There are very few
human beings who receive the truth, complete and staggering, by instant
illumination. Most of them acquire it fragment by fragment, on a small
scale, by successive developments, cellularly, like a laborious mosaic.
(Anais
Nin)
Head work
It is important to consider the role your head plays in tai chi.
The neck, face, eyes and mouth need to be used in a natural comfortable way.
Unfortunately, they are often the repository of muscular
tension and holding.
Connection
Unless your head works in conjunction with the rest of the body, you have
a disconnected structure.
The back of the head and the the lower back must move
together.
This means that your nose will usually be pointing in the same direction as your
centreline, and is a good point of
reference.
Obviously, when you turn the head to look over your shoulder, the nose will no
longer be facing your centreline.
Face
Your face has 53 muscles that are in constant use, so relaxing
them is important.
Both the massage routine and constructive rest position are good ways to release
tension from your face.
Conscious
relaxation is quite easy - think the
muscles softer, looser and they will relax.
Eyes
Use your eyes but do not look at your hands...
In tai chi, the eyes should lead the movement.
You must turn the eyes in the direction that you are intending to move before
the body follows.
The eyes must remain
soft and relaxed at all times, with your gaze
distant and peripheral.
Avoid fixed staring.
Soften your eyelids, relax the corners of the eyes and remember to rest them
when working.
Jaw
Keep your jaw muscles relaxed.
People tend to hold a great deal of tension in their jaw.
Let the jaw hang so that the teeth part and your lips are only gently touching.
Your mouth should almost be open in the middle.
This will allow the jaw to let-go.
Tongue
If you are breathing in and out normally, the tongue should rest on the
hard palate, as though you were saying 'L'.
Should you exhale through the mouth, the tongue should drop behind the lower
teeth.
Chin
As odd as it sounds, let your chin relax. Allow it to lengthen and fall
away from the mouth.
Many tai chi people forcibly pull the chin back towards the
neck - this is not good practice as it creates tension.
Do not drop the chin and tilt your head forward, or your balance will follow...
Neck
When your chest relaxes (not collapses), there will be length between the
chest and the chin.
It should feel as though the neck has lengthened.
Keep the neck mobile at all times.
Page created 8 February 1999