Chapter 23: Tai Chi Chuan

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Chapter 23Tai Chi Chuan

• Tension is who you think you should be.
  Relaxation is who you are.
• - Tai Chi Saying

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Tai Chi Chuan
A life force - subtle energy To harmonize with
the universe To move in unison with this
energy To move as freely as running water is to
be at peace or one with the universe
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Tai Chi Chuan
to be at peace - one with the universe The
essence of Tai Chi chuan a harmony and balance
with the vital life force of the natural world
itself
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Tai Chi Chuan

• The Chinese believe that poor health is a result
  of
• blockages
• congestion in the flow of internal energy
• Blockages congestion
• lower physical resistance
• makes us vulnerable to pathogens

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Tai Chi Chuan

• Rooted in philosophy
• Taoism
• Confucianism
• The premise
• to move with, rather than against, the flow of
  universal energy
• The positions
• reinforce concept of consciously moving with
  rather than against stressors

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Philosophy of Tai Chi Chuan
Yin
Yang
light masculine day hard expanding positive active
excess
dark feminine night soft contracting negative pass
ive deficiency
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Tai Chi Chuan Relaxation Technique

• breath effortlessly
• free the body of all tension
• stand perpendicular to the floor
• keep your center of gravity low
• maintain even speed
• integrate mind and body as one

8
Four Principles of Tai Chi Chuan

• Fasting the heart
• Returning to nature
• Wu-wei
• Winning by losing