What's It All About
Fitness for the Ageless was started as a place to investigate fitness from a unique perspective. Tai Chi as an internal martial art holds great promise for being the ideal vehicle for genuine fitness of the body, mind and spirit. But, steeped in the culture and language of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), it is little understood by the western physical fitness culture, and is its own worst enemy, as it attempts to reach out to the western world with its unique potential.
This blog has the following purposes:
- To identify and describe the unique fitness potential of taijiquan.
- To demystify the language of taijiquan.
- To examine western movement systems and manual manipulation therapies to find evidence based explanations for the benefits of taijiquan.
- To discover unifying principles that exist across all of these movement systems, manipulation therapies and taijiquan.
Ultimately, it is hoped that a definition of fitness will emerge along with principles for attaining ideal fitness.
Why the blog name, "Fitness for the Ageless?"
Besides the obvious take-off on the idea of fitness for the ages, as it eludes to a higher standard for fitness in this new age, the word "ageless" speaks to this study being for people of any age as well as for people who have no intent to give into ravages of time without an effort towards living long and well.
The investigative intent and process for the Fitness for the Ageless blog
The investigative intent and process for the Fitness for the Ageless blog
The process is not set in stone and will evolve as the blog grows, but the intent is clear and will drive the process for the time being. I am reviewing literature, websites and other links to information that sheds light on the science behind Essential Tai Chi principles of ideal body alignment, movement coordination and the contribution of the mind.
I have stated the purposes above, but have yet to set down how I am going to achieve those purposes. Honestly, I do not know for sure where this will lead me. In pages yet to be posted I will define Tai Chi Chuan as I will use it and narrow the focus to the Yang Family Style Tai Chi Chuan.
Other pages will provide definitions of key words and concepts in order to keep some focus.
I have read and taken notes on a number of books from related fields of movement or manual therapy and have narrowed the list for further review. The list will certainly grow, but will start with the following books, that will all have a full page review, as well as detailed posts as I read them again for posting purposes:
Anatomy Trains by Thomas Myers
Anatomy of Yoga by Leslie Kaminoff and Amy Matthews
Job's Body by Deane Juhan
Sensing Feeling and Action by Bonnie Bainbridge Cohen
Supple Leopard by Kelly Starrett
Use of the Self by F.M. Alexander
Molecules of Emotion by Candace Pert
Taijiquan, The Art of Nurturing, The Science of Power by Yang Yang
Missing from this list are extensive resource materials for Taijiquan. I have read many books on tai chi, attended many workshops with tai chi Grand Masters, trained for 12 years with a noted authority on the subject, but I can't identify just one source that brings into focus the aspects of tai chi that I am examining. I will address this in a page that will describe my many sources of tai chi information. It will include many references to books on the subject as well as links to relevant tai chi information.
For now, I have selected Taijiquan, The Art of Nurturing, The Science of Power, by Yang Yang, as the most comprehensive description of taijiquan and how it can be understood by the Western mind.
Topics to be investigated
The following will evolve as a result of exhaustive analysis of the above state resource materials along with numerous resources that are suggested and referred from the above.
1. A definition for fitness considering the whole body, mind and spirit. All of the sources above make a unique contribution to an individual's total fitness. Ultimately there will emerge a unified definition that incorporates:
- the connection between body systems,
- body chemistry and communication via neuropeptides and neuroreceptors
- a mind body concept where they are not seen as separate.
- a functional description of how a healthy body moves
- a prescription for maintenance of health for a lifetime
- aging as a natural process without a loss of health.
2. Yang Style Taijiquan 10 Principles and how they correspond with principles of movement integral to the chosen movement modalities. This will bring into focus the following:
- Alignment.
- Spiral energy or torque
- The function of the gaze in controlling movement, balance and the focusing of force.
- Intent and kinesthetic awareness or "inner gaze" as prime movers in a body/mind concept.
