Tai Chi is based on roundness. Each move is composed of circular movements, coordinated with breathing, and repeated over and over again, like a ring with no end.

In yoga postures, the movements are mainly linear stretches, and they are straight back and forth between one breath and one breath.

Why is Tai Chi a circular route? And yoga is a linear stretch?

Differences in movement intentions

“Martial arts” is the most significant difference between Tai Chi and yoga. Tai Chi is first of all a boxing method, which is inseparable from the fundamental nature of martial arts. Every move of Tai Chi has a specific meaning of attack and defense. Tai Chi is characterized by “using stillness to control movement, using softness to overcome hardness, avoiding the real and attacking the empty, and using force to generate force”. In combat, it relies on proprioception to perceive the opponent’s strength. Under the condition of “knowing oneself and the enemy, seizing the opportunity and gaining the upper hand”, “following the trend and changing the path” to divert the future force and achieve the purpose of combat. Only by making moves in a circular route can you hide your intentions and circumvent the opponent.

Yoga is a cognitive method used by Indian sages to awaken life in a state of tranquility. Yoga poses imitate the way animals heal themselves, and are “comfortable and stable postures” (from the Yoga Sutras). During practice, through pitching, flexion, extension and other movements, the body’s neutral position and the continuity of force lines are perceived by proprioception, the body’s original functions are restored, and the purpose of self-healing is achieved. The essence of self-healing is to do work on oneself, and linear motion is the most efficient way to do work.

Differences in cultural background

Chinese culture is dominated by Confucian culture, and Confucianism pursues “self-cultivation, family harmony, governance, and peace in the world”, which is to make a difference in the “secular” world and is a “worldly” culture; while Indian culture is basically a religious culture, pursuing “liberation”, and is a “world-renouncing” culture. Secular culture requires a “tortuous” relationship between oneself and the outside world, while “world-renouncing” culture requires “straightforward” norms for oneself – specifically reflected in the “precepts” and “internal control” in the eight branches of yoga.

Although Tai Chi and Yoga are different in external form, their internal mental states are similar, mainly reflected in the following aspects:

“Relaxation”

During practice, except for the main muscles of the asanas being in a state of appropriate tension, the rest of the joints and muscles must be naturally relaxed. Only “relaxation” can ensure the flexibility and ease of movement.

“Stability”

“Stability” in Tai Chi means always maintaining “empty neck and top strength, joints connected, unbiased, centered and comfortable”; in Yoga, it means the stability of the central axis and the correct position of the body in different asanas.

“Stability”

“Stability” means that in the process of completing the movement, there is no movement in the whole body – that is, unnecessary movements that do not conform to the laws of human movement. This requires a pure mind, a stable mentality, and clean movements, which is the embodiment of seeking “stillness” in “movement”.

Tai Chi and Yoga, both originated on both sides of the Himalayas, although the external forms are very different, but the internal spiritual level is quite consistent.