It's Time to Try T'ai Chi Chih
By Gabbie Pepin
NLY T’ai Chi Chih instructor, Lauren Paitson has a kind, gentle demeanor as she instructs her students in the practice of T’ai Chi Chih, and she creates a welcoming environment for those of us joining virtually, as well as those who attend in person. Her clear explanations and demonstrations help even the newest of practitioners intuit and learn the cyclical movements as well as find their “sweet spot” when bringing each fluid motion to a close.
Based on Tai Chi Ch’uan, Tai Chi Chih is a practice developed in the 1970s by Justin F. Stone, who wished to make the benefits of Tai Chi accessible to anyone, regardless of time, location, physical ability, or experience. He traveled through Southeast Asia, practicing Tai Chi alongside Zen monks in Japan and Yogis in India and brought back from these life-changing experiences a pared-down series of nineteen core movements and one pose that can be completed in any order—a big shift from the long sequences of Tai Chi Ch’uan that must be memorized. While the movements themselves are easy enough to follow, Justin’s teaching of “the effort of no effort” is probably one of the hardest for practitioners to learn, especially for those with busy minds and busy bodies. The movements eventually become second nature, but the task of giving yourself over to the movement, to the push and pull, the yin and yang of this practice, asks its practitioners to release into the sensations of each subtle movement.
These classes are not martial arts but rather a healing art and a practice in moving meditation. Rarely will you work up a sweat; rather, you may feel your fingers tingle with warmth as the energy, or Chi, your body possesses begins to move from its stagnant and unbalanced state. You may become energized as your internal organs are refreshed through movements designed for them instead of for the external body.
Improved balance and strength are benefits of T’ai Chi Chih, but they do not result from holding intense positions or forcing your body through cardio, instead, it is in the repetition of the smallest movements that tendons grow more flexible and muscles better able to support the weight they carry. Because of their subtlety, these movements can be repeated anywhere at any time, even seated in a chair. Using these movements in moments of stress can bring calm as you cast off the energy that no longer serves you and invite positivity into its place.
Tai Chi Chih is not associated with any particular religion. Although it uses spiritual terminology, it is also subject to Newton’s Third Law of Motion: for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction—pushing energy out allows for space to be refilled—as well as the Law of the Conservation of Energy: energy cannot be created and it cannot be destroyed; it can only be converted from one form of energy to another—T’ai Chi Chih simply moves existing energy through the body to improve the flow of Chi (life energy) to help maintain a balance that keeps us both physically and mentally healthy.
If you are looking for something new: some added peace in your life, a calming, meditative practice, some clarity of mind, or a class that promises low-stress on your body, I highly encourage you to try Lauren’s T’ai Chi Chih class. Monday evenings from 7:00-8:00 PM, join her to decompress from your day, and leave discovering a revitalization that follows you long after the class ends.
Tai Chi Chih is currently only offered virtually through Facebook Thrive due to Lauren’s availability. However, occasionally, she does offer her class in the studio. If interested in Tai Chi Chih, sign up for the virtual class on Mindbody, and Lauren will contact those registered to let them know if/when they have the option to join her in the studio. If not on a membership, and unable to access Thrive, please reach out to Lauren to find out when she will be teaching in person, or join with a membership today!