Stress
To bear that which you think you cannot bear is really to bear.
(Nitobe)
Learning tai chi
Sifu Waller adopts a
taoist approach to learning;
there is no rivalry, competition, anxiety, winning or losing.
Whilst there is a detailed syllabus and a clear method of development, students
are free to proceed at their own pace.
What is stress?
Stress is a condition of anxiety caused by the inability to cope with a
situation.
A person feels to be under pressure and they become upset.
They are often encouraged to see themselves as being a failure when the pressure
becomes too much.
Modern living is directed to a large extent by business and money.
Companies regard everything as a commodity to be exploited and often apply this
same attitude towards people.
Common
solutions
The usual antidote to stress is relaxation.
Some people take up exercise, go on holiday, take prescription drugs, overeat or
drink alcohol.
Sometimes, solutions are simply distractions and fail to deal with the stress at
all.
None of these 'solutions' really addresses the problem, which is the inability
to cope.
Coping
The most sensible approach to stress may be to adopt a different attitude to
coping.
'Coping' is the way in which you handle a situation and has the connotation of
being in control.
In reality, our ability to control external events is quite limited.
In tai chi we initially focus upon our own behaviour and consider how we
respond.
Later, self consciousness passes and we become immersed completely in the
happening.
Rather than seek control, we cope by addressing the underlying concerns of a
given situation.
Coping is not easy.
There is no quick fix or easy answer.
Learning how to manage
In our tai chi we regard partner work as stress management.
You are faced with situations that test your ability to remain loose and relaxed
at all times.
The training develops a growing awareness of your own body, mind and emotions.
Composure is paramount.
Simple activities encourage the student to become lost in the event rather than
planning and worrying.
Tai chi requires the student to respond calmly to the demands of the moment, to
be sensitive to the relationship they have with the world around them.
Page created 22 January 1994