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Post by franksauer on Jan 2, 2005 23:27:57 GMT -5
Happy New Year Steve.
Just received your 5mm tape, watched it and am beginning. Had a question on the first tibetan - Why clockwise?
Back when I was learning a TaiJi form, I just automatically tried to learn each move to both sides; later found out that I was supposed to do that. Now, a slow spin is not all that complicated a movement, even with the breathing, and I intend to follow the directions for the next several weeks, but I'm a curious guy.
thanks,
Frank
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Post by Steven Barnes on Jan 6, 2005 14:27:12 GMT -5
I can have only one possible answer: I DON'T KNOW! The original instructions for this exercise, given in the 1938 book "Eye of Revelation" did not say why. It is perfectly reasonable to suspect that conter-clockwise might be just as effective. Or that alternating might be just as effective. But I don't know! Experimentation suggests that there is little difference. However, the exercises have been performed in this way for at least seventy years with excellent results, and the fact that logically it makes sense to do them both ways might not end up being true. It may turn out that there are darned good reasons to do it only clockwise. Because the series clearly, actually works, I would suggest doing it exactly as suggested until you are doing 21 reps of each (increasing from 5 to 21 at a rate of 1 or 2 per week only.) Then after you have done them that way for a minimum of, say, 6 weeks, begin to play and modify at your own risk. God knows that I modify them! Let me know what your responses are--but please only after you have progressed in the conservative manner.
Steve
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Post by franksauer on Jan 7, 2005 19:14:44 GMT -5
That is what I suspected. However, after reading your answer, I got to wondering about the Sufi dervishes. A few minutes of research on the misinformation highway leads me to discover that the dervishes whirl both clockwise and counter-clockwise. One site said that the clockwise rotation was about expressing energy outward, while ccw was an inward looking energy.
In a few months, I may try to play with it; for now, I'll follow 'the book'.
Frank
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Post by AdamCrafter on Jan 10, 2005 14:22:13 GMT -5
My current modification for the slow turning tibetian # 1 involves a small bit of visualization.
I stand, calm my mind, and join hands with myself.
That is, I extend my mental image of my arms to encircle the globe, with the images of my hand coming back to my own shoulders.
When I do the slow turn, I picture my arms as a very large circle rotating over the earth with my current position on the earth as the axis point.
heh, Look Ma! I'm a chi stator!
I can't do more than 7 of these without feeling giddy and jazzed. *buzz, buzz, buzz*
Yours in Practice,
Adam
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Post by Steven Barnes on Jan 13, 2005 12:59:36 GMT -5
Great going, Adam! As I say, the information on those tapes represents, in boiled down form, about 40 years of research. I know it all works, but am unsure exactly why, how, or in what proportion. I desperately need a community of people experimenting and giving each other feedback, and thank each and every one of you for your questions, your sweat, and your trust.
Steve
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