Wood Chips
From the shores of Lake Superior (The Third Coast)
Each Wednesday, a small group of friends of the Cedar Tree Institute gather together at our city’s harbor park, overlooking Lake Superior. We spend an hour together, moving gently, slowly, under the shade of trees in a practice of Tai Chi, a mind-body exercise rooted in Chinese history and Buddhist tradition.
A few days ago, Rick Pietila, a close colleague and experienced martial arts instructor, reviewed with me a fascinating Tai Chi exercise called “Standing Post.” One adjusts their posture, regulates their breathing, and simply stands while holding an invisible ball, letting themselves relax. The key is to discover a posture that allows the body to relax in this stance so there is as little tension as possible. It’s a deceptive exercise because the posture addresses the challenge of alignment. It looks to an outside observer like nothing is going on. The truth is that finding one’s own gentle equation of alignment and relaxation is actually the essential foundational exercise in all traditional Chinese medicine.
Here’s the reason why: Without alignment and proper structure, there is excess tension. Too much tension is responsible for dissonance. That kind of imbalance contributes to chronic pain and stress-related illness. When personal alignment (emotional, mental, physical) is in order, we do not overeat, we sleep well, we function out of our personal center, taking the ups and downs of life with healthy degrees of grace and elegance.
We now know that the spread of COVID-19 began as the result of a cross-over of a virus from wildlife into the human species, probably via ingesting the virus, in this case at one of Asia’s popular open markets. There’s disturbing evidence there will be increasing numbers of similar global disasters ahead as our world’s population grows. This current pandemic is reminding us we are out of alignment with our environment, how we compromise the critical values of compassion and justice in our communities, how we have chosen to live with the natural world. One thing is certain: A central component of a healthy social transformation will be finally dependent upon each of us finding an increased balance, a better alignment, in each of our personal lives.
So, here’s a practical invitation. Put some quiet music on. Take a deep breath. If you’re up to it, sometime in the next day or two, find a few minutes to practice “The Standing Post.” Rick and I will be doing the same.
Jon Magnuson
The Cedar Tree Institute
“Wood Chips” is a series of brief reflections written by Jon Magnuson, Director of the Cedar Tree Institute.
