Mar
22
Sunrise and gentle power of Tai chi
March 22, 2010 | 3 Comments
The small shimmering yellow and red lights seemed floating in air. The road that curved gently bounded by these uniformly arranged lights on both sides. The early morning fog was descending making the environment a little hazy. The sea was nowhere to be seen and everything above the horizon was dark. Scouting for known faces, not very far, i noticed a familiar group of people standing on a raised platform. It was as if the stage had been set for a long awaited event and we were early. The tiled marble floor below the wide open sky seemed moist. The Sun was definitely hiding somewhere.
Yes ! We were there to do Sunrise Tai Chi at Marina beach that many of us in Chennai were long expecting. To see and share a lively “Hi” with students from different centers is truly something. People with diverse backgrounds and they are here for one thing, Tai Chi.
On the arrival of Simu and Sifu, we knew the play was about to begin very shortly.The actors yin and yang would also arrive the moment play starts and the play will be about their interplay.
Time for warm-up. Despite the fog that blocked the rising Sun, the bright light lit the place with unnoticeable gradualness. One moment you know it is dark, another moment you realize how bright it has become. We finished the warm up with embracing the tree mediatation.
Soon after that we were to begin the 8 forms. Sifu said Chiiii and we moved in unison. After the 8 forms, we did the 85 forms. Amidst 85 forms, i started feeling a little uncomfortable. All of a sudden i realized there were a lot of people watching us. Some of them clicking photos. They were all around us. Instantly i was reminded of how i enjoyed watching people do Tai Chi in a group when i first joined the academy. I would have learnt one or two forms. Everybody in the class would start together and the beginers would do till what they knew. Then we would move away and enjoy watching the advanced students complete the 85 forms smoothly. It gave such joy !.
Puff ! Back to reality, the moment, in the middle of 85 forms, i had let my attention fly. What a blunder !. “Focus Focus Focus” i told myself. Ok now back on track !. We finished the 85 forms. Did the spectators enjoy watching us. I dont know, but i enjoyed doing it.
I now know that if you enjoy watching it, you will eventually end up finding greater joy in doing it.
Immediately after the 85 forms we did 28 forms and we closed the play with the thunderous “HA” sound along with the clapping. How refreshing can it get !. Inquisitive onlookers approached some of our students and enquired about what we were doing.
What are we doing ! The Grand Ultimate ! TAI CHI !
The Hindu published article on Grandmaster Fu Sheng Yuan and his son Fu Qing Quan (Master James Fu) title Gentle power of Tai chi
Article by Sathya
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Leaves from Tao
I think we must do this twice a month or lets start with once a month. Apart from getting an opportunity to practise together and feel the chi flow, it helps us to stay together. Curious onlookers become a part of the universal energy. The fact that we are on ‘public display’ will motivate those of us who need to refine our movements and learn as many forms as we can. Ultimately a practise such as sunrise tai chi helps one to break routine habits of sleeping late into late mornings on Sundays. A healthy and meaningful good start to the week.
Nature does not hurry, but everything is accomplished. A universal truth and insightful understanding of life and living. watching the sunrise slowly, taking its time, not rushed by thousands of on lookers waiting for it to rise… is a practise worth emulating. Most often we want life to happen our way and would do anything to get the results we would like. tai chi helps us to hone the skill of allowing nature to take her time and course. You cannot rush the river. Stay calm, stay focussed on the now and go with the gentle flow. ride the tide, don’t fight it… Amazing lessons..
I don’t believe I have seen this described in such an informative way before. You actually have cleared this up for me. Thanks!