There are probably as many approaches to training these arts as there are teachers. Right here, right now, I want to clarify the approach of Insight Taiji and Qigong Center. But before I get too far into what I am saying, I want to clarify what I am not saying. I am not saying ours is the best or the only way to practice. It's not. There is no such thing. Training is a human activity. All humans are different, so there are many different approaches to training. This is ours:
We teach Traditional Taijiquan. From our perspective, that implies and includes Qigong and meditation, as we see these as integral to a complete Taijiquan practice. This means that Taiji is a spiritual practice and a healing practice. It is also, by design, a martial practice. In keeping with a Taoist perspective, there really is no difference in these types of practice, or goals of practice. Martial practice is spiritual practice, is healing practice, is nurturing practice, is conditioning practice. To attempt to separate one element of training is a mistake. There is no "Taiji for health" apart from martial Taiji, nor any other such divisions. However, our approach is also subjective in that we don't set a specific training goal that everyone must meet. Everyone trains to his or her level, given his or her level of fitness, age, personal goals, etc...
This practice is first a spiritual practice. The most important part of the curriculum is meditation. Meditation informs and guides all other aspects of the training, as well as making huge changes in how we live and experience our lives. The second most important part of the curriculum is Qigong. None of this training, including meditation, is of any use to us if we aren't healthy. So, we can also see Qigong training ranked alongside Meditation in importance.
Taiji form training is Qigong; it is martial training, as it is based on martial applications; and it is physical conditioning. While most contemporary Taiji schools place a high priority on form training, sometimes to the point of minimizing or bypassing other aspects, we have a different view. Form training is important, very important. But it is not the be-all and end-all of Taijiquan. It is just one component. And it is something we can work on and improve for the rest of our lives. It is heavily informed by meditation, Qigong and partner exercises.
Partner training includes applications from the form, self defense applications, sticky hands, push hands, trapping, and Chin na. We utilize solo practice to nurture ourselves, to learn to unify ourselves. Accordingly, we use partner exercises to nurture and unify with our partner. Partner practice can be conceptualized as shared Qigong. Yes, it is a martial art, and self-defense by definition, but it is, or can be, a practice of peace. We can use this training for peaceful ends. Further, learning to relax under duress is the utmost in stress-management, which leads to a peaceful orientation and furthers spiritual growth. So while we may prioritize our training, it all ultimately leads to the same place.
The point here is that embracing all aspects of this training delivers real tangible results. Trust the system.
But even given that, we recognize that there are people who can benefit from this training, but who may not have any interest in martial arts or Taijiquan. For these, we still offer meditation and Qigong training as stand-alone arts. In short, you can't practice Taiji without Qigong and meditation, but you can practice Qigong and meditation without Taiji. And, indeed many do and many find it to be very rewarding. So find your place and live life as if it mattered.
We teach Traditional Taijiquan. From our perspective, that implies and includes Qigong and meditation, as we see these as integral to a complete Taijiquan practice. This means that Taiji is a spiritual practice and a healing practice. It is also, by design, a martial practice. In keeping with a Taoist perspective, there really is no difference in these types of practice, or goals of practice. Martial practice is spiritual practice, is healing practice, is nurturing practice, is conditioning practice. To attempt to separate one element of training is a mistake. There is no "Taiji for health" apart from martial Taiji, nor any other such divisions. However, our approach is also subjective in that we don't set a specific training goal that everyone must meet. Everyone trains to his or her level, given his or her level of fitness, age, personal goals, etc...
This practice is first a spiritual practice. The most important part of the curriculum is meditation. Meditation informs and guides all other aspects of the training, as well as making huge changes in how we live and experience our lives. The second most important part of the curriculum is Qigong. None of this training, including meditation, is of any use to us if we aren't healthy. So, we can also see Qigong training ranked alongside Meditation in importance.
Taiji form training is Qigong; it is martial training, as it is based on martial applications; and it is physical conditioning. While most contemporary Taiji schools place a high priority on form training, sometimes to the point of minimizing or bypassing other aspects, we have a different view. Form training is important, very important. But it is not the be-all and end-all of Taijiquan. It is just one component. And it is something we can work on and improve for the rest of our lives. It is heavily informed by meditation, Qigong and partner exercises.
Partner training includes applications from the form, self defense applications, sticky hands, push hands, trapping, and Chin na. We utilize solo practice to nurture ourselves, to learn to unify ourselves. Accordingly, we use partner exercises to nurture and unify with our partner. Partner practice can be conceptualized as shared Qigong. Yes, it is a martial art, and self-defense by definition, but it is, or can be, a practice of peace. We can use this training for peaceful ends. Further, learning to relax under duress is the utmost in stress-management, which leads to a peaceful orientation and furthers spiritual growth. So while we may prioritize our training, it all ultimately leads to the same place.
The point here is that embracing all aspects of this training delivers real tangible results. Trust the system.
But even given that, we recognize that there are people who can benefit from this training, but who may not have any interest in martial arts or Taijiquan. For these, we still offer meditation and Qigong training as stand-alone arts. In short, you can't practice Taiji without Qigong and meditation, but you can practice Qigong and meditation without Taiji. And, indeed many do and many find it to be very rewarding. So find your place and live life as if it mattered.