Tai Chi - Yin and Yang

You may have heard of Yin & Yang but what do they really mean and what do they have to do with our practice of Tai Chi.

Firstly, we should say that the philosophy and cultural influence of Yin & Yang go back a long way in Chinese history, well over 2000 years to around 400 BCE, and probably a good way beyond that.

Yin 阴 means the “shady side” of a hill and Yang 阳 means the “sunny side” of a hill. A simple observation of a nature, the earth and the sun. Something we can all relate to. We often try to buy a house or plot of land with a south facing aspect to benefit from the year round sunshine.

When Yin & Yang combine we get Tàijí 太极 - literally meaning “great polarity or supreme ultimate.”

Nowadays Tàijí often gets simplified to ‘Tai Chi’ in the west and has become commonly used as a short hand for the martial art Tàijíquán  太极拳 - meaning Supreme Ultimate Boxing Art.

Tàijítú 无极 - The interplay of Yin & Yang

As a concept Tàijí decribes Yin & Yang as ever moving and changing, one into the other, like day into night, in a dynamic and evolving creative process.

Tàijí springs forth from Wújí 无极 - meaning without polarity or, more simply, voidness, nothingness, without limits or bounds.

The ubiquitous symbol of Tàijí the Tàijítú 无极 diagram represents, simultaneously, both Wújí (monism) and Tàijí (dualism). Stillness with movement or, of a constant issuing forth before eventually returning back to beginnings. So, we have this very paradoxical concept of Dual-Monism.

In modern terms we could think of Wújí, such as that state which came before the 'Big Bang' and Tàijí as the ever evolving and expanding universe. This of course includes all the rich diversity of life evolving on earth, including human beings.

What has this to do with the health exercises we practice in our classes such as the Tai Chi for Health programs of Dr Paul Lam and the Tai Chi for Health Institute?

We explain and demonstrate how the principles of Yin & Yang and the philosophical underpinnings of Wújí & Tàijí play out as one practices the sequences, we teach you how to balance the opposing yet complementary forces of the Yin Yang principles within ourselves, via our posture, our balance and the work of our muscles.

The more we practice, the more we can positively influence this interplay of Yin & Yang to refine our ‘form’ and enjoy the deeper health benefits of this wonderful exercise system from China.

If you think someone you know, a friend or member of your family, might like to read this short blog post, then please do share.

Helen and I look forward to seeing you in one of our classes or workshops.

Books on Tai Chi

Many people have asked me to create a reading list to help them understand the concepts we introduce to our Tai Chi for Health classes and workshops. Other people have asked for books to delve deeper into the cultural and philosophical roots of Tai Chi and its practice in the modern day.

I've narrowed my selection down to what I think represent the best sources that keep their feet well and truly on the ground. Many consider these authors, quite rightly, authorities on their subject but who also have the ability to write in a way that doesn't exclude the lay reader. 

I hope you enjoy exploring some or all of these recommendations.

Philip

The Harvard Medical School Guide to Tai Chi

By Peter Wayne

An exceptional investigation and primer to the evidence for the reported benefits of Tai Chi from a Doctor at Harvard Medical Institute.

Teaching Tai Chi Effectively

by Dr Paul Lam
An essential book for any Tai Chi instructor to read. Useful for anyone who practises Tai Chi and wishes to a become a safe and effective instructor.

Chinese Medicine: The Web That Has No Weaver

By Ted J Kaptchuk

An absolute classic. I read the first edition when first published in the 1980's. This book is the first in depth explanation in English on the theory and practice of Chinese medicine.

The Sword Polisher's Record: Way of Kung-fu

By Adam Hsu

Most people nowadays come to Tai Chi as a wonderful way to benefit their health and wellbeing. The roots of this modern health practice sprang from T'ai chi ch'üan, or Taijiquan (supreme ultimate fist), a self defence art from ancient China. I can recommend no finer book as an introduction to those roots.

Tao: The Watercourse Way Paperback

By Alan Watts

Alan Watts perhaps did more than any other to interpret and popularise Eastern philosophy for a Western audience. Tai Chi extends back into the Chinese culture of Taoism (Daoism). This remains a much loved book by many and seen as a fundamental primer on the philosophical roots of Tai Chi and the subleties that lie beneath the surface of the movements one learns.

Tao Te Ching: Illustrated Edition

By Lao Tsu (Author), Gia-Fu Feng (Translator) (Author), Jane English (Translator) (Author), Toinette Lippe (Translator) (Author), Jacob Needleman (Introduction) (Author).

The Tao Te Ching represents one of the key books to explore this fascinating way of viewing the world and human beings place in it. By far my favourite translation that keeps to the spirit and poetic feel of the original text. 

All the links above will take you to the Amazon Book Store.

Tai Chi, Nature, and Health

“We seem to know that time spent in green space is just what the doctor ordered.”

I wrote the above quote as part of a guest blog for the support organisation AfterTrauma. In that blog I talk about how natural spaces can help us cope with the ups and downs of life and the growing evidence from science that supports our intuition. And what has this got to do with your practise of tai chi chuan.

Well, if you delve a little deeper into the roots of tai chi you soon find out that those roots spring from the rich cultural and philosophical ground of Taoism (sometimes written Daoism). This short, beautiful film below gives a good primer on Taoism and how it relates in particular to the martial arts of China, the same roots from which our tai chi for health programme stem:



I often encourage people who come to our classes and workshops to see if they can find a little private space, a garden if they have one, or a quiet corner in a park for instance, where they can practise their tai chi form outside.

People don't hesitate to say how their practice of the tai chi form takes on a new sense of meaning when they do so. Some of the sequence names found in the various styles of tai chi that we learn, such as wave hands in clouds and gather celestial energy, suddenly make perfect sense when performed outdoors.

I hope this short blog and the links within it encourage you to get outdoors. You don't have to practise the tai chi form outdoors to get the benefit, taking a short stroll, or taking a seat in a green space will reward and reinvigourate you. You'll find yourself slip effortlessly into that mindful state that eases our sense of wellbeing in the world.

Forest Bathing or Shinrin-yoku

In Japan you will find people go to specially designated forest trails to ‘bathe’ in the healing balm of the trees. They literally call it forest bathing or Shinrin-yoku, and researchers have found that regular strolls in these lush spaces can offer profound health benefits for people living with many different long term physical and mental health conditions.

As I wrote in the guest blog for AfterTrauma, time taken to relax in green spaces proved especially important for my recovery from the significant trauma I experienced when I had my accident. It continues to remain an important part of my ongoing health and wellbeing today. So, if you can, get outdoors, relax and enjoy.

If you enjoyed reading this you may like to visit my other blog/website where you will find more pieces that touch on the arts, medicine, poetry, and more.

Do have a family member, friend or colleague who you think would like to read this blog? Please do share it with them.

Please do get in touch to let me know your thoughts.

All the best

Philip

Tai Chi Principles

Tai Chi Principles

Sung and Jing

Sung (sometimes spelt Song), pronounced ‘soong’, represents the most important principle to build into your practice of tai chi and qigong.

Sung has many meanings, such as to relax, to loosen, to open, to release tension. Sung, counter-intuitively describes an active state of relaxation. Not as some people think to relax like a ‘sack of potatoes’.

In the classes I teach I often use an analogy from archery of the perfectly tensioned bow. Not too slack. Not too tight. Just right. Full of potential energy just waiting for the archer to draw and release. Which brings us to a second, yet equally important principle, that pairs nicely with sung, called Jing.

Movement with Stillness

Jing, like sung, has many meanings, such as stillness, motionless, silent, quiet, peaceful, calm and tranquil. When applied to your practice of tai chi Jing describes a quiet mind. An anonymous Tang Dynasty Daoist classic called the Qingjing Jing – The Classic on Clarity and Tranquility –  describes the quality of jing as a mind free from worries and naturally at ease. One can also think about jing as mindfulness or being mindful.

One could say the mind must also have sung. We could also say, that without jing, a tranquil mind, we'll find it difficult to feel sung throughout our body. Each principle supports and relates to the other, like the balance of yin and yang, which together form the familiar diagram of tai chi.

Through our practice of the tai chi form, we begin to realise the meanings behind well known tai chi sayings, such as, ‘movement with stillness’ and ‘when the wind blows the whole tree moves’.

Sung - Tai Chi

Sung and Jing represent very real felt qualities. It can take a little time to get a feel for them. At first you may get a glimpse, just for a moment, as you practice your tai chi form. With some patient practice each day you'll find your feel for sung and jing grow quite naturally like the unfolding of a beautiful blossom.

What do sung and jing feel like? Well, remember the archer and bow analogy? As you get familiar with the movements of the form you can begin to release tension from your mind and in your body. As you find and release all those tensions you will feel your muscles, tendons and ligaments, all the joints in your body, begin to open, loosen and relax. You will have started to develop sung – active relaxation. Further more, as you practice your tai chi form each day you'll find that quality of sung carry into your day to day activities also.

Chen - Tai Chi

Many people find a tai chi class without ever hearing about, let alone getting the opportunity to practice the principles that underpin tai chi, specially, sung and jing. Without these principles, one's tai chi becomes just another set of physical movements or form of thoughtless exercise like so many that people do day to day.

With jing and sung present you'll realise how they relate to, and act as the key to unlock the door to the other tai chi principles: Chen - meaning to sink, to feel heavy, rooted to the earth; Huo - meaning suppleness, agility, elasticity and resilience; the controlled transfer of our weight from one leg to another; and the rhythm for the slow, continuous, flowing movements we aim for when we practice tai chi.

Huo - Tai Chi

As you get a feel for these principles you'll find the health benefits really begin to kick in. You'll feel more  at ease and alert, calm and focused, with more energy for your day to day tasks, have greater physical and mental strength, stability and balance. With your continued practise you feel a real sense of happiness, contentment and feeling uplifted.

Tai Chi - Feels Good

Tai chi ought to feel good. If you don't get to practise it you begin to miss it. Finding a good tai chi class can really help keep you motivated as you learn the movements and give you a great sense of camaraderie. A good tai chi class will have a happy and relaxed atmosphere with lots of laughter present. If you find a class like that you'll know the principles of Sung and Jing are present too.

If you have a friend who you think would benefit from coming to one of our classes please do share this page as a link on social media or email.

We look forward to seeing you : )