The
muscles are alive and relaxed and only tense when they are doing
something. The nervous system is quietly sending messages that are
appropriate to the reality of the external stimuli. And all is
well.
When we become tense all these processes speed up and change their character and load ( they have evolved to be able to do that without any damage to the system).
As we know, adrenaline is issued to help the body handle trouble. It makes us breathe harder to get the oxygen around. It prepares the blood to clot quicker, it even makes our hairs stand up as a skin protection, even though we don't have enough hair left to make a difference anymore.
Studies with Baboons have shown that another substance is issued under stress. These “Stress Hormones”, act with the adrenaline to prepare for danger, the whole body is readied for a physical confrontation.
In order to do that, many other body functions are put on 2nd priority. As soon as the danger is over, the systems switch back to normal. But, what happens if the Baboon/person considers itself in danger all the time? All the body's systems are functioning at an inappropriate rate, we are prepared for a danger that doesn't exist. In this state, normal life becomes difficult to handle.
In addition, it seems that the Stress hormones inhibit the Immune System. The Baboons that are low in the hierarchy are invariably sick animals.
As far as I know, these studies do not take into consideration the lack of positive input. The Baboon that is constantly being chased or intimidated, doesn't get many hugs or loving glances.
People that actually are under stress all the time, don't have time for love and good feelings, and people who consider themselves to be under stress, and are therefore always tense, are less lovable, more difficult to be comfortable with.
“MORAL”: Since Baboons can't afford Tai Chi lessons, you will have to take them!
In the Western world, and most of the Eastern one also, we are more and more into immediate gratification, “I WANT IT NOW”, “WHERE CAN I BUY IT”, “LIFE, MADE EASY”. Tai chi doesn't lend itself to that attitude. Tai Chi is slow, gradual and thoughtful, precisely because that, is what relaxes and vitalizes.
Tai Chi doesn't “DO IT” for you, you do Tai Chi, and the more you do it, the more you benefit.
Once you do the form, in the morning, just after arising and, just before retiring, you are doing Tai Chi, you are generating health and vitality. If you miss doing the form even just 3 or 4 times a week, you are merely playing and perhaps maintaining a status quo.
After
5 or 10 or 20 years, (as long as it takes), when you have truly
relaxed and your chi is flowing perfectly, you may no longer need to
do the form as often because every move you make, follows the
principles of Tai Chi, and the generator is always working.
Cheng M'an Ch'ing shortened the form from 105 moves to 36 moves. He was both lauded and criticized for doing this. He told us that the form was too long. If people must do a 20-30 minutes form twice a day, they are a lot less likely to do it than a 5-10 minute form.
For those who need or want more of a workout, the “Short Form” can be repeated 2 or 3 times and one will get the same benefit that you do from the long form.
Professor Cheng left out only 9 or 10 moves, most of the shortening came from leaving out repetitions.
The moves that he did leave out were mainly martial and since he was a doctor and his highest priority for Tai Chi was health, he wouldn't have left out any moves that had any health benefits that other moves didn't cover.
Some masters say “NO PAIN, NO GAIN” in order to inspire their students to do the form every day. I really think that most of the pain comes from the thought of doing the form, let's say at 1 A.M., when you are tired and sore. As soon as you start to do the form you begin to relax and feel better, so that by the time you hit the bed you will sleep sooner and deeper.
The form cannot be done simply mechanically, like let's say painting walls. It must be done with sensitivity and depth, like painting a portrait, then it will develop deeply and permeate the rest of your life.
Cheng M'an Ch'ing shortened the form from 105 moves to 36 moves. He was both lauded and criticized for doing this. He told us that the form was too long. If people must do a 20-30 minutes form twice a day, they are a lot less likely to do it than a 5-10 minute form.
For those who need or want more of a workout, the “Short Form” can be repeated 2 or 3 times and one will get the same benefit that you do from the long form.
Professor Cheng left out only 9 or 10 moves, most of the shortening came from leaving out repetitions.
The moves that he did leave out were mainly martial and since he was a doctor and his highest priority for Tai Chi was health, he wouldn't have left out any moves that had any health benefits that other moves didn't cover.
Some masters say “NO PAIN, NO GAIN” in order to inspire their students to do the form every day. I really think that most of the pain comes from the thought of doing the form, let's say at 1 A.M., when you are tired and sore. As soon as you start to do the form you begin to relax and feel better, so that by the time you hit the bed you will sleep sooner and deeper.
The form cannot be done simply mechanically, like let's say painting walls. It must be done with sensitivity and depth, like painting a portrait, then it will develop deeply and permeate the rest of your life.
After
completing the form, it takes 6 months to a year and a half to learn
the form so that one does not have to think about the choreography,
the student is ready to begin “PUSH-HANDS”. Having learned to
relax while doing the movements and under no stress other than the
rigors of remembering, one advances into the next stage and
introduced to “CONTROLLED STRESS”
Push hands is a physical dialogue wherein the two“partners” take turns trying to break down the very things the student has worked on all that time.
Student#1 “YANG” tries, (softly and slowly) to misalign, to unbalance, to find the center and to uproot student #2 “YIN”, who without using muscular strength, tries to neutralize the “PROBE” of “YANG”. Once the probe has been neutralized (yielded to), the students automatically change roles. “YANG” becomes “YIN” and the one who neutralized, now “PROBES” (pushes) toward the one who before was the aggressive one.
This continuous changing of roles is something like 2 man sawing. It gives both the “PLAYERS”, a chance to experience both sides of the game, active “YANG” and passive “YIN”.
Push hands is a physical dialogue wherein the two“partners” take turns trying to break down the very things the student has worked on all that time.
Student#1 “YANG” tries, (softly and slowly) to misalign, to unbalance, to find the center and to uproot student #2 “YIN”, who without using muscular strength, tries to neutralize the “PROBE” of “YANG”. Once the probe has been neutralized (yielded to), the students automatically change roles. “YANG” becomes “YIN” and the one who neutralized, now “PROBES” (pushes) toward the one who before was the aggressive one.
This continuous changing of roles is something like 2 man sawing. It gives both the “PLAYERS”, a chance to experience both sides of the game, active “YANG” and passive “YIN”.
