I sometimes describe Ai Chi to people as being like T’ai Chi in the water. Both are an integrated series of slow movements based on ancient Asian principles. Both support core strength gains, improve balance, extend mobility, incorporate mindfulness and relieve stress. But they are not the same. Some animals told me that they are different.
First my dog told me. When we walk on the beach, she is curious and stands up on two legs to watch pelicans floating on the water. She sniffs cautiously at horseshoe crab exoskeletons. She pulls to greet children and barks at other dogs. But someone quietly doing T’ai Chi on an obscure part of the beach draws her attention like a magnet. Her eyes lock on the deeply immersed exerciser and she lets out a deep growl. That person doing T’ai Chi looks like a threat to her and she immediately moves into full sympathetic nervous system “fight or flight” mode (mostly fight)…
On the other hand, my dog watches me with fascination when I do Ai Chi in our pool. In fact, other animals do too. I have been in deep concentration doing Ai Chi and have opened my eyes to see a little blue heron eyeing me with curiosity, circling the pool and finally stopping just a few feet from me for a drink. Normally skittish marsh rabbits have grazed nearby without concern. A mallard duck once hopped right into the pool with me. I don’t know if it was the relaxing music I was playing or the soothing movements of Ai Chi that mesmerized them, but their reactions were clearly different than the effect that T’ai Chi practice had on my dog.
T’ai Chi Ch’uan is currently a popular mode of exercise, and those who practice it attest to its many benefits. But its origins are in ancient marshal arts. It has been used in combat in both eastern Asia and in Europe, and means “supreme ultimate fist,” expressing the dichotomy of yin and yang. In fact, “martial” means “arts of mars,” the ancient god of war. No wonder the movements of that poor woman on the beach upset my dog!
While Ai Chi relies on a system of movements just as T’ai Chi does, it is based on nurturing inner strength to see the world more clearly. Ai means love in Japanese and Chinese and Chi refers to life energy. The Ai Chi movements have names that draw us to focus within~ to be mindful of how we move, to explore our limits, to accept, flow, reflect, suspend and finally to return to our lives with fresh perspective.
It is wonderful that we have many different exercise options available, some that call on our sympathetic nervous system and some that bring in our parasympathetic nervous system. We need both to function in the world. Thank you Jun Konno for giving us a tool to nurture peace and calm.
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