“I want to flow and get in with the flow, rather than spend time on making my structure correct” is a very common refrain we hear from students. I can understand it, to flow feels good and it really appeals to the stressed mind. Unfortunately, you need more than flow to make Tai Chi really effective, you need structure. Only when the whole of your body and mind are moving in unity can you really achieve flow and the great feelings that go with it.
Before I began this blog post I thought I had better see what the definition of flow was, it is;
To proceed continuously
To move along in a stream
Oh The Flow!
I remember a dancer, (ballet I think) came to the class. She was now into middle age and no longer a dancer by trade. However, she still behaved like a prima ballerina and apparently her expertise extended into Tai Chi as well. She was adamant that Tai Chi was about flow and not a about technique, structure and flow. She demonstrated her Tai Chi, which did remind me of Swan Lake, but not Tai Chi. The arms floated about, so did the legs, unfortunately not together. It was horrible and the thought crossed my mind – is this what people really think is Tai Chi!? She had mistaken flow for floating.
Long and Continuous Like the Yang Tse River
The yellow river is long, wide and deep, above all it is powerful. Literally billions of tons of water moving inexorably forwards, covering everything in its path. The title of this paragraph is how the ancients believed Tai Chi should be done, strong, coordinated and endless.
Revelation at Yosemite
When I first visited the stunning Yosemite national park California in the 80’s I stopped my car by the roadside while I gazed at the huge pines and the flowing river that passed by. At first sight the river was slow and lazily moved ever onwards, but I soon became aware of the depth and power of that river. It was deep and under the surface appeared to be moving a lot quicker than it first seemed. I observed near the river bank that the force was causing swift eddy currents around rocks –all was not what it seemed. I remembered the admonition to move like the Yang Tse river when you do Tai Chi and it made sense. Tai Chi looks simple, but do not let the apparent simplicity fool you. It has the capacity to change you from the inside out, both mentally and physically. With every passing month more and more research is proving what we knew intuitively, Tai Chi does you good in so many ways. Tai chi is not just floaty waving of your arms, it is coordinated, powerful and deep like the Yellow river. Take out the inherent power of Tai Chi and you are left with an empty shell that delivers nothing.
Combine the mind, to the exact technique and harness it to the centre and you have a recipe for good health and a calm mind. Once you have achieved that then FLOW like the Yang Tse. Miss these elements and you have a trickle of water not a mighty river.
What would you rather have?
To your very good health,
Kind Regards,
John Hine
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