Forgotten how to learn? | ||
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Can you teach an old dog new tricks?
Most adults have totally forgotten what
learning entails.
They placate themselves with excuses about not having a young, flexible
mind... or having no time.
But this is not the truth at all.
The truth is far simpler - they have become old and lazy...
Learn how to learn
Our tai chi lessons were designed to help you
back into the habit of learning.
These pages will expand the theme:
Brain work (meditation, awareness, metacognition)
Taking responsibility
School children are required to study 5 days a week in school and then go
home and do the homework.
Their performance, progress and competence is directly contingent upon these
factors.
At college a student is more self-sufficient.
There is less classroom time and more self-directed study.
At university the student must attend the required number of lectures and
then flesh out the study all by themselves.
As with school, there will be assignments and examinations to confirm
comprehension and understanding.
Unrealistic expectations
Consider this scenario: a university student fails
to attend the required/necessary number of lessons, does not study, complete
assignments or pass exams...
They cannot reasonably hope to be given a degree.
Yet, how many adults expect results without doing the required work?
Regularly read some of the suggested books (for
pleasure)
This is less challenging than it sounds.
Most people who order an accessible book such as Wolfe Lowenthal's There Are
No Secrets find themselves pleasantly surprised and enthusiastic when
reading the book.
It is a good starting point. And if that book was good fun, why not try reading the rest?
Cultivate the habit of daily home practice
The main challenge
people face when learning tai chi is their unwillingness to practice at home
between lessons.
Look at some of the key features of school learning
once again: heavy repetition, practice, homework.
Even 10 minutes a day of tai chi or qigong will aid you in learning.
Most people spend longer than that texting, surfing the web, watching
TV, gossiping, drinking coffee or styling their hair.
Making the most of it
To gain the full health benefits of
tai chi, you must make it part of your
daily life.
It was designed to be a tonic, not a solution/cure.
Weekly class practice is fine, but daily tai chi offers a degree of
suppleness, strength, mental clarity and flexibility you are currently
unfamiliar with.
Martial artists are another matter entirely.
Muscle memory and reflex must be cultivated and trained continually so that
the body simply responds habitually.
This requires heavy repetition, practice, homework. Sound familiar?
Reaping what you sow
The bliss that comes with a responsive, agile, dexterous, capable body
is hard to articulate.
You can move with the grace of a dancer, strike with the force of a
sledgehammer, feel immensely composed, physically at ease and also have
on-going mental acuity/alertness.
Appealing?
You make it happen.
You did the work. You overcame the challenges. You did it by yourself. You
did it for yourself.
Fixation is the way to
death,
fluidity is the way to life.
(Miyamoto Musashi)
Page created
18 April 1995
Last updated
16 June 2023
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