Breathing Underwater: The Inner Life of Tai Chi Chuan

In "Breathing Underwater: The Inner Life of T'ai Chi Ch'uan," Margaret Emerson places her longtime practice and teaching of this art in her daily life. She describes a life-threatening ailment that first brought her to the practice, together with changes in diet, nutritional treatments, meditation, visualization, and other healing techniques-she used, as she puts it, the shotgun method. She believes these changes and additions to her life combined to bring about her healing, and notes, "None of these measures is extraordinary. They require patience and diligence, but the rewards are so obvious on so many levels that the motivation is always with me." Paramount for Emerson are the healing practices and spiritual growth afforded by the practice of T'ai Chi Ch'uan, but she explores also the martial aspects of the art, and she has come to believe that "life is a martial art and requires precisely training of mind and body that I derive from my practice....Qualities like balance, concentration, flexibility, and fast reflexes come in handy when we're dealing with ourselves, our work, friends, family, and strangers." She quotes Miyamoto Musahi, a 17th-century samurai, who was also a master of drawing, painting and sculpture: "When you have attained the way of strategy there will not be one thing you cannot understand....You will see the Way in everything." Similarly for Emerson, T'ai Chi Ch'uan provides a pattern that she uses in everything she does, and her spare, precise, sometimes luminous prose draws readers effortlessly to share her experience. --Stephanie T. Hoppe, author, Sharp Spear, Crystal Mirror: Martial Arts in Women's Lives

Margaret Emerson's writing has all the grace of a skillfully performed T'ai Chi sequence. As she describes the slow motion meditation that she practices, she shows how the movements are linked, practically and metaphorically to our other activities, our health, and to the whole of our lives. Like her art, Breathing Underwater is a gentle yet disciplined approach to looking at ourselves, becoming centered, finding balance, and moving with grace and energy. This is an accessible and inspiring work for the beginning or accomplished martial artist, as well as for those simply interested in deepening their appreciation of their life, breath, and movement.

This books describes, in a personal way, a deep understanding of tai chi. The sort of book that seems to be written by an old friend, by a chance meeting on our crossing paths. A non technical book, but a book that allows tai chi to reflect the our personal growth/development (or breathing the sweet air, in tai chi speak!). Carries on the work of Girda Geddes and Bob Klien. The book holds a braveness of heart that encourages us to explore ourselfs with tai chi. Marageret helps to disolve the barrier of teacher/pupil; a book well worth reading. Thank you Margeret. hartley davies ([email protected])