Charles reminded me of a Dr Chi story yesterday. Dr Chi and John Kells were together and Dr Chi asked John how much practice he managed each day. "Eight hours", was John's reply. "Eight hours!", said Dr Chi, pausing just long enough for John to feel the pride welling up inside himself, before adding, "Not enough."
John recommended developing strategies for bringing the principles, at least, into other areas of your life. One of these was, "Develop a relaxed habit". He suggested taking a couple of habitual, simple tasks that you repeat many times a day and trying to do them consciously in a more relaxed and sensitive manner. Two he suggested as examples were opening a door, and sitting down and standing back up. Try to use a minimal grip on the door handle, and turn the waist to pull or push it rather than yank at it with the arm. Descend onto the seat of a chair by bending at the hips, using the legs to take the strain. Try to impact the chair with zero velocity. On rising, tilt from the hips and push gently with the legs, then the action will be effortless and will generate a little energy which will rise up the spine and through the head, giving your spirit a slight lift. When someone hands you something and you take it from their hand, try not to snatch. Grip, allow the others grip to release, and then take. When facing another person let your heart open and embrace them. When standing try never to lock the knees, and always have the weight mainly on one slightly bent leg. When looking at something (especially the computer screen) try to soften and relax the eyes (imagining they are at the back of the head helps). The possibilities are endless. And, especially in your dealings with others, you can similarly develop a listening habit (Mac used to imagine he was a sponge soaking up all around him), a spirited habit, a compassionate habit, a generous habit, a cheerful habit, etc. Let your Tai Chi subversively eat its way into everything you do. It's the only reasonable way of practising more than eight hours a day.
John recommended developing strategies for bringing the principles, at least, into other areas of your life. One of these was, "Develop a relaxed habit". He suggested taking a couple of habitual, simple tasks that you repeat many times a day and trying to do them consciously in a more relaxed and sensitive manner. Two he suggested as examples were opening a door, and sitting down and standing back up. Try to use a minimal grip on the door handle, and turn the waist to pull or push it rather than yank at it with the arm. Descend onto the seat of a chair by bending at the hips, using the legs to take the strain. Try to impact the chair with zero velocity. On rising, tilt from the hips and push gently with the legs, then the action will be effortless and will generate a little energy which will rise up the spine and through the head, giving your spirit a slight lift. When someone hands you something and you take it from their hand, try not to snatch. Grip, allow the others grip to release, and then take. When facing another person let your heart open and embrace them. When standing try never to lock the knees, and always have the weight mainly on one slightly bent leg. When looking at something (especially the computer screen) try to soften and relax the eyes (imagining they are at the back of the head helps). The possibilities are endless. And, especially in your dealings with others, you can similarly develop a listening habit (Mac used to imagine he was a sponge soaking up all around him), a spirited habit, a compassionate habit, a generous habit, a cheerful habit, etc. Let your Tai Chi subversively eat its way into everything you do. It's the only reasonable way of practising more than eight hours a day.
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