Avoid collapsing your knees inwardly or rolling your feet outwardly when practicing Tai Chi stances
Tai Chi Tip #66
Practice your self defence applications with your arms beside your body – not just in a 7 stars (on guard) position.
Act Before You Think
The other day I rolled out of bed at 5.50 am (my regular resurrection for a week day), showered and dressed and then slowly walked to my living room to practice my 20 minute standing practice called ’embrace the tree posture’.
During that walk I heard voices in my head:
“Do it later”
“I’m too tired”
“I can’t be bothered”
Tai Chi Tip #52
Regulate your breathing – slow, smooth and deep – during your Tai Chi practice.
Tai Chi Round Form
When I first learned Tai Chi it was taught the ‘square’ way – stopping and starting at various points.
Very mechanical, without circles.
Once I learned the Wu Style Tai Chi form the next step was to round it out i.e. make it more circular and continous.
One method that helps me to round out the form is to think of circles when practicing the form. I imagine my arms and legs following the outline of a circle.
For example, in Grasping The Bird’s Tail posture when I have my hands in the left corner position at eye level – I imagine my arms forming a circle. And at the same time as my arms move to the right I imagine my hands following the arc of a circle which is at eye level in front to me.
This gives me a more rounded feeling as I practice the form.
It doesn’t matter what style of Tai Chi you practice you can still use the circle technique to round out your form.
Why not have a go and let me know how it feels?
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