Wellbeing & Performance - the Tai Chi way
Raise your arms up and out in front of your body until they are parallel to the ground. Now lower your arms to the sides of your body.
Repeat this eight times.
As you slowly move your arms up and down think of the phrase ‘hardly moving’ – this will help slow your movements.
Remember the slower you go the more you will feel the Chi flow.
Well, this week has been a milestone as I’ve reached the 50 minute mark of the ’embrace the tree’ posture.
I’m well on my way to the ‘magical’ 60 minute workout which will be a huge achievement for me as in my early years of Tai Chi practice I could never hold the stance for more than 2 minutes without causing pain to my knees.
Three years ago I decided to research the embrace the tree stance in depth to see if I could find a way to hold the stance for longer periods of time.
So I started with 30 seconds, 3 times a week (Monday, Wednesday, Friday). And each following week I added another 30 seconds. This gave me the opportunity to avoid over-training and to train correctly.
When I reached the 30 minute mark I decided to train on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. On those days I started with 30 seconds and each following week added another 30 seconds.
Now I’m advancing to the 60 minute mark on the Monday, Wednesday, Friday sessions and the other days I just do 30 minutes as I have other training to do.
So on December 14th I’ll hit the ‘magical’ 60 minute mark.
My high stance work schedule will then be 60 minutes on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and 30 minutes on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.
Not bad for a former 2 minute man.
Footnote: If you look down to the bottom of the page you’ll see my progress – updated on a weekly basis. Publicising my progress gives me added incentive to achieve my target.
Correct alignment and correct weight transfer of feet are important for good Tai Chi.
Here are the details for the next Push Hands in the Park session.
When: Sunday – June 7
Time: 10.00am – 12 noon
Where: Fawkner Park – South Yarra (Armadale Road entrance), Melbourne, Australia
Friendly, non-competitive push hands (tui shou) practice and play for anyone – old, young, beginners, masters.
Team up with someone and discuss what you’d like to do – and what you’d not like to do!
Ten minute exchanges timed by a bell – but you can rest as well!
Learn, share and enjoy.
All welcomed.
Here’s a very enjoyable and informative clip on the hidden meanings of Yin and Yang in a cartoon format from John Bellaimey.