' The stillness in stillness is not the real stillness
Only when there is stillness in movement
does the universal rhythm manifest '
Bruce Lee
We live in a world full of polarity. Daily we live through the contrasts of life. Night and day, cold and hot, ups and downs, happy and sad, excited and anxious, inspiration and procrastination, positive and negative.
I invite you to the idea that somewhere in the middle of the swinging pendulum is where we find our stillness. In this stillness, we move, but a gentle conscious sway is far more centred than getting caught up in a full unmonitored swing. The concept that true stillness is not about being still, it's about being able to flow with the movement without being overpowered by it. Balanced movement.
The practice of learning Tai Chi has taught me that there is an exact point of power somewhere in the middle of opposing forces. The movements in modern Tai Chi are slow though by origin it is a martial art and a defence training. It has evolved into a modern day practice for it's health benefits, but historically it has profound depth and importance in it's Taoist teachings.
Here are some of the Tai Chi movement principles that my masters have graced me with. I share these especially because I find them to be beautiful metaphoric principles for life itself.
Everything is yin and yang.
If your right leg is back, your left arm is forward. If your right arm is pulling, your left arm is pushing.
If one arm is up the other is down.
Know how far to step. Know when to stop.
Know what is too high, what is too low.
Understand where your energy starts and where it stops.
Know when to stop extending beyond your own energy.
When you operate within your own energy you are in your power.
The practice of Tai Chi teaches you to be in flow with your own energy and the energy of others around us.
Sometimes it is not about being stronger, it is about timing.
This practice is not about being aggressive or confrontational, it is about defending yourself without attacking or reacting. Step 'out of the way' because you are one step ahead.
You hold your energy, let the other person be at the effect of their own energy.
Don’t be a reaction to someone else’s imbalance.
When you see the oncoming force, don’t resist it, transform it.
When you see the oncoming force (someone approaches), don’t resist it (don't react or fight back or defend), transform it (simply step out of the way and hold your own).
Do you see the concept of stillness in movement? True stillness is not about being still, it is about just the right amount of flow.
Questions:
When can you choose movement over reaction?
What can you do to be more aware of your energy lines?
Can you use these concepts to help you be more at ease with the polarities in day to day life?
yin & yang
Embrace Balanced Movement
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