Do without doing
Work without forcing.
(Lao Tzu)
Compression
The leg muscles can be used to store energy.
Allow some of your body weight to sink through the hips and into the thighs and
calves.
Go too deep and it becomes a dead movement.
Sinking internally will relax the tailbone, elongate the spine and settle the
body weight into the leg muscles.
It should feel like a bow has been pulled or a spring squashed.
Dynamic tension creates energy, but go too far and the bow snaps.
Spiralling
Turning and spiralling the body results in the storage of energy.
Simply turning the waist will twist the elastic tissue along the side of the
body, waist and back.
The muscles are coiled effortlessly and want to release.
Every single movement in the tai chi form involves some spiralling, twisting or
circular action.
Reeling silk is the training method designed to accentuate this ability.
Releasing
Neigong limits your range of body movement.
Every time you move within the form, something compresses.
This creates a lot of internal tension within the body, called 'bow tension'.
Energy is being stored and released naturally; just by moving in the tai chi
way.
The release of this energy is fa jing.
At a more advanced level it will be a very tangible feature of your form.
When you perform a posture in the form, try pausing at its conclusion.
If you allow a settling period at the end of each posture, the body
performs an involuntary spiral - a loose, rocking sensation.
A minute energy release.
It is essential to move into the next posture before
the settling ceases entirely.
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Page created 2 April 2000