There is and has been a storm of debate over the proper way to define and practice (Tai Chi, Yoga, Mindfulness, etc...), especially since these arts have been introduced in the West and utilized for things other than original intention. I understand the arguments on all sides of these debates--or most them anyway. I can see how traditionalists feel a firm sense of grounding and appropriateness staying with historical precedent. On the other hand, I also see how the world has benefited from releasing these arts from the confines of the historical temple. I practice in traditional lineages of Taijiquan and Kriya Yoga. But on the other hand, even these practices and my teachers have allowed themselves to change with the times and accommodate current demands and lifestyle challenges. I appreciate the practice of Yoga as a spiritual discipline, and the serious Gongfu traditions of Taijiquan. But at the same time, I have used bits and pieces of these arts to heal myself--irrespective of self defense and enlightenment. And at a certain point in my practice I began to cease with labels and purity of practice. I appreciate and respect my teachers and the respective lineages, but appreciation and respect do not and should not limit our own individual tastes, experiments, and creativity. Growth requires an open mind and is found through individual expression not through labels, traditions, and imitation.
In the current issue (May 2015) of Mindfulness Magazine, the editor makes a good case of why the current fashion of mindfulness training is not "McMindfulness" at all. And as someone who teaches mindfulness as an areligious practical discipline, I obviously agree. And again, even though I understand how Yoga transitioned from a deep holistic spiritual practice to a way for Yuppies to get firm butts and tight abs, I see there are tons of benefits--individually and socially--derived from the practice of popular yoga. Further, as a practitioner of Chen Style Taijiquan who believes that the martial aspect of the art is synonymous with the healing aspect of the art, I have benefited enormously from Tai Chi as a health practice. Even further still, I fully support Paul Read's contention that we need to rescue Tai Chi from the past and redefine it for the 21st Century.
In short, we can be traditional practitioners of any given art and still teach, support, and/or endorse postmodern approaches. In fact, I believe these arts may cease to exist altogether if we try to restrain them to romantic concepts that are not in keeping with current reality. To be clear, I'm not saying that we shouldn't practice Taijiquan as a martial art, or Mindfulness and Yoga as serious enlightenment disciplines. But I'm also not saying we should. My advice to readers is my advice to my students: Find your path and follow it the way you feel led..but always leave yourself open to change and growth. In the meantime, live and let live.
In the current issue (May 2015) of Mindfulness Magazine, the editor makes a good case of why the current fashion of mindfulness training is not "McMindfulness" at all. And as someone who teaches mindfulness as an areligious practical discipline, I obviously agree. And again, even though I understand how Yoga transitioned from a deep holistic spiritual practice to a way for Yuppies to get firm butts and tight abs, I see there are tons of benefits--individually and socially--derived from the practice of popular yoga. Further, as a practitioner of Chen Style Taijiquan who believes that the martial aspect of the art is synonymous with the healing aspect of the art, I have benefited enormously from Tai Chi as a health practice. Even further still, I fully support Paul Read's contention that we need to rescue Tai Chi from the past and redefine it for the 21st Century.
In short, we can be traditional practitioners of any given art and still teach, support, and/or endorse postmodern approaches. In fact, I believe these arts may cease to exist altogether if we try to restrain them to romantic concepts that are not in keeping with current reality. To be clear, I'm not saying that we shouldn't practice Taijiquan as a martial art, or Mindfulness and Yoga as serious enlightenment disciplines. But I'm also not saying we should. My advice to readers is my advice to my students: Find your path and follow it the way you feel led..but always leave yourself open to change and growth. In the meantime, live and let live.