I’ve just been experimenting with my Tai Chi form in the garden. A perfect day for it with the sun out, mild temperature.
Here’s what I did.
I focused my energy in the opposite direction as I moved throughout the form. And I felt a more powerful and connected feeling than usual when completing the form.
The technique involves imagining a gentle force pulling you in the opposite direction of where you are going. It’s similar to resistance exercises without using equipment.
For example when you move;
- right think left
- left think right
- up think down
- down think up
- expand think contract
- contract think expand
As you do the above don’t forget to think of the gentle resistance pulling you in the opposite direction. And make sure you relax, don’t tense as you feel the resistance.
It’s difficult to think of all these at once so try just one e.g. move right think left – move left think right – then try to use the other techniques combined. This technique is more for intermediate and advanced Tai Chi players. Beginners should only think of learning the form.
So reverse your thinking and you will invigorate your Tai Chi form.
Thanks Michael. I like your teachers suggestion – a very good tip on being centered at all stages of the form.
Great suggestion here! I have done something similar to this — I had been advised by my teacher to imagine that someone might suddenly be leaning against me from any angle and that one should be able to gracefully resist this force at any point during the tai chi form. This encourages more grounded-ness and mindfulness during the form. I love your simple description here of how one can practice this.
Your description here is interesting because it goes beyond the physical level to the energetic level…or both really. It is always great to hear a suggestion of how to renew and reinvigorate one’s form because sometimes you can get a little bored. At one time I went to the trouble to figure out how to do the mirror image of my form (Sun style) so I could feel equally strong in either direction.
I tried doing the mirror image of the form but didn’t follow through with it. However in my current practice of Tai Chi I select one posture from the form (six days a week) and do eight repetitions, both sides of the body. It takes me about six weeks to complete the 37 original postures and then I start again.
Hi Chris,
I’m pretty new to Tai Chi… been doing the Taoist 108 form for about 4 years now (in the Netherlands). I feel great when playing Tai Chi and each week after class I think: “how do I implement this in my daily life”. Only then you you really get full benefit of your work. I gues it’s all a matter of setting priorities.
I like your idea of reverse thinking and the reverse arrows. Our instructor gave as example (when hands moving apart) “think there is an elastic band between the hands that your have to – very soft – pull apart”. But that only works when hands move apart. Your example works for many other (all) moves).
Thanks.
G’day Paul
I’m glad you like the post and I like your instructor’s tip also. You have the right approach to Tai Chi re ‘how do I implement this in my daily life’. Without this attitude Tai Chi training is incomplete. I practice Wu Style Tai Chi – what style do you practice?
Regards
Chris
hi Chris,
I do the Taoist Tai Chi form. I believe this is an extract or something from the Yang form… not sure though.
There are not that many Tai Chi instructors here, so choice is limited. But I like the society and classes a lot.
Paul
As long as you are enjoying yourself then you are doing the right Tai Chi form. Good luck with your Tai Chi journey.
Regards
Chris