Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) believes that the human body is an interconnected whole, centered around the internal organs, connected through the meridians that circulate qi and blood, linking to other bodily structures like the sense organs. Within this whole, the internal organs, meridians, and qi and blood are interrelated and mutually restrictive. Under the leadership and coordination of the “Heart – the Monarch’s Palace” (the cerebral cortex and central nervous system), they perform various physiological activities, maintaining the balance of yin and yang.
Tai Chi Chuan, created based on the theories of yin and yang, internal organs, meridians, and qi and blood, can be summarized in one phrase: “Intention and qi as the ruler, bones and flesh as the ministers.” The three adjustments are: adjusting the heart, adjusting the qi, and adjusting the body. The nine essentials are: stillness, concentration, connection, smoothness, sinking, fluency, relaxation, correctness, and integration. During practice, one must achieve tranquility of the mind and spirit, relax both internally and externally, move qi with the mind, move the body with qi, and unify spirit and form, intention and qi. Long-term and consistent practice will thus achieve the goal of strengthening the body.
1. Strengthening the Heart
“The heart is the master of the five internal organs and the six hollow organs.” Tai Chi Chuan particularly emphasizes “calming the mind and using intention,” using the mind to guide movements, thus achieving tranquility of the mind and spirit, concentration of thoughts, and relaxation of the body. This allows the internal organs to function normally and achieve relative balance. A calm mind results in quick thinking and fluent speech. Smooth circulation of heart qi enhances its function of governing blood circulation, reducing and eliminating internal blood stasis. With smooth and abundant blood flow, the complexion naturally becomes rosy.
2. Nourishing the Liver
When practicing Tai Chi Chuan, the mind is clear and calm, emotions are serene, and qi flows with intention. The body is relaxed both inside and out, movements are gentle and fluid like a spring breeze caressing willow trees, full of vitality. This helps soothe and regulate liver qi, thus nourishing the liver body and storing liver blood, aiding the digestion of the spleen and stomach, and preventing adverse effects. The abdominal breathing driven by intention during practice aids in qi flow and blood circulation. Focusing the eyes on the movements and maintaining fluid and continuous movements greatly benefits liver nourishment, eye health, and the flexibility of muscles and joints.
3. Strengthening the Spleen
The abdominal breathing during Tai Chi practice, with “qi momentum should be expansive,” enhances the peristalsis of internal organs, akin to a self-massage of the intestines and other internal organs. This ensures smooth qi movement in the triple burner, smooth functioning of the spleen and stomach, enhanced metabolism, and strong digestive and absorption functions. A relaxed mind leads to a natural appetite. Increased nourishment and sufficient nutrition result in full, glossy muscles and strong, agile limbs. With a vigorous spleen, abundant nutrition, and normal blood regulation, the body’s energy and blood circulation are well-maintained.
4. Supporting the Lungs
Tai Chi Chuan requires qi to sink to the dantian, thus enhancing the lung’s function of governing qi and increasing lung capacity, benefiting the lung’s purging and descending functions. By exhaling the old and inhaling the new, it further promotes the circulation of qi and blood throughout the body, ensuring all parts of the body receive nourishment and vitality. During practice, the coordination of lung breathing and skin opening and closing, along with the coordination of movements’ opening and closing, emptiness and fullness, and rising and falling, results in warm skin or slight sweating post-practice. This facilitates lung qi dissemination, water passage regulation, and strengthening of the body’s defenses, making it less susceptible to colds, keeping the skin moist and sensitive.
5. Fortifying the Kidneys
Tai Chi theory considers “the waist as the ruler,” with “the source of life lying in the waist.” Hence, Tai Chi practice greatly emphasizes the role of the kidney residence—the waist. Using the waist as an axis to drive the coordinated movement of the limbs and the whole body ensures complete energy pathways and smooth qi movement. Practitioners should “move back and forth with qi sticking to the back,” and ensure “central qi penetrates the spine.” Additionally, the head should be suspended, the crotch lifted, the anus raised, and the tailbone kept straight to strengthen kidney function and regulate the Ren and Du meridians’ qi. Using the heart’s command and sinking qi to the dantian ensures heart-kidney interaction, balancing water and fire. This enhances the functions of both kidneys and the life gate, ensuring abundant kidney essence, vigorous yang qi, agile movements, balanced excretion, strong bones, and healthy teeth and hair.
6. Benefiting the Brain
The brain is the sea of marrow, where essence and spirit highly converge, being the key to life. Through calmness of mind and spirit, Tai Chi practice coordinates various movements, effectively exercising the central nervous system and enhancing brain regulation. Since the kidneys govern the bones, which produce marrow, and connect to the brain, robust kidney qi and unobstructed Ren and Du meridians fill the sea of marrow, ensuring vitality, sharp thinking, strong memory, and promoting intelligence and delaying aging.
As the saying goes: “Three parts medicine, seven parts nourishment, ten parts prevention.” This highlights the importance of health maintenance. Many people think only the elderly need health maintenance, but that’s not true. Health maintenance is a long journey, and the earlier one starts, the more one benefits.
