Sri Lanka: A paradise for reflection

Powerful and shining, this large island that descuelga In indicator of the hands of its giant neighbor and mother, is a privileged place, perfect to start a personal reflection by a retreat in one of the numerous monasteries exist around the small chain mountain that marks the epicenter of the country.

The first thing the visitor feels when arriving at Sri Lanka, is a huge enthusiasm to be able to verify that the paradise described by Marco Polo, remains virtually intact in every way. If we add this to a low population density, for Asian standards, as well as a relaxed way of life, becomes a real source of pride for the Sinhalese community, against which travellers will discover an experience which may reach to be their own guides and teachers.

Sri Lanka is not a very big island but to achieve capture their special flavour, the tourist must spend at least two weeks and a gentle trail where you will discover ancient Buddhist shrines, magnificent parks, beaches with turquoise blue sea and hidden valleys where Thousands of women gather with their delicate hands tea leaves that, months later, tasting as an infusion at any elegant European coffee.

Moving in this place is relatively simple if one has a generous dose of energy and patience. There is a more than decent railway and bus services are very frequent and in all directions. The use of public transport will make us move rather slowly, but we will ensure strong emotions and deal directly with helpful people, whose sympathy and kindness surprised at each route of the road.

But if the reason for our trip is more spiritual or healing, in Sri Lanka find places where we can learn to practice yoga in a simple, and in an atmosphere unparalleled, for example, there are workshops where in a few weeks, we will become Expert masseurs, with the help of doctors "Ayurvedic" whose wisdom travelling with total harmony and simplicity.

Checking out the various places of archaeological interest or contemplate the fascinating temple of the tooth beside the lake in central Kandy, may be suggestive-up. Completing a tough day while accompanying the fishermen when they collected their slaughter at dusk, one of the many beaches in the south, may be a perfect activity for the restless traveler who wants to go home with something more than an absurd souvenir whose ultimate destination arrinconado will end up next to the other useless objects.

Forms and thai chi movements

There are different ways of thai chi distributed throughout China, the best known are the Chen, Yan, and Wu Su, although different teachers for each of them banded together to unify this art form into one. That is how we reach the two forms of practicing this discipline. The long form, consisting of approximately 100 movements, and the short form, consisting of 24 movements and whose duration does not exceed 5 minutes.

Each movement is conceived as part of Nature. Therefore, among the nomenclature of essential movements appear curious names such as these: "caressed the horse's mane", "brushing your knees", "the movement of the pipe", "monkey moves by the branches," " caressing the tail of the bird, "among others.

The meeting opens with the always-wu chi posture that begins just after a phase of warming where everyone becomes aware of his body and whose duration is 30 minutes.

The wu-chi requires 3 key steps: total relaxation, breathing and abdominal empty mind. Once that was achieved, begins practice of thai chi itself.

The movements of this discipline are always executed in the same way, based Nature, the movement of water, animals, etc.. It possesses the following characteristics:

• Circular is excluded absolutely all the straight lines. All movements are composed of an infinite number of circles, curves and spirals of all sizes. This will save energy and the concentration appears.
• Gentle: no action physically but psychologically, it means that the development of the action must occur without using force and guided by the mind.
• Slow: the slow movements allows to distinguish better control and coordination. And that makes mastering the movements that have a better perception of how they performed. The thai chi is not a mechanical activity but on the other hand, requires a constant presence of mind and sustained, and their movements slow, varied and harmonious, allow us to be aware of how they are and how we move in space , Which develops a sense of balance.
• Coordinated: tuning, extremely precise and detailed, the position and movement of each body part, is the prerequisite for the proper execution of exercises thai chi chuan. To achieve the best possible coordination perfect body, requires a total mind-body integration. The more care is provided in its implementation, better movement, more precise coordination, concentration and deeper.
• Continuous: Rule said that the thai chi chuan, is due to run everything at once. This means that the link movements does not allow interruptions or discontinuity. But that continuity of the exercise is not just limited to gestures. It also refers to the interior of oneself from a psychological and mental.