Tai-chi is the ancient Chinese form of exercise where one let's the energies of the universe flow through one's body. The body of the practitioner becomes both lightning rod and power cable for the energies of the Earth, and can recharge one's system by using one's body to harness these energies. When the energy has passed through the body, what remains is a feeling of intense vigor and a renewed sense of vitality. For this reason, millions of people practice Tai-chi every morning.
However much I would like to respect the finer trappings of this "artform" (as I have actually heard people refer to Tai-chi as an artform, can you believe it? with its somewhat rhythmic movement style that has some aesthetic appeal I guess, but really how variable are the moves to allow for artistry?) It just seems to me as if I just cannot bring myself to get past the whole Chinese aspect, you know? I can apreciate the main idea of it of course (the flow of the universe or whatever, God is not the great sky father but some cloud of omnipresent dust) but then I see the process in action and it just looks so alien, so strange and foreign, those Chinese people bending about slowly, and My heart, mind body soul was not into it anymore. I can't do it. It's all too Chinese.
But at that point I had already learned the Tai-chi format. I was getting results from it despite all the silly Chinese stuff. So I decided to westernize it, or Americanize it if you will. America is great at stealing and synthesizing all sorts of things for profitable results. I started using weights with my Tai-chi, because what's more American than lifting weights? Wrist weights, ankle weights, bags of sand strapped to me, holding dumbbells and still managing to perform all the moves. But instead of letting the energy flow through my body, I STOP it. And I STORE it. For later, for when I need it. I've gotten quite a bit larger storing this Ki or Chi or whatever in my muscles and in my fuschsia or whatever. They say you're not supposed to hold onto this energy in this way, the Chinese say this. It's not our energy to hold onto they say, the Chinese say. To hold onto it is to steal it from the universe and to withhold it from the flow of the universe and this creates a debt which must at some point be paid to restore the balance. But my American Tai-chi is making me feel more and more powerful. However I do feel like I'm going to BURST.