Tai Chi & Neurodiversity

To mitigate the risk of overshare we will be speaking in generalities here but safe to say we have lots of experience with neurodiversity from an experiential point of view. This largely concerns only autism, ADHD and dyslexia as that is where we have had experience so please don’t take anything as gospel or globally applicable. But as usual for this blog, this is just a thought dump that might strike a chord with somebody. Thankfully society appears to be on a trajectory of greater understanding and acceptance of neurodiversity and will as a result reap its benefits. Should you have any health concerns either physical or psychological contact your healthcare provider.

It’s ironic that the ‘art of change’ should attract a demographic that may in fact struggle with change. Perhaps the practice of Tai Chi encourages rolling with the punches in daily life but that hasn’t necessarily been our experience so remains just a metaphor. Also many neurodiverse individuals aren’t looking to make changes as their condition is so interlinked with their personality and the happiness they have attained.

The assumption in Western Europe around starting a practice such as Tai Chi is that it will take the usual form of an exercise class with all of the potentially awkward social interactions this entails. The initial call to the instructor to talk about joining, the moment you walk in for the first time, that half time break where you may interact with the other students. Chinese martial arts teachers are often pictured in formalised standing/seating arrangements with their disciples or at a formal dinner, often besuited and navigating the complex etiquette. You can be assured that with the Wu Xing Taiji Boxing Alliance you’re more likely to end up in a drive-thru than at a formal dinner.

Where the synergy really exists between a deep practice and neurodiversity is the idea of obsessive interests. To really get somewhere with internal work it takes a remarkable individual with a special commitment. That’s not to say it’s an austere pursuit, the thread that runs through everything we do is that having fun is powerful and you should follow your own bliss. For some people that involves checking out of mundane living somewhat and following a more spiritual life. That is not to say this is a wrong or right approach but understandable in this Kali Yuga. We are very grateful to those people who stay engaged with society because now more than ever we could do with some agitators that contest the tyrants that now hold power. Again, checking out doesn’t have to mean something austere and monastic. Think something along the lines of a dirtbag climber, who disappears in to the mountains to live a simple life with just enough passive income to cling on economically while they cling on vertically. Anyway, back on topic….

So what are the cognitive requirements for mastery of an internal system? Well this is as broad a spectrum as the individuals who practice it. Some individuals will be able to intuit the whole deal, with or without instruction. What man has done, man can do. For some, approaching practice from the other direction where the architecture of the system has to be mapped out in terms they can understand intellectually before they dive in is more appropriate. And all approaches in-between. Though the experiential should be slightly favoured to avoid confusing the proverbial map for the territory.

What about the IMA systems that are entirely physically reductionist and focus on changing the way the body is used with their particular brand of shen fa/fa jin etc? Nothing wrong with this approach, it has arguably the most utility. But often neurodiverse individuals have associated movement patterns. Would “overcoming” these be a beneficial therapy or unnecessary stress? A question for somebody far more qualified than us. It doesn’t become an issue in our system given the less physical-centric approach and the greater focus on energy work. Where the physical is emphasised there is a freestyle approach (see lesson 5 of the fundamentals series - ‘Putting It All Together’). It takes the spirit of that freestyle martial arts trend from the late 20th century and applies it to the IMA world. Yet another glaring indicator that the founders of the Tai Chi Empowerment Project are very much 90s kids.

There are of course some practical health benefits both mental and physical to be drawn from Tai Chi and Chi Kung. It would be reasonable to suggest that Tai Chi may be a good therapy for dyspraxia. The evidence in respect of peer reviewed studies on the benefits of Tai Chi is thin on the ground (not surprising given the way medical studies are funded, nobody is making much money out of Tai Chi we can assure you!) and often actually quite unimpressive in terms of results. The longevity of past masters is equally unimpressive. But what we are presenting contains a deep internal component and we suspect that this is what is missing from said studies, making their chosen brand of exercise only as useful for health as a nice walk or a game of bowls. In addition, those studies we have seen favour Tai Chi based on your common or garden family styles or some derivative such as the Beijing 24 step which in our very humble opinion require a significant evolution both in terms of sports science and cultural relevance. Though we do understand their appeal as a curiosity or museum piece.

There are almost infinite stand alone therapeutic exercises that can be usefully applied by a neurodiverse demographic. For those who suffer from restless legs as is common with ADHD for example, grounding exercises can be very relieving. If you have ever put you legs on a cold wall next to your bed at night and felt the relief of that cold earth energy, this is a taste of what can be achieved at the same time as enjoying the fun and flow of practice. For more exercises like this why not get in touch and let us know your requirements.

We’ll leave you with the words of the endlessly fascinating H.P. Lovecraft, one of many individuals on the autistic spectrum who have channelled something incredible in to this world. Please excuse another gender specific quote.

“What a man does for pay is of little significance. What he is, as a sensitive instrument responsive to the world’s beauty, is everything!”