Author: chibotaichi

In Today’s class, we reflected on whether TaiChi is meant to be a solo endeavor, or intended to be a group exercise.

True to the wisdom of TaiChi, the answer is both!

The dynamic of a group depends upon the dynamics of each individual.

A thriving group experience requires the individuals to each bring the best of their skills and knowledge to the collective.

When an orchestra prepares for the big performance, each player spends hours dedicating themselves to their individual task. The entire orchestra doesn’t convene, and nor should it, just because the 5th violin player is struggling with a meticulous passage.

The solitary efforts of the 5th violinist are the ground for breakthroughs which can be made worthwhile when the larger whole comes together. The individual can devote their solo-practice time to whatever they need without hindering the group, yet without the group’s effort, the individual effort may not have a platform for expression or application.

The lone violinist cannot truly play the symphony as an individual, and the orchestra cannot truly play the symphony if any individual is blundering.

The strength of the whole is dependent on the strength of the individuals.

TaiChi, as a Practice, is an opportunity to refine ourselves as individuals so that when we enter into collectives we inherently make them better. The greatest service we can do for the whole is to be a whole-individual. When the whole is optimal and healthy, it can accommodate many individuals.

When practicing solo, it is both for your personal benefit and the benefit of others. You cannot share what you don’t understand nor contribute what you do not have.

When practicing in a group, it is for the benefit of the group and for your own personal benefit. You can bring your enthusiasm and energy, but managing the needs and preferences of Others is an exercise which cannot occur in isolation.

The TaiChi Principle is most blatantly manifest as Self/Other. Without Others, or a collective, our understanding of “Self” or “me” is incomplete. Without a sound sense of “Self”, “me”, or “I”, then we cannot meaningfully relate to a group or a whole.

For TaiChi Practice to be complete, we will invariably need to experience and explore both the social and solitary conditions of our Humanity.

TaiChi sequences are designed to develop an internal, and self-referential, compass. Too often we practice with our eyes looking outward, using external references to orient our Body and Mind in Space.

It is not wrong to utilize external objects, such as a clock or window, to help make sense of our Movement. However, it is incorrect to rely on such external objects.

The window (or whatever external-referent you have) can help you be sure you are facing the correct direction but it is critical that you have an internal experience or understanding of how you arrived there; what it means to have turned 90 or 45 or however-many degrees in order to face the external object.

What you can see in front of you should never change your internal-understanding of Left and Right, Front and Back, etc.

TaiChi sequences begin from Stillness- a static and centered position, so that every Movement can be understood in reference to the initial position. If your attention and Awareness are not drawn inward and centered both physically and cognitively at the beginning, then every Movement you make is lacking it’s full meaning.

Every single step occurs with the context of the starting position at heart. If your full Awareness is present before you commence the sequence, you can understand all the positions and postures with much more depth.

When your primary point of reference is yourself it doesn’t matter where you are or what is happening around you, Left is still Left, Front is still Front, and there is no need to hesitate or measure.

When TaiChi is leading you toward Internal Awareness, you begin to move completely Free.