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You are here: Home / Archives for Yin and Yang

TED Ed: The Hidden Meanings of Yin and Yang

By Chris Leave a Comment

chair-chi-yinyangHere’s a very enjoyable and informative clip on the hidden meanings of Yin and Yang in a cartoon format from John Bellaimey.

Filed Under: For Beginners Tagged With: Yin and Yang

Understanding Yin Yang

By Chris Leave a Comment

To understand and appreciate the philosophy of Yin Yang is a never ending journey and takes years of study and practice.

When I deliver a presentation with my colleague Sue James, and need to cover Yin Yang in a very short time I use the ‘Yin Yang arm exercise’.

The ‘Yin Yang arm exercise’ works for adults in our facilitation work – children in our Pozitive Kidz are happy kidz workshops – secondary students Year 7-12 students.

Here’s how the ‘Yin Yang arm exercise’ works.

  1. Hold out your arm in front of you to about shoulder high
  2. Now stretch your arm out further until you feel a slight strain – that is extreme Yang
  3. Drop your arm down to your thigh – that is extreme Yin
  4. Now hold your arm out in front of you again
  5. Bend your are elbow slightly
  6. Now the outstretched arm is relaxed

By bending the elbow slightly you now have Yin in your outstretched arm. There are no longer extremes of Yin and Yang in your arm.

The idea of this exercise is how in Tai Chi you can maintain postures for long periods of time  i.e. there must be Yin and Yang in all postures.

I’ve demonstrated this exercise for children as young as five years old to mature adults in their eighties.

To really understand Yin Yang you need to go beyond theory and practice and feel it in your Tai Chi form and Chi Kung exercises.

 

Footnote: Basic explanation: Yang – active energy. Yin – inactive energy

 

 

 

Filed Under: For Beginners, Reflections Tagged With: Adults, Chi Kung, children, Demonstration, Exercise, Qigong, Tai Chi, Yin and Yang

Tai Chi Tip #7

By Chris Leave a Comment

Be aware of Yin & Yang in your form – e.g. Left leg forward: Left leg & right arm are Yang – Right leg and left arm are Yin.

Filed Under: Tai Chi Tips Tagged With: Tai Chi, Tai Chi Tip, Tips, Yin and Yang

Tai Chi Tip #6

By Chris Leave a Comment

When extending your arms – don’t lock your elbow joints – leave some Yin there (slightly bent).

Filed Under: Tai Chi Tips Tagged With: how not to lock yuor arm joint in Tai Chi, Tai Chi, Tips, Yin and Yang

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WHAT OTHERS HAVE SAID

SPORTS CHI
“An excellent interactive workshop. Chris was informative and engaging providing useful connections to AFL skills.  I absolutely loved it!”
Anita – Football player

“(Chris) was fantastic by way of enthralling around 26 footballers aged between 15 and 19 for 90 minutes at Glen Waverley Hawks. Most impressive!”
Peter Nash
–Coach

CHAIR CHI
“Very positive comments from all the staff. It was terrific and so many staff members said how they slept soundly that night.”
Kathy Prince – Ringwood North Primary School

TAI CHI
“The Tai Chi form is beautiful and I have gained valuable relaxation and stretching techniques.”
Tess Searle – PA

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