Herman Lam, PhD

Herman Lam, PhD
Taichi Teacher, Wild Crane Horizon

Dr. Herman C. Lam received his B.Sc. from University of Toronto and his Ph.D. in Chemistry from York University in Toronto. He has over 30 years of experience in Taichi practices and teaching. He holds a certificate in Foundations of Applied Mindfulness Meditation from the School of Continuing Studies at University of Toronto.

Mindful to Mindless in Taichi Practices
Saturday, May 2, 2020 — 11:30 AM to 12:00 PM

Taichi, which embodies the Taoist philosophy, has been practiced by millions of people in China for hundreds of years. The practices of Taichi have transcended the cultural and nation borders to become a global health exercise enjoyed by people all over the world. For general practitioners, taichi is a health enhancing and esthetically pleasing exercise for the body and mind. For martial art practitioners, the practices of taichi focus on the channeling of internal energy “the Chi” and unique circular movements for combats.

Personal experiences of taichi practices evolve over time and stages of practice.

Physically, muscles and joints become relaxed during the exercise. The movements of the arms, legs, torso and spine harmonize in natural unison. The taichi motions integrate into a continuum with smooth transitions from one move to the next.

From a mindfulness perspective, the mindful focus helps to remove distractions and hindrances to enable the mind to become fully aware of the connectivity of the whole body. The left hand feels the right hands in every move. The feet experience the connection to the ground. The body senses the caressing air as the body gently and effortlessly glides along the taichi path. The Chi flows through the body meridians like slow moving water down a serene stream. The mindfulness sensations establish a new “Taichi Norm” for the practitioners.

Mindfulness can be very useful in striving towards a mindless horizon in Taichi practices. The mind and body amalgamated without differentiating thoughts into a peaceful, tranquil and free existence. Nature and the individual are in perfect harmony. Taichi can be considered as a moving form of meditation.

This practice intends to encourage cross fertilizations of mindfulness and taichi; two seemingly non-related forms of health improving practices.

Three Takeaways:

  • Taichi is a health enhancing and esthetically pleasing exercise for the body and mind, as well as a form of internal martial art.
  • The taichi practices embody Mindfulness and Taoist philosophy.
  • Cross fertilizations of Buddhism philosophy based mindfulness and Taoist philosophy as exemplify through Taichi practices.