How to Calm Down and Gain Resilience: Taijiquan Lessons

“Taijiquan is a real storehouse of pleasure and self-help,” says psychotherapist Vladimir Baskakov. “This is very relevant in a time of crisis, when almost each of us needs to possess the qualities of calmness, stability and plasticity.”

Calmness

This is a state of balance, deep mental and physical peace. It must be distinguished from the ostentatious calm that comes from the fact that we hold back the feelings raging in us, do not allow ourselves to realize them, let alone express them. Such restraint is fraught with an emotional outburst. Whereas calmness makes it possible to clearly realize your feelings and direct their energy for your own good.

Stability

The ability to restore your balance. Not “cabinet-like”, when it is difficult to move us, but if we managed to tilt, then a fall is inevitable, but “roly-standing” is a property similar to that of a roly-poly toy: when we feel our center of gravity well and quickly return to the starting position.

Plastic

In contrast to fragility, this is the ability, under the influence of external loads, not to break or collapse, but to change gently without harm (or even with benefit) for oneself.

These three most important qualities help to develop taijiquan – an ancient Chinese martial art, as well as health-improving gymnastics.

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Psychotherapeutic aspect

“In my work, I emphasize the impact of the taijiquan system on the state of the psyche, the emotional sphere, and the solution of psychological and psychosomatic problems,” answers Vladimir Baskakov. In his opinion, in any occupation and thing, one can single out aspects (as astrologers say) or contexts (as psychologists say). So, in the Soviet years, many men were engaged in karate (without “do”!) – mainly as a “defense” and little turned to this “do” – the moral, ideological, philosophical and existential aspect. But taiqiquan is integral, like any art. This is a complex worldview system, a unique system of martial arts, and a powerful health system. “It’s just that I emphasize its psychotherapeutic aspect,” Vladimir Baskakov emphasizes once again. The result of each lesson is a combination of a surge of strength and calmness, which is enough not only for this day, but also until the next lesson.