Wellbeing & Performance - the Tai Chi way
A famous Wu Style master, Ma Yueh-Liang – (1901-1998) pushing hands with a younger opponent. I think he was in his eighties when this clip was filmed. Also check my previous post and you will see Ma Yueh Liang’s wife, Wu Yinghua demonstrating part of the Wu Style form.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RHQv6fLpIoI[/youtube]
This is the Wu Style Tai Chi form I practice.
It’s the traditional long form as demonstrated by Wu Yinghua (1907-1997), daughter of Wu Chien Chuan.
She was probably in her late eighties when she demonstrated the form. The video clip is of poor quality but you can get a flavour of the Wu style form by watching it.
She demonstrated about a third of the long form, from the opening posture to Left and Right Parting Leg (just after the first cloud hands).
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GqqkbetLPIk[/youtube]
Practising Tai Chi on a regular basis is important for improvement.
However its what you do away from your training sessions that will determine how much you actually improve.
For example when you are working think of the Tai Chi exercises and/or principles you can use.
A simple job as sweeping with a broom is made easier when you focus on your tan tien and not your shoulders and arms to push the broom.
Lifting heavy objects can be made less stressful and safer by focusing on keeping the top of your head in line with your perineum – stops you from arching and straining your back.
Cleaning windows involves the waist leading the arms just like ‘grasping the bird’s tail’ technique in the Tai Chi form.
So use the Tai Chi exercises and principles in your normal work day and you will add many hours to your training sessions.
And improve at a greater rate.
Heel breathing is a good energiser.
It can be done either sitting down or standing up.
I normally practice it sitting down as part of a series of chi kung exercises I do.
Sometimes I do it standing, whenever I need an energy boost.
Here’s how to do heel breathing.
Footnote: Expanded from Tai Chi Tip #35 – I discovered this technique several years ago while reading ‘Complete Tai Chi’ by Master Alfred Huang.
In the early years of my Tai Chi training my instructor would demonstrate a technique quickly and wait for a reaction from the class.
If we were confused at what we had seen he would say ‘clear as mud?’ and then laugh.
I’ve been thinking of what he’d said and now realise there was depth in that remark besides the humour.
As a beginner, the techniques and most of the classical Tai Chi sayings were as ‘clear as mud’ to me.
I couldn’t see the correct technique or the meaning of a saying because of my inexperience and my tendency to analyse too much.
I now realise it’s about the doing rather than the anlaysing that will clear the mud away.
23 years since I started I still make pleasant discoveries of what appears to be a simple technique or saying by practicing more and analysing less.
It’s something I teach beginners – just do – and you will discover the meaning.
For safety reasons I keep a close eye on beginners so they don’t injure themselves.
As long as they’re within the safety limits of a technique I let them discover the meaning for themselves.
And this can be achieved by constant practice.
Otherwise, it will be ‘clear as mud’.