Viewing Tai Chi as a complete system which needs
to incorporate the ways of thinking evident in Taoism and Zen with internal
features of form and martial applications is key. Indeed, since starting with
the class as well as ‘re-training’ the body to effectively transfer energy,
relax, yield and the like; retraining the mind with a more ‘here and now focus’
and by not forcing the physical or the mental has been beneficial to my health.
Reading text such as Merton’s and other exercises like the questionnaires
compliment form, qigong and application studied in class. This has been
emphasised recently by Master Waller where this aspect of the study is essential and
informs internal aspects of the art.
(Dr Leigh Riby)
