When practicing Tai Chi, mastering the following six techniques will allow you to quickly enter a state of improving your skills. It will help you get rid of the confusion of practicing for a long time but not getting the hang of it. It will allow you to leave your master and still walk on the right path of Tai Chi.
First, you need to calm your mind.
Only when your mind is calm can you relax. The two are dialectical relationships that are mutually rooted, interact with each other, and complement each other. If you talk while practicing the boxing, not only will your movements be disordered and your internal energy be scattered, but your body will also find it difficult to relax. Therefore, starting from the preparatory posture, you must abandon all distracting thoughts, forget about the world, and focus all your thoughts on the routine you are practicing, be calm, composed, and concentrate on practicing.
Second, use consciousness to guide actions
Consciousness guides actions, which is the operating principle of Tai Chi. The boxing theory says: “The mind is the king and the flesh is the minister” and “Use the mind, not the force.” The mind is the leader of the whole body. The predecessors said: “Without intention, only form is gymnastics.” Therefore, all the movements of boxing should be controlled by intention, leading with intention, moving qi with intention, and moving the body with qi. In this way, the tendons, bones, skin, flesh, tendons and ligaments of the whole body can be completely relaxed and stretched.
Third, follow the laws of yin and yang
Follow the laws of nature and harmonize yin and yang. All movements should be “natural and automatic” of one’s own instinct, rather than deliberately artificial. It is necessary to combine movement and stillness, virtuality and reality, straightness and curvature, accumulation and release, and hardness and softness. Each movement should be within the framework of the rules, that is, it cannot be in place or cross its boundaries. It is necessary to grasp the degree and stop at the right time, and not to do it at will or in reverse order. Make sure that the movements are normal, natural, relaxed, smooth and harmonious.
Fourth, the movements should be light and agile
“Listen to it carefully and move it slightly.” Start and stop lightly, start and stop slowly, start and stop slowly, start and stop slowly. Truly make the steps like a cat and the movements like drawing silk. The body cannot be “hard”. The feet cannot “flop” when landing.
Fifth, “seek success in slowness”.
When practicing, you must proceed at a slow speed, not impatient or impatient, and use slowness to control speed. Only in this way can you relax your body and mind easily, and make your limbs move forward slowly like the wind blowing willows without stiffness, clumsy strength, and stubbornness.
Sixth, exercise in moderation
Practicing Tai Chi is a systemic exercise for the whole body. It must be scientific, reasonable, safe and effective. Do not exercise with weights. If you exercise too much, your body will not feel relaxed, but it will easily cause unnecessary damage. It should be done according to the individual’s ability and control the amount of exercise. Beginners should start from simple to complex, from easy to difficult, and proceed step by step. Don’t be greedy for more and faster, or rush for success. The elderly and those with poor physical fitness should not force themselves to do difficult movements, and should not compare with young people. This will benefit the body and mind and prolong life.