Taiji & Meditation
On its initial state, the ancient Art of Taiji (Taichi) focuses on developing a more relaxed and coordinated body, whilst improving overall health through the increased flow of oxygen and energy circulation. Smooth continuous movements, coordinated with the breathing will calm the emotions. Deep awareness of the changes taking place inside the Body will bring the Mind into a focused deep state. As this initial enhanced state gradually crystallizes, Taiji and Meditation will gradually build a stronger Body-Mind connection. A process of self-knowledge and self-improvement starts taking place, both inside and out.
This is what we call The Inner Path, a well posted road towards your true self.
Introduction
We aim to offer you the Path of Internal training for Body and Mind as has been taught in Europe and Asia by our teacher Patrick Kelly for over 40 years. This is a Path of Inner knowledge and Self-development, a way to enhance the natural Body skills of External Softness and Inner Strength, benefiting your health and developing useful martial arts qualities for daily life. We teach a step by step method to connect and evolve the Jing-Qi-Shen (Body-Energy-Mind), the traditional Daoist system with a modern approach.
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In the first stages of Taiji & Meditation practice, you will start to experience:
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The body loosening
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Movements becoming more free
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Improved balance
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Some sense of Elastic Power (Taiji Jin)
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A better awareness of the body
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An increased ability to shut down the over-active superficial mind
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A deeper awareness of yourself gradually arising
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These benefits will come from the practice (in regular classes and seminars) of the following parts that compose the system of Taiji:
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Loosening Exercises
The Song Shen Wu Fa - 5 Loosening Exercises are a set of basic training exercises based on the Taiji Principles created by master Huang Xing Xian (1910-1992).
Training them accurately develops “relaxed hip joints and shoulders, Body-Mind coordination and relaxation, Energy circulation and Inner Strength” that are key benefits of Taiji.
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Benefits
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Closing down the mind to a deeper state, and turning the listening inwards.
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Loosening the body- Relaxes the muscles & frees the joints.
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Gradual integration and experience of the principles such as distinguishing Yin from Yang, and relaxation from contraction.
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Improves coordination of the body & mind.
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Introduction & understanding of the Wu Xing/5 Elements cycle (5 muscle phases and its associated mental states)
Taiji Form
The 37 Move Taiji Short Form that we teach was created by professor Cheng Man Ching (1902-1975). He who was also known as the “Master of 5 Excellences”, and was a disciple of Taiji master Yang Cheng Fu. Cheng Man Ching simplified the old taiji form to 37 moves to make it easier to teach and train. His form has come to be known as Cheng Man Ching Taiji.
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It is learned in about 3 months, and forms the frame where you can integrate the principles arising from the practice of the 5 Loosening Exercises. Coordination of Mind and Body, the use of Yi (Intention) and developing the Elastic Power of Taiji are at the core of the Taiji Form. We practice it from slow to natural speed, for about 15 minutes on every regular class, or longer in the seminars.
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Benefits
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Develop the use of intention to generate inner strength and power and direct it.
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Develop the idea of elastic force & energetic activation.
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Works on accuracy and smoothness, through cordinated fluid movements.
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Develops internal awareness through alignment.
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Intelligent repetition to be able to refine the basics.
Pushing Hands
Tui Shou or Pushing Hands trains sensitivity towards the partner Intention, Energy and Forces. You will become sensitive to the subtle process of connecting into another person, which is a really helpful skill for daily life interactions.
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This step adds the 8 fix pushing hands patterns to the previous training. Once you have grasped the essential points of the pushing hands exercises, applications are also introduced (the ‘famous’ but hard to grasp ‘Fa Jin’ or Issuing 'Elastic Forces’ which for Taiji Masters were famous in the Martial Arts world).
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Benefits
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Develop sensitivity to subtle changes on others and its influence on yourself.
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Helps to understand and refine the subtle level of activation of forces or energy first in ourselves and then in the partner.
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Development of self defense skills through the principles of yielding and neutralizing incoming forces, through a more subtle practice.
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These intelligent applications can be applied to help manage the outer pressures and challenges of daily life.
Meditation
Meditation is where you can collect the benefits of the Taiji practice, and transform the base energy towards a more refined one. This is the alchemy process that the Classics describe as the transformation of Jing - Qi - Shen, or Body’s Energy - Emotional Energy - Mental or Spiritual Energy. It is, once more, a step by step process of inner evolution. We practice an intelligent synthesis of Daoist, Buddhist and Sufi meditation, following the precise directions of our teacher, Patrick Kelly.
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Benefits
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Integrates the benefits from the training in order to transmute the energy to the different levels.
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Refines the gross energies into a subtle one in order to develop our inner potential, and ultimate meaning of our existence.
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Develops a deeper understanding of yourself.
