Articles & Recipes

T'ai Chi Chih
Joy Thru Movement
By: Ann Rutherford

What is on the other side of our busy lives?  Many of us longed for a method that would quiet the mind and stimulate the relaxation response in our bodies.  Some of us have tried sitting meditation but have found that we have difficulty doing it.  Our minds wander, or we fall asleep.

T'ai Chi Chih is moving meditation.  It acknowledges the body's need to participate in the practice of "letting go".  T'ai Chi Chih, (the latter word pronounced "chuh"), is a series of nineteen slow, soft, free flowing movements, finished with one pose.  The movements can be easily learned in only with lessons.  T'ai Chi Chih, circulates and balances the life force, what the Chinese call "Chi".  When the vital force circulates freely, there is a feeling of well being.

What does T'ai Chi Chih mean?  Literally, it can be translate as "Knowledge of the Supreme Ultimate" or "Knowledge of Reality".  T'ai Chi Chih was created by Justin Stone, a resident of Albuquerque, NM.  Mr. Stone has lived in Indian, Japan and various oriental disciplines and also practices both T'ai Chi Ch'uan and T'ai Chi Chih.  He taught T'ai Chi Ch'uan, the Chinese system of 108 movements, for many years.  He noticed that few students ever completed the classes and of those who did, many did not receive the benefits until after many years of prectice.  Mr Stone developed T'ai Chi Chih so that more participants could experience the healing effects that come from the circulation and balancing of the Chi.. When the intrinsic life force is blocked in the body, disease can result.  The disease can be manifested my migraine headaches, back pain, anxiety, imbalance or many other symptoms.  Although Mr. Stone  is careful to note that T'ai Chi Chih is not medicine, he does receive volumes of mail from around the world from people telling him how T'ai Chi Chih has helped relieve various conditions and brought a new energy and peace into their lives.  Of course, this makes him very happy.

A local man reported that he had suffered for years from incapacitating migraine headaches.  Now, when he feels am impeding attack, he does an advanced from of T'ai Chi Chih and the migraine does not materialize.  A woman who suffered sciatic back pain for eighteen years experienced near total disappearance of the problem.  Another woman who was overwhelmed by anxiety-panic attacks reported that T'ai Chi Chih's first movement called "Rocking Motion", enables her to cut off the attacks before they take over.  Does T'ai Chi Chih practice guarantee that you will be healed of all maladies?  "No", Mr. Stone says, "but try it; you may find that after daily practice, a new joy and energy may enter your life".

Article to be used only as an informational resource.  This site does not dispense medical advice of any kind.  Site users seeking medical advice about their specific situation should consult with their own physician.