introspection /ĭn″trə-spĕk′shən/ noun

1. Contemplation of one’s own thoughts, feelings, and sensations; self-examination.¹

You can’t be a student of Tai Chi for long without learning it is an ‘internal art’. This is highlighted in the preface to The Classics: “One of the major goals of Taoism is health and longevity. To achieve this, one must follow the tao (way or path)^†, which means harmonizing with nature and the universe. The harmonization must be both external and internal”².

The external aspects of Tai Chi, what Lenzie Williams refers to as ‘external organization’, are important. But exhibiting the externally visible ‘correct’ shape is not only not enough, it is a false goal by itself. Correct Tai Chi practice is deeply internal, learning to cultivate awareness of ourselves externally & internally and to attend to both continuously, staying present in the moment without being distracted by thoughts that ‘bubble up’. Continuous introspection is the unification of internal & external, mental & physical, and is often referred to as mindfullness.

While a good teacher can help you learn through observation and touch, true progress in Tai Chi occurs through regular practice. It is in this daily practice that we gradually cultivate this unification, learning to be in the moment, release tension (sung/sōng)^†, find suppleness (jou/róu)^†, follow others without giving up yourself (shun/shùn)^†, and forego hard strength (li/lì)^† to cultivate soft internal energy (chin/jìn)^†.

As Cheng Man-ch’ing wrote: “T’ai Chi Ch’uan is T’ai Chi Ch’uan because the external and the internal become unified as one.”³ With Tai Chi, we cultivate this unification in both stillness and in motion, allowing us to bring it into our daily lives.

1 The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
2 The Essence of T'ai Chi Ch'uan - The Literary Tradition; Annotated Edition; page 11
3 Cheng Tzu's Thirteen Treatises on T'ai Chi Ch'uan; page 105
† If you have questions about Chinese terms used, you may find About Chinese Terms helpful.