Crystal T’ai Chi © -
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T’ai Chi
©Elizabeth Scanlon -
What is this thing, this thing they call Qi
And what could it possibly matter to me?
Qi is the life force, that’s what they say
And building it up, comes from this play
It all starts in stillness, this play called Tai Chi
And over time, it’s grown deep
in me
The mind seeks peace, as the body does health
And oneness with the universe, gives
the spirit wealth
The movements were awkward, at times almost queer
After I’d learned them I asked,
“Where to from here?”
The internal is next, my teachers have said
The next part to learn, is all in your
head
Practice and practice, will help you improve
Practice these principles, to get in
the groove
Posture and weight shift, keep the movements smooth
Sinking your breath, to be in
the groove
Deliver the force, know when to yield
Practice these rules, and your health will be
sealed
Practice and practice, be patient and persevere
You’ll be surprised how far, you’ll
come in a year
If you wander from the path, you will come to realise
That without Tai Chi, your goals
don’t materialise
It helps to have a teacher, and classes can motivate
Or play alone, a great way to
meditate
The benefits the same, in groups or alone
The point is to play, in class, a park,
or at home
Perfection not necessary, though perfectionists may try
All that is asked, is you
give it a try
The styles are many, Chen, Yang, Sun and Wu
Soon you'll find one, that resonates in
you
Forms with a fist, fan or a sword
Try a new form, you’ll never get bored
We all start out awkward, don’t give it a thought
Over time it gets better, or at
least it ought!
Everyone can improve, just give it some time
It’s the playing that rewards, in spirit,
body and mind
So come and play, this game called Tai Chi
It is for everyone, for you and for me
A
T’ai Chi
Poem
This poem by Betty summarises the joys of T’ai Chi: