A
posture should be such that you can forget your body.
What is comfort?
When you forget your body, you are comfortable.
When you are reminded continuously of the body, you are uncomfortable.
(Osho)
Yang
Cheng Fu's 10 essentials
This is a detailed description of posture and body concerns whilst
performing
tai chi:
1. Straightening the head
Stand straight and hold the head and neck naturally erect, with the mind
concentrated on the top.
Do not strain or tense, otherwise the blood and vital energy cannot
circulate smoothly.
2. Correct position of chest and back
Keep the chest slightly inward, which will enable you to sink the breath
to the tan tien.
Do not protrude your chest, otherwise you feel uneasy in breathing and
somewhat 'top heavy'.
3.
Relaxation of the waist
For the human body, the waist is the dominant part.
When you relax the waist, your two feet will be strong enough to form a
firm base.
All the movements depend on the action of the waist, as the saying goes,
"vital force comes from the waist".
Inaccurate movements in tai chi stem from erroneous actions of the waist.
4. Solid and empty stance
It is of primary importance in tai chi to distinguish between empty and
solid.
If you shift the weight of the body on to the right leg, then the right
leg is solidly planted on the ground and the left leg is in an empty
stance.
When your weight is on the left leg, then the left leg is firmly planted
on the ground and the right leg is in an empty stance.
Only in this way can you turn and move your body adroitly and without
effort, otherwise you will be slow and clumsy in your movements and not
able to remain stable and firm on your feet.
5. Sinking of the shoulders and elbows
Keep the shoulder in a natural, relaxed position.
If you lift your shoulders, the chi will rise with them and the whole body
will be without strength.
You should also keep the elbows down, otherwise you will not be able to
keep your shoulders relaxed and move your body with ease
6. Using
the mind instead of force
Among people who practice tai chi, it is quite common to hear the
statement, "that is entirely using the mind not force".
In practicing tai chi, the whole body is relaxed, and there is not an iota
of stiff or clumsy strength in the muscles or joints to hinder the
movement of the body.
People may ask, "how can you increase strength without exercising force?"
According to traditional Chinese medicine, there is in the human body a
system of pathways called meridians, which link the viscera with different
parts of the body, making the human body an integrated whole.
If the meridian is not impeded, then the vital energy will circulate in
the body unobstructed.
But if the meridian is filled with stiff strength, the vital energy will
not be able to circulate and consequently the body cannot move with ease.
One should therefore use the mind instead of force, so that the vital energy will follow in wake of the mind or consciousness and circulate all over the body.
Through persistent practice one will be able to have
genuine internal force.
This is what tai chi experts call, "lithe in appearance, but powerful in
essence".
A master of tai chi has arms which are as strong as
steel rods wrapped in cotton, with immense power concealed therein.
Boxers of the outer school look powerful when they exert force, but when they
cease to do so, the power no longer exists, so it is merely a kind of
superficial force.
7. Coordination of upper and lower parts
According to the theory of tai chi, the root is in the feet, the force is
launched through the legs, controlled by the waist and expressed by the fingers
- the feet, the legs and waist form a harmonious whole.
When the hands, the waist, and the legs move, the eyes should follow their
movements.
This is what is meant by the upper and lower parts.
If any part should cease to move, then the movements will be disconnected and
fall into disarray.
8. Harmony between the internal and external parts
In practicing tai chi, the focus is on the mind and consciousness.
Hence the saying, "the mind is commander, and the body subservient to it".
With the tranquillity of the mind, the movements will be gentle and graceful.
As far as the frame is concerned, there are only the empty and the solid, opened
and closed - open not only means opening the four limbs but the mind as well, he
means closing the mind along with the four limbs.
Perfection is achieved when one unifies the two and harmonises the internal and
external.
9. Importance of continuity
In the case of the outer school (which emphasises attack) of boxing, the
strength one exerts is still and the movements are not continuous, but are
sometimes made off and on, which leaves an opening an opponent may take
advantage of.
In tai chi one focuses the attention on the mind instead of force, and the
movements from the beginning to end are continuous and in an endless circle,
just like a river which flows on and on without end, or like reeling a silk
thread off cocoons.
10. Tranquillity in movement
In the case of the outer school of boxing, the emphasis is on leaping, bouncing,
punching and the exertion of force, and so one often gasps for breath after
practicing, but in tai chi, the movement is blended with tranquillity, and while
performing the movements, one maintains tranquillity of mind.
In practicing the frame, the slower the movement, the better the results.
This is because when the movements are slow, one can take a deep breath and sink
it to the tan tien.
It has a soothing effect on the body and mind.
Learners of tai chi will get a better understanding of all this through careful
study and persistent practice.
Page created 7 June 2000