Skip to main content

Main menu

  • Home
  • Our Academy
  • Tai Chi
    • What is the Art of Tai Chi - Tai Chi Academy
    • What is Hun Yuan Tai Chi?
    • Benefits
    • Tai Chi Testimonials
    • Why is Tai Chi Practised Slowly?
  • Qigong
    • What is Qigong?
    • Self Healing Wuji Gong
    • Energy Makeup Analysis
    • Healing Arts of Emei Qigong
  • Online Courses
    • Tai Chi Level 1 for Beginners
    • Tai Chi Level 2
    • Tai Chi Level 3
    • Tai Chi Level 4
    • Tai Chi Refinement with Brett
    • Tai Chi Refinement with Fontane
  • Classes in Canberra
  • Gallery
  • Workshop Bookings
  • Articles

Tai Chi as Calligraphy

Submitted by everyadmin on Tue, 09/18/2018 - 02:08

The art of performing Tai Chi is similar to that of a calligraphy master writing a Chinese character, that is, focused, relaxed, smooth and with the right intention.  An expert can detect any interruptions or hesitations in the strokes.  One’s intention directs the movements.  Intention is a combination of awareness, feeling from the heart and focusing the mind.  The Chinese talk about xin yi (heart-mind).  This term is used to convey the relationship between the mind and the body. 

 

To train intention well, we need to be relaxed and quiet internally.  We practise Qigong exercises to enable us to enter into a state of tranquillity.  In this state, we feel happy, peaceful and free from worry – in another word, contented. 

 

Once we are in this state while practising the Hun Yuan Tai Chi form, it is important not to break this flow by being distracted or too intense.  Once our intention falters, our qi will not flow as smoothly.  Our breathing will become shallow and blood circulation will weaken.  In short, we will not receive the full benefits from the training. 

 

The Taoists talk about being able to breathe like a baby in the womb.  Our training method cultivates this state, enabling the body to rest deeply and restoring our energy to its primordial condition.  When we can focus our intention, our qi will accumulate in the Dan Tian in the lower abdomen.  Building the energy in the Dan Tian is an essential part of our training.  When we are calm and focused, our breathing goes from the chest to the Dan Tian.  It is deep but not forced.  Our pores open and we breathe through the whole body, not only the lungs.  If we maintain this state of calm, our heart rate slows.  We will activate dormant cells and circulate an abundant supply of blood to the whole body.  Good concentration leads to the right intention which can also affect the body’s magnetic field.  This, in turn, helps to maintain the body’s energetic balance.

 

When we practise our form, it is important that our intention is there, even if our movements are not continuous.  Our intention still connects us to the next movement.  In this way, we can maximise the benefits we receive from our training.  If our intention is not with our practice, we are missing an essential aspect of Tai Chi.  Ultimately, Tai Chi is about training the mind.  To do this, we use the body to express intention.  This training will awaken you to the beauty of each moment.  This will bring inner joy and cultivate the ability to live fully in the moment, rather than in some future projection or past memory. 

 

The Tai Chi form has a rhythm.  It is related to our breathing and our heartbeat.  It rises and falls.  When it reaches its peak, it falls, then rises again.  When you practise well, it will feel as though you are being breathed.  In ancient times, practices such as Tai Chi were also called Dao Yin.  This term represents the mind directing or guiding the movement and harmonising the movement with the breath.  However, when the mind and body are relaxed, the breath will naturally follow the movements.  Only at the higher levels of training are special methods used to guide the breath.

 

External training methods (wai Jia) can damage the body and drain our energy, whereas internal training methods (Nei Jia) such as Tai Chi, Xing Yi and Ba Gua, tend to nurture our energy and strengthen the body.  Also, the internal methods can develop us on many levels – physically, mentally, emotionally, energetically and spiritually.   Internal training is an art form which can enrich every aspect of our lives.  Like the calligraphy master who is one with his brush strokes, imbued with intention and spirit, our Tai Chi should endeavour to express our inner nature through every movement. 

article_type: 

  • feature

Interviews

Finding His Passion - Brett
Self Development - Chris
My Tai Chi Journey - Lis

Articles


China trip

Managing Parkinson's
My Tai Chi Journey - Lis
Recovery from Accident
Training Saved the Day
Wu Dao Gong - Fei Wang
Tai Chi & Yang Mian
Tai Chi & Wu Dao Gong
Restore Health
Engages the Mind
Better Coordination and Focus Leads to Better Daily Life Skills
Enhances My Life & Work
Throwing off Stress
Training - I Know Myself
Great Rewards
Stress Relief with Tai Chi
Helps to Keep Me Young
A Fresh Outlook on Life
Maintaining a Balance
Finding His Passion - Chief Instructor Brett Wagland
Path of Self Development - Chris
Hun Yuan Qigong - the Key to Developing Internal Energy
Silk Reeling Gong - the Key to Improving Your Tai Chi Form
Reflections on the Tai Chi & Meditation Retreat, April 2016
Moving with Awareness Enhances Vitality
What is the Difference between Fancy Forms and Gong Fu?
An Insight from Chen Xiang
Training with Chen Xiang
Interview with Feng Xiu Qian
What is the Purpose of Practising Tai Chi Slowly?
The Tao of Success in Life
Energy for Life
Find Better Health through a Calm Mind
Tai Chi as Calligraphy
The Wisdom of Internal Arts
Training in Wu Dao Gong, Natural Style Kung Fu
Qigong: the Art of Living Well in Body, Mind and Spirit
So, Why Should You Practise?
Transforming the Body from Weakness to Strength
Celebrating the Year of the Rabbit with Tai Chi and Martial Arts Demonstrations
Surfing Your Life
China Trip - 2017 Highlights
China Trip - 2013 Highlights
China Trip - 2011 Highlights
China Trip - 2009 Highlights
China Trip - 2007 Highlights
China Trip - 2006 Highlights
China Trip - 2005 Highlights
China Trip - 2004 Highlights
China Trip - 2003 Highlights

 

 

  • Tai Chi Academy
  • PO Box 70
  • Woden ACT 2606
  • Australia

 

  • Phone 02 6296 1357
  • Email us

  

 

 

ecommerce payment gateway by e-Path

Find us on:

ecommerce payment gateway by e-PathFacebook