10 Ways to Live Consciously

How to have a more conscious life in our fast-paced world.

1. Live simply and deliberately. By choosing not to get caught up in the details of this fast-paced world, you are doing your part to slow down the rat race and quell consumerism. You will also discover that you have more time to enjoy being alive.

2. Stay in touch with yourself. Soul searching, meditation, and journaling are just a few of the many activities you can take part in to stay aware and learn as much as you can about your emotions, reactions, likes, dislikes, dreams, and fears. Having a solid sense of self gives you a firm foundation for living in this world.

3. Support or teach others as often as you can. This can help you form connections with people while also giving you an opportunity to make the world a better place.

4. Consciously choose what you will allow into your being. The media bombards us with visions of hate, war, and pain. Be judicious about what you read, watch, and listen to.

5. Acknowledge the beauty that resides around you. Whether you live in a sprawling metropolis or a stereotypical suburb, there are natural and man-made wonders just waiting to be discovered by you.

6. Nurture your ties to your community. If you don’t have one, create one that you can belong to. Modern life can be isolating. When you have a community, you have a circle that you are a part of. Its members – loved ones, friends, or neighbors – can be a source of support, caring, guidance, and companionship.

7. See the larger picture. Remember that the way you choose to live is not the only way to live. Widen your perspective by exploring other modes of being through research, travel, and discussion.

8. Embrace the challenges that life presents to you, and challenge yourself often. After a time, even the most exciting jobs or lifestyles can seem routine. Never stop assimilating new knowledge about whatever you are doing, and your life will never seem dull.

9. Move your body. In this busy world, it can be easy to live a sedentary life. Movement reacquaints us with our bodies and connects us to the earth in a visceral way. It also restores our vitality.

10. Make time for stillness, silence, and solitude. The world can be noisy, and we are subject to all kinds of noises nearly every waking hour. We are also often on the go and unable to relax. Being alone in a peaceful place and making time for quiet can help you stay in touch with yourself.

THE RARE WHITE CRANE TAI CHI STYLE

Most modern styles of tai chi trace their development to at least one of the five traditional schools: Chen, Yang, Wu (Hao), Wu, and Sun. At White Crane Online, we teach a rare White Crane tai chi form, originating from the Fujian province in south east China.

White Crane Tai Chi Symbolism

In Chinese, the White Crane tai chi form is called ‘Shuang Yang Bai He Rou Ruan Quan’, which translates as ‘Frost and Sun White Crane Gentle Art’.

The frost and sun part of the name is linked to the Taoist symbolism of yin and yang, which is embedded in traditional Chinese philosophy and culture. Yin (black) and yang (white) is represented by the imagery of the shady and sunny side of the mountain – the shady side being dark, cold and ‘frosty’, with the sunny side being warm and light.

The white crane part of the name is simple – just like those of the white crane bird, the movements of this tai chi form are gentle, elegant and flowing, but also precise and stable with a subtle strength. The white crane bird is also a symbol of longevity and good health – these are also core benefits of practising White Crane tai chi regularly.

The White Crane Tai Chi Style

Despite having unique qualities, White Crane tai chi has similarities to three of the more well-known styles. The fluidity of movement is also characteristic of Yang style tai chi; some of the faster movements are found in the Chen style; while the smaller, more subtle movements are also seen in the Wu style.

The Story of White Crane

Legend has it that the White Crane style was created by a 13-year-old girl called Fang Chi Liang. As she hung out clothing to dry, a white crane bird attempted to steal some of her laundry. Despite her best attempts to shoo the crane away, she could not get anywhere close to it!

Using deceptive footwork and effective blocking techniques, the relaxed movements of the bird allowed it to side-step Fang and swoop in to steal the clothing.

Already part of a martial arts lineage (her father was a Shaolin Kung Fu master), she began to study and take on board the movements of the white crane, integrating them into her practice… and the White Crane style of Chinese martial arts was born.