow speed, then becomes a part of your 'program', your reflexes.

And the slowness is so meditative and relaxing! A moment of peace in a hectic world.

     "So - how does this apply in other areas of my life?

     In so many ways. Consider this aspect of hardness in relationships. You and your spouse get into an argument, and are hard in your position. You keep pushing your view point at each other, with increased force and attachment to your opinions. This can go on for hours, days, weeks - because you continue to offer your partner more and more to push against.

What would happen if you softened in your approach? If you simply said - 'an interesting point. Thanks for offering your view.' And moved onto the next subject. Not only is the argument over - it didn't begin in the first place. By offering softness, you offer nothing to push against. By letting go of attachment to your opinion, your partner loses the energy attached to his/her opinion. End of story.

In many instances, softness is the fastest road to victory. With ease and grace.

Darling's Home Page  |  Thurston's Home Page  |  Back to Top  |  Seckel Home Page  |   365N Web Sites Link

       

Each individual is responsible for his/her own well-being and we expect you will exercise your own best judgment in utilizing the information contained in Dragon E's Black Belt Academy. Material contained in Dragon E's Black Belt Academy is not intended for and should not be interpreted as a substitute for medical advice. Any decisions you make involving treatment for specific illnesses should include consulting your physician or other health care practitioners. The editors reserve the right to make the final determinations about the content which appears in the pages of Dragon E's Black Belt Academy. All original material remains the property of the author and is protected by copyright law. You may download material for personal use as long as it retains copyright and authoring credit information.