Archives for 2014

Tai Chi Stance: What Goes Up Must Go Down

When I practice my embrace the tree stance each morning I find there is a tendency to rise up slightly from the posture, especially when I’m nearing the end of my workout.

When this occurs I focus my Chi sinking vertically into the ground, starting from my Tan Tien, coccyx (tail bone), knees, bubbling wells in the soles of my feet and into the earth.

I co-ordinate this visualisation process as I slowly exhale.

This technique helps me to stay in the correct posture for the duration of the workout.

Small Space Tai Chi

By Chris Leave a Comment

There’s not much room in my place at the moment to practice Tai Chi as I’m painting kitchen cupboards and there’s stuff everywhere including my living room.

So early this morning I did my ’embrace the tree posture’ stance in my office and later on a Chair Chi session in my bedroom.

So you can practice Tai Chi in small places but I don’t think I’ll practice the spear form indoors today. 🙂

Tan Meng-hsien: Tai Chi Roll Back Energy

By Chris Leave a Comment

Here is a very important concept to incorporate in your Tai Chi training with a partner.

What is the meaning of rollback energy?
Entice the opponent toward you by allowing him to advance,
lightly and nimbly follow his incoming force
without disconnecting and without resisting.
When his force reaches its farthest extent,
it will naturally become empty.
The opponent can then be let go or countered at will.
Maintain your central equilibrium
and your opponent cannot gain an advantage.
(Tan Meng-hsien)

Tai Chi Wake Up Call

By Chris Leave a Comment

I have two alarm clocks. One beside my bed and the other is my ’embrace the tree’ (standing posture) training.

The bedside clock alarm gets me out of bed but when I stumble into the living room and start my 25 minute standing posture practice – I really wake up.

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Coming Up: Chair Chi Training – Monday 2nd June

By Chris Leave a Comment

Well, it’s only a couple days away from my next Aged Care: Chair Chi Training Level 1 workshop.

I’m really looking forward to this workshop as I’ll be working with aged care staff who run activities for their low care and high care residents. I’ll be teaching staff how to run a Chair Chi workshop and one of the things I find enjoyable is the opportunity to share experiences about working with the elderly; a component of the workshop.

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