One of my readers asked what accreditation I was preparing for and I thought if one person was wondering, others might be as well.
I’ve been attending Tai Chi Chih (TCC) classes with an online group based in Kansas City since 2020. TCC is a moving meditation with movements based on traditional Tai Chi, an ancient Chinese art for well-being. Wanting to dive deeper into my practice, I decided to study to become an accredited TCC teacher.
TCC’s main aim is to activate, circulate and balance Chi—the vital force energy that flows through our bodies and everything. A lot of Western people don’t believe in Chi, but since I’ve started paying attention when I practice, it’s clear to me that something is happening in my body.
Justin Stone originated and started teaching TCC in 1974, so it’s a relatively new discipline. As we practice, we are asked to keep our focus either on the soles of our feet or the dantien – a spot about 2 inches below the naval. Focusing in this way calms the mind and spirit.
It’s been a challenge for me to focus on relaxing the dantien. Maybe this is because, since I was a teenager, I’ve been pulling in my belly muscles to look thinner. Now I’ve learned that tight muscles inhibit the flow of Chi!
Therein lies the challenge. To fully relax my belly means letting it pooch out. My teachers also keep reminding me that each TCC movement begins with connecting with the dantien—letting it lead the way. What’s more, my dantien doesn’t like to move to the right as much as it likes to go left.
Giving up a lifelong habit of holding in my belly is proving to be difficult. It gets in the way of both learning the movements and benefiting from the increased flow of chi that comes with relaxed muscles. As it turns out, the part of my body that I have been the most self-conscious about is the focus of how I move in TCC.
I’m not sure why I’m writing about this except it strikes me that last week I wrote about change and how ubiquitous it is as we age. Now this week, as if to prove my point, I’m writing how I want to change my orientation to my body. I want to accept my belly, allowing it and myself to relax. Last Monday, my teacher gave me homework to lovingly rub my belly for fifteen minutes a day. Befriend it. It’s been almost two weeks and I haven’t done it yet. I thought about it a couple of times and sort of shyly rubbed my stomach for a minute or two at most.
I want to love my body but it’s already not so easy because of how aging affects the flesh. Many parts don’t work the way they used to and now I’m asking that my belly relax and feel comfortable being more present.
Have any of you dear readers truly accepted a once ignored body part? Please tell me about it.
There won’t be a post next week because I will be attending the TCC accreditation course in Leavenworth, KS.
Look for me in your inbox on October 11.
IMAGE: Sign seen at a coffee house years ago.
