Those who enjoy silence
understand mysteries as they watch white clouds and recondite rocks. Those
who head for glory forget weariness when they see fine singing and dancing.
Only for those who are masters of themselves is there no noise or silence,
no flourishing or withering, nowhere that is not a spontaneously comfortable
heaven.
(Huanchu Daoren)
Energy
If you were to jump in the air, shout with vigour and throw your
limbs out - you will feel frazzled - shook up.
This is known as being 'energetically excited' and is not good for your
physical,
mental,
emotional and
energetic
balance.
We teach and practice the
Yang Cheng Fu form in a manner that
does not excite the body energetically.
Instead, it relies upon a smooth, even pace to circulate oxygen, blood and
qi throughout the body without
excitement.
Stepping
The steps are very subtle, with the foot scarcely lifting from
the ground.
Your toes should almost trace an arc along the floor as the foot moves to
step.
It is important not to lift upwards out of the hips when you peel the foot
for stepping.
Your steps should be almost undetectable; as if floating.
Keep the steps
within your natural range.
Double-weighted
The weight must shift from foot-to-foot as you move through the form sequence:
emptiness to fullness.
This is why you must never turn a weighted leg or step with a
weighted leg.
Always empty the leg of weight before turning from the
hip or placing the
foot - it stops you from being double-weighted and offers you time to yield.
Timing & coordination
The smoothness and fluidity of the
form depends upon the coordination of upper
and lower.
You must withdraw the leg, step and shift the weight in synchrony with arms.
This is not easy.
Timing faults are easy to spot but hard to self-correct - patience is required.
Calm body
This form has a
rhythm to it, a
way of moving.
When you sense the rhythm and blend it with your own, your body will calm
considerably.
There must be no extremes of posture or
stress placed upon
the body - your body needs to feel calm and
relaxed, untaxed and
comfortable.
Quiet mind
With the body calm and the energy soft, your mind should become quiet.
Absorbed in the
movements, you lose your sense of self and drift with the mood of the form.
Everyday concerns, considerations and anxieties fade away.
Page created 24 June 2002