Tai Chi in China Archives

Wisdom from Chen WangTing

June 2, 2018 By Arlene Faulk

I have spent much of the last two weeks in China, in my head – remembering, visualizing, hearing, smelling, tasting once again that wonderful experience I had in person – Tai Chi in Chenjiago (Chen Village) and Wudanshan (Wudang Mountains). Now well into the book I am writing about my story, I easily went back to the multi-faceted experience that enhanced my life and my Tai Chi. A dream come true, a trip that I thought would be physically impossible for me to ever take. And there I was.

This week I told a story to my Tai Chi students. It was in response to a student’s question, “How long until I’m not a beginner any longer?”

In Chenjiago, Chen Village, walking on a gravel road leading to History Museum of Tai Chi, there is a big rock with Chinese writing, “Tai Chi’s Holy Place. We near the entrance and encounter a statue of Chen WangTing, the founder of Chen Tai Chi in the 1600’s. As we walk further along a stone walkway, we encounter three gigantic stone gates. The outermost gate signifies the earliest proficiency of Tai Chi, the second for those who have advanced further and the third, for those who are even more advanced. Chen WangTing told his students he was personally outside the first gate. My fellow Tai Chi travelers and I stopped, looked at each other in amazement. We knew that put us way, way, way, way outside the first gate!

This is a great lesson for us, always having the mind of a beginner, eager to learn, eager to try, eager to be open to new lessons. We do not arrive nor master. We are here to be on the journey.

Knowing What We Don’t Know

July 12, 2015 By Arlene Faulk

How can we know what we don’t know? That question sounds like some kind of puzzle. One thing I do know is that what I know is a much smaller amount than what I don’t know.

One scenario is that we don’t know something and don’t know we don’t know. Another scenario is that we don’t know something and do know that we don’t know it. The second scenario is important because learning is taking place.

Case in point – This week in one of my beginning Tai Chi classes, we were repeating our ward-off left to ward-off right, then roll back (grasp the sparrow’s tail). Repetition is key to learning in Tai Chi and often, even when our minds don’t remember, our bodies do. We flowed through those moves, first in silence, the second time with my calling out weight-shifting. We did the moves again. And again.

Then I asked the students: “Are you relaxing? Are you feeling where your weight is shifting? Are there any particular moves you would like to focus on?”

“A-ha”, the red-headed woman said, “Now I remember what I didn’t think I knew. At home this week, I got stuck and didn’t know how to transition to ward-off right. Do I shift my weight left? Right? I just was standing there stuck. I didn’t think I knew. But, I did know. I just forgot.”

An important moment for the class. I mentioned that it’s a big step forward in learning to know what you don’t know. Or forgot. In this case, the student remembered in her body, not in her mind.

Our bodies are powerful. They remember and store information, They like repetition. They like reinforcement. In our next class, my hunch is that the red-headed woman and others in the class will know that transition move and know that they know it.

A Special Tai Chi Experience

July 8, 2014 By Arlene Faulk

Normally at this time on a Tuesday I’m preparing for my afternoon/evening classes. This Tuesday I’m steeped in Tai Chi, being taught by 5 Grandmasters, one representing each family style of the modern Tai Chi era (1600’s forward).

This international symposium attracted Tai Chi practitioners and teachers from all over the world. I don’t know all countries represented, but I know people from Australia, France, Italy, Romania, Greece, Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, and Canada are here. Obvious, the U.S. is well-represented and there are many people from China here, too.

What a unique opportunity to be in the presence of these teachers, all in one place at the same time. We’re focusing on the commonalities among the various styles, those qualities that promote health, harmony and a way for us to show and live compassion, for ourselves and for others.

I’m very grateful to be part of this experience. More to come in upcoming posts. . .

The Elegant Crane

October 28, 2013 By Arlene Faulk

The Sandhill crane migration draws avid followers every fall, driving miles to see them, then watching, admiring and anticipating. The crane, revered in China for centuries, symbolizes longevity, soaring spirit and health. The Taoists studied and lived with nature. They wanted to be in sync with nature and emulate the natural rhythms and patterns that were the natural flow of life. That philosophy and way of living inspired the creators of Tai Chi movements. The crane is central in so many forms, a beautiful, elegant move that emulates balance, beauty and a profound connection with nature that we can experience each day through Tai Chi. Take a moment today to reflect on or emulate the crane.

White Crane Spreads its Wings Cheng ManChing

Thought from a Master

June 9, 2012 By Arlene Faulk

“The most important reason to study tai chi is that when you finally reach the place where you understand what life is about, you’ll have some health to enjoy it.”

Cheng Man-ch’ing — Tai Chi Chu’an Master, poet, calligrapher, painter

Tai Chi: Stillness in Motion

December 21, 2011 By Arlene Faulk

“6000 miles to go,” the captain announces. Seated in a Korean Air 747 airplane, I’m headed for China. I eagerly anticipate being in a park in China, seeing graceful Tai Chi in the early morning, seeing residents start their day with gentle movement they enjoy. I not only want to watch, I want to participate. I practice Tai Chi. I teach Tai Chi. I know how relaxing and flowing it looks and feels.

China, halfway around the world. I am in a beautiful park, the Temple of Heaven Park in Beijing. A man with black hair, greying sideburns, stands on one leg, knee bent, the other leg in a silent, slow kick up into the air. Tan silk shirt and flowing black, silk pants. A living statue, that is serene and centered. He is stillness in motion.

Looking right I see a group of about 20 men and women, following a slender woman in a red jacket, who is leading the group with her slow, methodical steps forward, then backward. Chinese music emanates from the black boom box sitting on the cement near a grassy area. Big smiles on their faces. They aren’t distracted by people walking in front of them, nor by tourists taking pictures. They are enjoying their own moment, totally focusing on the movements they do every day to feel calm, yet energized.

Doing Tai Chi in the parks of China, studying Tai Chi with Masters in Chenjiagou and the Wudang Mountains were wonderful experiences for me in May. Yet, we don’t have to go to China to experience the calming and balancing benefits of Tai Chi. We can do it right here where we live. As we move into the fall and winter seasons of more inward, quiet and colder moments, we are invited to explore and strengthen our internal energy. Tai Chi calls to me. It also may be calling to you, from centuries ago, in this time and place, to learn a wonderful practice for reducing stress, improving energy flow and increasing balance in your body.

Arlene Faulk is a Tai Chi teacher with Heartwood Center. New Beginning Tai Chi Classes are starting. You can contact Arlene at 312.642.0722 to register or for more information.