It's common to feel relaxed and rejuvenated after a session of Tai Chi, and ancient claims are, that with regular daily practice, that calming experience produces long term, positive health benefits. This is because the mind was believed to directly influence the physical condition of the body. In the Poem of Thirteen Postures it is said that "the main standard of Tai Chi practice is the mind and internal energy come first, the muscle and bones come second." Tai Chi trains the mind and the body to live together harmoniously.
By means of meditation we can teach our minds to be calm and balanced; within this calmness is a richness and a potential, an inner knowledge which can render our lives boundlessly satisfying and meaningful. While the mind may be what traps us in unhealthy patterns of stress and imbalance, it is also the mind which can free us. Through meditation, we can tap the healing qualities of mind.
- Tarthang Tulku
Now it turns out that western medical researchers have been examining this effect as discussed in this article in US News and World Report . The article discusses studies which have shown ...
Relaxation techniques such as prayer, yoga, and meditation may alter patterns of gene activity that have an effect on how the body responds to stress, according to a new study, published in the journal PLoS One. "What we have found is that when you evoke the relaxation response, the very genes that are turned on or off by stress are turned the other way," Herbert Benson, co-senior author of the new study, told HealthDay. "The mind can actively turn on and turn off genes. The mind is not separated from the body." Other mind-body approaches that elicit a relaxation response include tai chi, breathing exercises, progressive muscle relaxation, biofeedback, guided imagery, and Qi Gong.
So when you practice your Tai Chi, keep the mind and imagination engaged. We aim for a calm, meditative state of mind in practice. We visualize and act with intent. These are key principles of practice.
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