This Week in Tai Chi

The way of the ancient Chinese is so much different from the way of the West. In Western thought, we practice reductionism. We divide things so they are separate, then break each part down to its smallest knowable part so we can understand it better. Once we fully understand the tiniest pieces, we can extrapolate to know the whole.

For example, we in the West consider Philosophy, Psychology, Astronomy, Cosmology, Religion, Medicine, and Nature to be completely separate disciplines. Each is then broken down to smaller and smaller understandings by those who would specialize in each category. But these pieces are rarely again considered to be part of a larger whole, a unified system.

The Chinese way, however, considers all things to be connected. The list mentioned above are all considered parts of a whole system of understanding. One cannot consider medicine without also accounting for emotions, philosophy, psychology, or nature.

Chinese consider all things to be related to the Five Elements. The One Unity divided to become the Yin and Yang, which further divided into the Five Elements, which then further created the "Ten Thousand Things" or everything we know in the Universe.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) the Five Elements (Fire, Metal, Wood, Earth, Water) correspond to the organ systems of the body. (not to be confused with the actual organs, but the systems attached to them).

Fire corresponds to Heart, Small Intestine, Pericardium, Triple Warmer (metabolism). Metal relates to Lung and Large Intestine, Wood to Liver and Gall Bladder, Earth to Stomach and Spleen, and Water to Urinary Bladder and Kidney.

There are several relationships governing the action of the Five Elements (or Five Phases, as these are considered always in motion and every evolving and dynamically changing).

There is a Controlling Cycle, where one Element controls the action of another Element, keeping it in order.

Fire burns Metal

Metal Cuts Wood

Wood Penetrates Earth (like tree roots)

Earth blocks or soaks Water (like a dam)

Water puts out Fire

There is also a generating cycle, where one Element feeds another element and keeps it operating efficiently.

Metal creates Water (like condensation on metal overnight)

Water Creates Wood (like watering a plant)

Wood creates Fire (burning wood for fuel)

Fire creates Earth (burned materials returned to the soil)

Earth creates Metal (metal dug up from the Earth)

These cycles keep all the systems of our bodies supported and in check. But if one Element becomes weakened, things go awry.

If Wood is weakened, for example, it can create too much fire and hurt the heart, and won't keep Earth in check and then the stomach can get out of balance.

The Five Elements are connected to a great many pieces of our lives.

So you can see that many parts of our lives are intimately connected to and dependent on the proper functioning of the Five Elements and their cycles.

This week in Tai Chi, we will engage in a practice called

The Taoist Five Elements Qigong.

Qigong simply means breath work or energy work.

There are numerous warming up exercises leading into the actual practice. Then each Element gets its own particular exercise, designed to strengthen each phase, so they may all act together in harmony. Afterwards, there are a few cooling down movements that build energy up in the body.

These Qigong exercises are hundreds (if not a thousand) years old.

Join us in one of three classes offered in Jasper and Evansville. Jasper classes are $12 and Evansville classes are $10.

Join us for some fun and exercise.

Classes are as follows.

All classes are pay as you go. No contracts or commitments.

Jasper

Tuesday 6:30pm

Dubois County Museum

2704 Newton

Classes are $12.

Evansville

Wednesday 6:30pm

Tri State Holistic Wellness

500 Saint Phillips Rd 47712

Classes are $10 cash

Saturday 11:00 am

Unity of Evansville

4118 Pollack Ave 47714

Classes are $10 cash

I'm available by appointment throughout the week in Evansville for

Reiki / Acupressure

Herbalism / Nutrition

sessions. $60 cash

Message me by text, email, or Facebook Messenger to schedule an appointment.

In the Tao,

Sifu Weeg