Hi Paul,
I have a dilemma, in the last few months Ive become stuck at the end of module 3 - The complete Tai Chi Course. I feel like ive got a mental block and no flow.
Im at the point were I understand how to do the arm movements and I understand how to do the leg movements but seperatly.
However, when I try and combine the two together, I get brain fog, coordination issues, I feel tense rather than relaxed (no flow) and then frustration sets in😔 because I really want to learn.
So at the moment im not moving any further on to module 4 in the course because I feel I need to sort this challenge im facing first.
Any help or advice would be very appreciated.
Thank you, Shelley🙏
Paul Read
Hi Shelley
I'm sorry to hear of your struggles. It can be really frustrating when this happens, especially given that many of us come to Tai Chi in order to find a sense of relaxation and to get away from the negative sides of stress, and then we get more stressed with the challenges of learning the art. It appears to be counter-productive.
But Tai Chi is a challenge. It challenges us on so many levels - and it is not easy. In fact, this if anything is our biggest challenge - How to make Tai Chi more accessible and easier to learn so more people can take it up. (More on that in a bit).
But remember this - you are not alone, I remember feeling the same when I started learning, wondering how I would ever manage to find the coordination necessary to learn the moves or to remember the sequence, or even to keep breathing sometimes! So often I'd find myself holding my breath when trying to learn moves or repeat them. And this just made things worse as I was starving my mind of the oxygen it needed to take on these challenges and my body became tense and I got into a downward spiral.
And with a bit of space and time, these things tend to fall into place. Even Cheng Man-ch'ing would often stop practicing for periods of time for a whole series of reasons and then pick it back up again when he felt ready. So don't be too hard on yourself, and remember you are in good company when it comes to fining tai chi difficult!
But before you abandon the form, let me suggest one other course of action.
The Complete Course does contain a lot of detail. It combines the warm-ups, with the qigong, the posture work, the moves, the applications, meanings and contexts. In short it is a complete look at those moves.
But maybe, and this is just a suggestion, maybe it's too much for what you need right now. Maybe you could do with simplifying the postures and working on just the legs and arms with nothing else and do. And you can do this in 3 steps:
Skip right down to the very end of the Complete Course. Go to the very end and there you will find a free code for another course - The beginners Guide to the Tai Chi Form.
Now this course runs through the pretty much the same moves as those you are working on in the Compete Course, but has none of the extra work around them. Just the moves, broken down into a series of leg and arm pattens that might - and I can't guarantee this - but might, just help you learn them more easily and without feeling so overwhelmed.
The idea is that you could familiarise yourself with how these moves come together, how they connect to each other and then, when you are ready, go back to the Complete Course when you feel more confident.
Let me know if any of this helps. The most important thing is that you do want to learn - so lets shift around how you are learning and what you are leaning and lets see if your energy shifts too.
If you need help getting into this other course or want to talk it over, just let me know and I'll help out anyhow I can.
Paul
Shelley Perry
Hi Paul,
Thank you ever so much for getting back to me.
Im glad im not on my own in feeling this way. its lifted a weight off my shoulders talking about it and now knowing im not the only one whos going or gone through it.
Ive had a look at your suggestion. I scrolled to the bottom of the course but was unable to find the free code for The beginners guide to Tai Chi. Any ideas?
Im not about to give up and will give anything a try 🙂
Thank you for your support, it is very appreciated.
Cheers, Shelley x
Paul Read
Hi Shelley, I'll post it to you later today - that might be easier ;)
Paul Read
Hi Shelley and yay!!
Don't bother with Perfection. It's an illusion. If we can do something, no matter how basic and still be able to pass that on or being to help others, then you are on the right track.
If you need me to look over anything for you at any time, just reach out and I;ll be happy to do so, Otherwise, 🙌🏻 well done for persevering
Paul x
PS - I've thrown a little gift into your account that might help too. The 10 Step silent videos - should you want to browse them at some point. Working int silence can sometimes help simplify the postures and transitions.