18/01/2026
Why is the level of Tai Chi and Yoga practiced in the community of such a low
standard?
🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔
I am sure a lot of people will object strongly to the above question/observation.
Who am I to make such a bold statement?
I have practised Tai Chi Chuan and Yoga for several decades.
I have also taught classes for several decades too.
I don't think I have come across many, if anybody who knew what the words Tai Chi or Yoga means. How can we claim to have practise arts for years without knowing what the name of these arts mean?
Even for those who knew what the words mean, they still didn't know or understand the meaning, philosophy, history or spirituality of these arts.
For most Westerners, these arts are just physical movements. Not understanding that what is shared is a wonderful way of balanced living, and not just physical movements.
So, those who practice these arts should have goud physical health, mental well-being and happiness. Sadly that rarely happens. So either your teacher was s**t or your practice was.
This is no different in China or India. The vast majority of people where these arts originated from don't practise it either.
Telling people that your teacher came from an authentic lineage, or how wonderful your teacher is sounds a bit hollow if your practice and your life is a bit s**t.
Have those of us who called ourselves "teachers" let our students down?
Spending a month in India practising Yoga gave me great insights
( six days a week practice, five and a half hour physical asanas, Pranayama and Meditation teaching, three hours Auyvedi, Yoga philosophy & Yoga nidra daily):
1. Understanding and enlightenment will only come through consistent practice.
2. Eating well and keeping physically active throughout your life will keep you well.
3. Emotional health cannot really be achieved without good nutrition and physical health .
4. Indian Yoga, Chinese practices such as Tai Chi and Western fitness practices are all important in our health. Don't be a slave to any system.
5. People of any age and abilities/ limitations will benefit. But will they practise consistently?
My best "teacher" in india was a chap called Raj.
Raj was the the hotel manager where a lot of students from our ashram was staying. I had a many conversations with him. Such as : Why was there crap and rubbish everywhere??!, Why did I witness a chap sticking his bottom up and defecating in the open 💩💩💩??
Why was there such a massive disconnect between Yoga spirituality and the dirty general populace☹️?
His opinion seems to be that it's about education. I find it difficult to accept his reasons. I always thought of India as the cradle of spirituality and was rather sad with what I saw.
Interestingly, Raj also said that all the schools and ashram are there to make money. I asked him about our one.......he didn't answer 🤔.
So was our ashram good. Was the teachers all like Mr Miaygi from the Karate Kid? I learnt a lot. Not because of the great teachers I had, but because I was ready and receptive. The twenty eight days was gruelling, and the food at the ashram wasn't very good. Also, there was written and practical exams to pass as well, including teaching a 90 minutes class . This added another element of stress. Fortunately, both Kim and I passed.🥳 From adversity comes growth. By the fourth week, my body had changed. A month of vegetarian cooking with very little fat and five hours of physical practice work wonders! It wasn't a holiday and I don't think I'll ever go back to India. But I learnt so much about myself. I don't think the results I achieved would not be the same if the month wasn't so "brutal ". I'm so proud of Kim. She only went because of me . She also learnt a lot about herself. I would have gone by myself. But I am so glad that Kim came with me. It was an adventure shared.
Raj shared a great insight about Yoga practice with me. He is a keen yogi himself but never wanted to teach . He said he trained with some very good teachers. The insight was that they didn't really do that much asanas practice, but did a lot of pranayama and seated meditation.
So my takeaway from India :
1. Consistent practice
2. Cut down on meat and fats.
3. Western practices is great for strength and stamina work. I hate and love spinning!
4. Indian asanas and pranayama will give flexibility, oxygenation and strength. For the average Western, fundamental postures are enough, but they must be done well. A lot of students do them badly!
5. Chinese health/martial practices will give flow and co-ordination to complement the Indian Yoga.
6. For those with mental challenges. Unless you address your body's physical needs, healing and happiness will be difficult to achieve.
7. A lot of seated meditation!!!
My practice of Chinese and Indian health cultivation continues into my old age.
I am still finding knowledge and understanding about my practice and how it impacts on my life. It's still exciting!
As I am now in my sixties, it's even more important to continue my practice, to maintain and conserve my health.
To maintain strength and stamina, to maintain flexibility, to eat well, to move in celebration and gratitude in my dynamic and stationary practices.
I am happy to share my practice and understanding with whoever wants to explore their health potential that these arts could impact.
Om Shanti
🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏
