One of the common Taiji learner's mistake while practicing Taiji routine is that the hands move while the body remains stationary. This is not a major problem when a learner is a beginner trying hard to remember the routine steps. But as a beginner begin to advance after many years of practice, the basic requirement must be make aware to the learner.
In Taiji, the waist is a key body part that controls and move the entire body. The waist turns which in turn move the hands. As the waist turns, the body weight shift between the legs. All these comes together as one movement. Imagine the waist is like a steering wheel.
When you start to use the waist to move the hands in your Taiji practice, you begin to feel the flow and the joy of doing Taiji. Chan Si Jin or known as Silk Reeling provide the practice needed to use the waist to move the hands and shift the weigh. Constantly practicing the Silk Reeling helps one to improve their Taiji. Here's an example of the Chan Si Jin practice
@1:04 AM
Monday, January 5, 2009
Happy New Year to everyone! Although the economic situation looks bad, it is still important we keep our health in shape. As I mentioned in my previous posting of the book I am reading, it was interesting that the author mentioned perseverance is an essential tool for practicing Taiji. So with the New Year just staring, your resolution can be to learn Taiji and not give up easily.
I have seen many students who gave up after one or two months of learning. Reasons given such as no time to learn, too slow and could not remember the steps. The book was writeen in 1990's and the author must have seen the same problem. So if you are just starting Taiji, be patient, focus and have a good time.
