By Erle Montaigue: June 2008
By now, most people know that the Tai Chi form activates Qi in the 12 main
channels as it would be activated in a 24 hour period. This activation keeps the
body in perfect balance both internally and physically and gives the body a
better chance of healing itself. This has been evident to me on many occasions
such as two days ago when I could hardly walk due to my old "war injury" coming
back to haunt me with a vengeance. But I persisted in my morning training doing
the Old Yang Style very slowly and easily plus the Bagua circular form, also
taking it easy. Half way through the Tai Chi form, I noticed that the pain had
gone from my right knee and when I had finished the Bagua form, there was no
sign of any pain or weakness in that knee. I could walk, jump and run again
perfectly. Such are the healing powers of the Internal Systems.
However, there is another energy healing system inherent in the Tai Chi form
which is just as potent and often even more pertinent to one's health as it
strikes are particular illnesses and conditions via the "Extra Meridians" as we
do the form.
This "Special Energy Movement" also gives us a way to see how we are going with
reference to our internalising of the form. You will only feel these energy
flows when you are really getting there and everything that you are supposed to
be doing is working. Like being in a state of "Sung" and each part of the body
moving in complete harmony, beginning and finishing at exactly the same time,
moving like a perfect sine wave, being at one with the world around you, taking
it all in as you move etc. Only then will you actually feel the energy moving
through the "Extra" meridians thus giving you more power for the fighting art as
well as more power for healing of self and for healing of others.
It's difficult to try to explain what that feeling is like as everyone is
different in their perception of energy flow. The old masters simply said that
the "Qi Rises Up The Back", as that was the only way they could describe it.
It is these special flows of Qi that keep us wanting to do Tai Chi as it feels
great and mornings do not become a drudge, having to do your workout. It become
a joy and something that you can't wait to get out and do each morning with the
birds and other animals as they wake up from the night.
Not all of the Tai Chi movements have these special energy flows. Only those
special postures and movement from those postures have the Qi Flow through the
"Extra Meridians". For instance, the first Special Flow that you will become
aware of as you progress, will be from the posture of Sit Back (after the 2nd
Chee Posture" into Arn during the series of movements called " Grasping
Swallow's Tail". You will feel a huge build up of energy in the tantien area
which then raises up the back, over the head and into the arms. This energy flow
is excellent for the brain and for gaining internal power in the arms and upper
body.
Other Special Flows of energy go from the ground, into the right K1 point (for
males, reverse for females) and up the right side of the body, then over the
head and down the left side and into the ground via the Left K1 point. This is
the case in the "Preparation" posture right at the beginning of the form and
this flow grounds the body causing it to be in complete harmony with the ground
or earth ready for the next movements. This initial preparation prepares us for
the form practice and represents basically, the whole body which is why I always
pay particular attention to getting this movement correct as it is the
foundation of the whole form. Other energy flows will work with special postures
to send energy through the "Girdle Meridian" which passes through a whole bunch
of points on important meridians and joins them up around the waist. This one is
probably the most difficult to detect. However, it does become apparent when you
are able to just do the form! When I say, "Just do it", this is probably the
most important aspect of one's training as we as humans all think too much and
theorize about what we are doing. Once you have the movement and can do the
whole form without any conscious thought, you just DO IT. Do not try to
be doing Tai Chi, do not try to look good, you are on your own. Don't try to
hold your balance, just move in accordance with what the energy is telling you.
This will cause your form to take on a different aspect, you will notice that
the "Kwa" will open more and often, your palms will be activating the Qi and
manifesting it automatically and most importantly, you will begin to FEEL the
Energy flows through the extra meridians.
I have begun many times to do a video about these special flows of energy,
however, I have found it quite difficult as conscious thought must not be a part
of Tai Chi movement! So I am trying to simply do my own form practice and after,
then write down what I was and where I was feeling the energy flows so that
others will be able to get there a little quicker than my some 35 years!