Beyond the dance

Tai chi’s now entertainment,
arm-waving exercise,
a cup of tea social chat.
Copying those at the front,
without learning the moves
or going beyond the dance.
 
But it’s deeper than this shell,
of blindly following
a sequence suitably long.
Sound posture’s more important,
just as notes of music
form the basis of a tune.
 
Applications guide each stance,
even short of fighting
physical skill develops.
Progress is made through practice,
hours of dedication
building muscle memory.
 
Heeding what doesn’t feel right,
technique’s slowly refined
staying focused, but relaxed.
By sensing energy flow,
more’s revealed with each step
like layers of an onion.
 
A good teacher can inspire,
but drive comes from within
enjoyment of the process.
When training’s fully absorbed,
body, mind, and spirit,
stillness is found in movement.