Stop... Breath... Relax...Tai Chi

On a sunny autumnal morning, we are training inside, despite the sun there is a bite to the wind. An hour of tui shou drills,  followed by freestyle fixed and moving step, precedes a slow, really slow square form in mirror; it has brought us to stillness.

We stand, shoulders and knees relaxed, breathing quiet, arms outstretched and facing the windows.
Gradually our attention travels out across the garden, past the huge Copper Beech, across the river and in to the park beyond.

Sounds of children playing, dogs barking, and couples talking, give way to the wind rustling the leaves, the green amongst the yellows and red, we breath the air of autumn, slow and soft.

A Blackbird on a branch; Autumn leaves’ (18th century). Silk painting by Zhao Boju. Image courtesy Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery.

With a soft click of my fingers, we begin the journey back,  over the river, past the Beeches, up the slope and once more we are in the room. Movement follows stillness;  I call everyone together for round form, and we flow through the moves.

As the form finishes,  I close the windows, people are filing out and giving their goodbyes.  There is gentle laughter as someone mentions how loud the Blackbird seemed, someone else mentions the smell of the leaves...

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