The Tai Ji of Psychotherapy

Be like a tree

2008-10-18T22:55:00.000-07:00

A tree is rooted and stable.
   Trees will bend and conform.
A tree is happiest and healthiest in nature.
   Trees use only natural and sustainable energy.
A tree wants to live.
   Trees are your friend on both sunny (good) and rainy (bad) days.
A tree is beautiful to look at, young and old.
   Trees are quiet.
A tree provides food and shelter to many different life forms.
   Trees do not take more than they need.
A tree is part of the solution, not part of the problem.
   Trees are always moving upward and outward with patience and consistency.

Adam Shapiro, Oct. 2008

More about Yin and Yang

2008-10-17T21:40:00.000-07:00

Yin-Yang theory developed many thousands of years ago in China and has been a mainstay of Chinese thought and culture ever since. In a nutshell, Yin-Yang represents the duality of all things in the natural world. The theory can be used to describe and philosophize on everything since the Big Bang. To clarify further, there are 5 basic tenets to Yin-Yang theory:

Opposition - This is the idea that something cannot exist without it's opposite or counterpart existing as well. For example, you cannot have good without bad; day without night; left without right; up without down; in without out.
Relativity - Einstein's theory of relativity was uncovered in Yin-Yang theory thousands of years prior - and without all that math! While I am big relative to my 5-year old son, I am small relative to Michael Jordan. My 3-year old daughter is small relative to my son, and big relative to her favorite doll. Get my point? It is all relative.
Infinitely divisible - Depending on the specific topic, one can break down the Yin-Yang nature of things infinitely. Someone or something will always be bigger or smaller, higher or lower, further in or further out than the next. Science continues to unveil smaller and smaller particles that make the foundation of all things in the universe and at the same time the universe continues to expand and grow beyond our imaginations.
Mutual consumption - The two aspects of Yin and Yang are never fixed or static, instead they are continuously transforming and consuming one-another. For example, day does not suddenly become night. It constantly moves toward the night from it's brightest point at high noon. And night gradually becomes the day from it's darkest point at midnight.
Transformation - At the extremity of one begins the other. So the end of Yin marks the beginning of Yang and so on. For example, at the end of the day (dusk) begins the night and at the end of the night (dawn) begins the day.

So here's a quick list of what would qualify as Yin vs. Yang. Remember that all things in nature can be separated into Yin-Yang pairs!

YIN --------- YANG
Feminine --- Masculine
Curved/Round – Straight/Square

Dark/Night/Moon --- Bright/Day/Sun
Material --- Immaterial

Emotional --- Logical
Nourishing --- Energetic

Yin-Yang theory is at the basis of Chinese medical diagnosis and treatment. We say that health is balancing or harmonizing Yin and Yang. One can suffer from excess Yang energy, deficient Yin energy; excess Yin energy and/or deficient Yang energy. Treatment plans aim to supplement deficiencies while sedating excesses. It sounds simple, but can be very complex as the practitioner factors in all aspects of one's health. However, if you cannot break it down into Yin-Yang pairs, diagnosis and subsequent treatment will fail.

Going forward we will include Yin-Yang theory as it applies to future discussions. Any questions? Here's one: How would you describe a career woman vs. a stay-at-home dad in terms of Yin and Yang?

What does Tai Ji have to do with Psychotherapy?

2008-10-08T20:55:00.000-07:00

Many do not realize that Tai Ji is short for Tai Ji Chuan which means, “Grand Ultimate Boxing”. It is a martial art, but it is more commonly practiced as a meditative form of movement that benefits both the body and mind, without martial intent. This in reality is Qi Gong. Tai Ji is a martial art that balances Yin and Yang energies throughout it’s many strikes and throws. It is practiced slowly to refine the movements and optimize the health benefits. In action it is fast, powerful and graceful.

The symbol to your right is commonly known to represent Yin and Yang, but this is actually the Tai Ji symbol in chinese. The practice of Tai Ji brings Yin and Yang into focus as it requires both energies to be balanced to achieve great power with minimal effort. Tai Ji is special in that it utilizes the energy of the opponent to your own advantage. The Tai Ji master can turn his enemy into his friend and focuses on mastering his own inner demons first and foremost.

By applying the principles of Tai Ji and all that it represents to psychotherapy, we can turn our enemies (like stress, struggle, failure, sadness…) into our friends and learn to inspire ourselves from within toward the path of ultimate fulfillment. In the following posts I will attempt to show you how the principles of Tai Ji can be applied to most if not all of your troubles to create and promote a healthy and fulfilling spiritual journey called Life. Thank you for reading and contributing!

More about contributing... please send me your questions or concerns about any aspect of your life. I will try to respond to your posts and will answer your questions to the best of my ability. Be sure to leave out names and specifics so that we may protect your privacy. Send questions to: acu.adam@gmail.com - I apologize if I don't answer every one.

I am not a Pyschotherapist!

2008-10-08T20:42:00.000-07:00

I am not a Pyschotherapist, although many of my patients would beg to differ. I have no 'real' formal training in the profession and do not promote myself as such. However, I have found that my study of Tai Ji and Yin-Yang philosophy gives me the tools and know-how to help guide my patients mentally and emotionally in simple yet concrete ways that are practical and right to the point. In this new blog, I'd like to share some of the more common themes that present themselves in my office as well as in my daily life in the hopes that more than just the lucky few who enter my door will benefit.

Did I mention that I am NOT a Ph.D. in psychiatry or psychotherapy? Well I'm not, so read and apply at your own discretion. Also, I am a life-long learner and look forward to hearing your critical analysis every bit as much as your praise. I thank you in advance for your participation.

So I'll start some themes, but I encourage YOU to ask your questions (anonymously is preferred) and experience for yourself the Yin-Yang of Psycho-therapy!