Life
Arts
Why Life Arts? Regular participation will enable you to remain the author of your own experience, even in the midst of the relentless pressure and tension of city-life. * Our word ‘technique' is derived from the Greek word tekhne or ‘arts'. The Metropolitan Taoist Taoists developed their techniques in times which, like our own, were extremely turbulent and demanded of everyday people strong minds and bodies to help them withstand the fear and violence generated by the constant threat from feudal insurgents. Taoism places a great emphasis upon living in harmony with our environment by skillfully responding to our circumstances whatever they might be, whether we find ourselves in the bustling heart of the city or the tranquility of the countryside. In fact, one of the highest tests of a Taoist practitioner was his or her ability to discover and then maintain a deep sense of internal stillness in the midst of everyday life in a demanding urban environment. Taoist techniques were also used to enhance or ‘turbo charge' martial arts applications and at REAL TAOISM we can teach you how to apply these techniques to your everyday life or your athletic or sporting practise. It is to this tradition that REAL TAOISM belongs. Achieving Balance Regular practise of a Taoist Life Art will bring a renewed sense of authority and balance by cultivating a special kind of ‘personal power' which is unknown in the West. This sense of personal power or ‘chi' is generated not by cultivating the will but learning to ‘let go' and trust the innate receptivity, intelligence and responsiveness of the mind and body. The Life-Arts we teach are designed to help us redress our imbalances in a gentle and manageable fashion so that we can become more effective in our personal and professional lives. We will learn how to use the mind not to inflame the body and emotions but to soothe and cool them, creating a smoother and more efficient nervous system. This incremental approach to mind and body training and integration can circumvent burnout before it occurs and, in the long run, increase longevity and our ability to enjoy it What is ‘Chi'? This makes it extremely difficult, if not impossible, to communicate what chi actually is. So rather than trying defining chi we invite would-be practitioners to put their thinking minds aside in order to learn to feel the flow of chi in their own bodies. However, although the concept of chi is difficult to describe we can describe the personal characteristics exhibited by people who have cultivated their chi. People with ‘cultivated chi' exhibit extra-ordinary presence of mind, bodily vitality and an awareness and sensitivity to their own environment and the people around them. Such people are also likely to possess an enhanced sense of responsibility by which we mean the ability to respond appropriately and skillfully to the challenges posed by life. |
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When
I originally started training with Chris I was suffering from a
very painful occupational related repetitive strain injury type
condition (RSI). I can't emphasise enough how scary RSI can be,
especially if it manifests early in ones career. When I started
studying Ba Gua my main concern was that it wouldn't aggravate the
condition, I never thought it could actually reduce and then remove
it. I've
found that Tai Chi has given me a toolkit that helps tackle some
of the more unwelcome aspects of London life. It has not only helped
me create calm spaces in myself to counteract the grinding stress
of working in the city, but has also developed my confidence and
physical strength to confront random urban aggression |
