The chi (tai-chi) more
Exotic sounding word tai chi (tai-chi), which for the first time I heard from a friend for a long time attracted my attention, though few knew what to about it. I once liked to see some weak film footage in which distant people in China, carried out under the trees pievutėse strange slow motion. It was very nice, but most of the movement of the atmosphere something catcher. It was Tai Chi. I wanted to meet someone who has something to show and explain more.
And here about fifteen years ago, finally an opportunity to learn about Tai Chi. Then I was first impressed by its beauty, grace movement. But from what I read I felt that this is a slow and graceful dance of health promotion approach. It was hiding something more. I wanted to understand the deeper meaning of Tai Chi. Repeat the movements of my teachers at the complex has been difficult, if not happy - I "caught" and quite complex coordinated movements of the joy of ownership, and the resulting soft exercises, but a deep state of concentration.
After several years of practice I was lucky to meet minded enthusiasts, entangled in the Tai Chi movements and turns. The cooperation with finding and studying clear that Tai Chi is really not just aesthetics and fitness exercise. This is a unique fighting art of self defense, not so much based on manual muscle strength, as far as the human internal power, mental use of the reserves. This is the path of spiritual development. And behind all this lies a deep and ancient Chinese philosophy of Cosmogony. All these aspects are harmoniously connected, intertwined to form an indivisible whole - Tai Chi.
Although I am a psychologist, but the first time faced with a chi-even thought of what it may have a common system with my profession. Later, I began to see Tai Chi as a real practical psychological tool.
TAI CHI ROAD
Tai Chi Chuan (tai-chi čuan) (in Chinese - the ceiling of the martial art ") was formed in China centuries ago. For the sake of brevity, it is often referred to simply as Tai Chi. Although its primary purpose was military, not the philosophical basis for creating warriors, whose main goal was the most efficient way to overcome the enemy, and daoistai thinkers in search of ways to achieve long life and know the essence of life. The legendary pioneer of this art as a hermit monk daoistas Sanfenas Stand. It includes a system of internal usu schools.
Being effective as a martial art (which is extremely important for those times), Tai Chi and Taoism čanbudizmo based on spiritual and mental health outcomes management approaches - philosophical ideas, ethics and principles of a healthy lifestyle, meditation and breathing practices. Guided by the spirit of an internal power rather than brute physical force.
Tai Chi compared with water: relaxed, free flowing, slow motion - like water, "softness" and concentrated, purposeful, powerful performance - as an irresistible flow of water. Thus, Tai Chi combines harmonious softness and hardness, relaxation and activity, the Chinese philosophical tradition to share with the world's two propagules yin and yang. Therefore, Tai Chi is often figuratively described as "steel wrapped in cotton wool."
A few centuries later - the emergence of new powerful weapons, new strategies of warfare - began to die out the importance of traditional martial arts as a way to achieve victory in battle. It became easier to arm himself with a gun, than for many years to improve their movement and spirit. Then, special attention was attracted by the chi-aesthetic, therapeutic, psychological and spiritual aspects. Because of these qualities of Tai Chi's popularity crossed the Chinese border, and began to conquer the West.
Leonard Stuoka
