Tai Chi Basics for Beginners - Center leads the body
HTML-код
- Опубликовано: 7 фев 2025
- Learn the basic fundamental principles of Tai Chi Chuan. This Tai Chi for Beginners Series covers relaxation (song), Alignment, Balance, moving from the center, unity (Everything moves as one), Silk Reeling, and more.
Tai Chi (taiji) is translated literally as "Supreme Ultimate".
The practice of tai chi facilitates the flow of the qi energy through the body and the result is more energy, more vitality, and less stress.
Tai chi is easy to learn and once you get bitten by the tai chi bug you will be a practitioner for life.
The benefits of tai chi are well documented, but what is not well documented are the skills that come from relaxation, alignment, and whole body unity.
The symbol of tai chi is the yin yang ☯ which represents balance, unity, harmony, and the reality that there is no such thing as an absolute this or that.
Would you like to learn how to relax more?
Check out the following videos for relaxation and stress reduction exercises.
5 Exercises to reduce stress (Qi Gong)
www.youtube.co....
Qi Gong - Warm Up Exercises
www.youtube.co....
Qi Gong - Energy Cultivation Set (30 Minutes)
www.youtube.co....
#taiji
#taichi
#relaxation
Hi Colen. I just started Tai Chi this week. I did some search for someone to follow/teach online. I’m so glad I found your videos. You do an excellent job on fully explaining in each video. You make it encouraging and eager to learn for me. I’m in this for a lifetime 😊
Thanks so much!
I appreciate what you do.
Cynthia
Wish I saw this comment sooner thanks Cynthia. Hope you are still sticking with it!
Excellent way of explaning the minutest of details in a language simple enough for us beginners to understand.!! Have been watching all your videos.
That you have taken the effort to include that + in order to explain the concept as also including minor but useful comments like the number of times a step could be practised, is truly appreciated. Goes to show your sincerity in sharing. Thank you so much :)
The alignment description on this video reminds me of the directional orientation of the body movement in ballet. Not only is it important to hold the body in space but also know where the body is going. What I’ve noticed in Tai Chi thus far, there are no instructions where the body is going. In ballet, we have a term called, Ballet Facing, the directions of epaulement or the eight directions of the body. It will be useful to the Tai chi practitioner to know which direction needs to move for each movement. Once the body knows where to go, the practitioners will have better balance and confidence.
Nice comment and interesting observation. Yes the 8 directions are present in taiji, and quite important.
Love this stunning martial art
Really enjoying this series.....excellent explanation and movements
Thank you glad you enjoyed the videos.
Thank you, really helpful. It really is an art. ❤️
This a year old video, but it's very helpful. I wish to improve the central core area, to have better control in practice.. Thank you for great video.
Thank you Much appreciated!
Hi Colin,You asked for our comments where we struggle. I did tai chi weekly at our municipal gym, there is no direct interaction with the teacher we just follow her through the moves and she doesn't correct or advise. I'm finding that I am getting slower and slower going through the moves because they are so beautiful/ relaxing, of course I have my favourite moves but sadly I just watch the others speed through all the moves and i can't complete mine without hurrying/ cutting-short. Is this a rookie mistake on my part or have you any observations about this with a begin. Warm wishes Lyndon.
Hi Lyndon. I understand your struggle it's difficult in a group class to go at your own pace. The teacher should be the pacesetter in this situation and if they are not setting the correct pace I'm not sure the solution without being at odds with the timing for everyone else. I have a video on silk reeling which is a good example of approximate pace, at least for Chen style. There are distinct changes that occur in every move ie turn (with significant change hand position) and shift weight (minimal/no turning and minimal change of hand position) - a full taiji move could be something like turn>shift weight>turn>shift weight - and in my experience the pace is around 2 seconds per turn or per weight change.
Timing is self correcting as an expression of following the principles (1) relaxation (2) Center leads (3) whole body moves one (one thing moves everything moves.
At the end of the day our best practice will be our solo practice. This is where the real study occurs. When people rush through the movements they will feel disconnected, disjointed, and imbalanced because one part is moving faster than another. This is why Center leads is a key principle. The Center is the boss in taiji and must be involved in every movement. Increased Relaxation allows us to sense the Center on a deeper level. Deeper connection with the Center leads to awareness of every part that is not connected to the Center, in the same way that if 2 people are holding firm one end of a single rope the moment one person tugs the rope the person on the other end instantly feels it. If one person drops the rope likewise the other person will instantly know. So should the connection be between the Center and the foot, or the elbow, or the fingers.
I went off on a bit of a tangent there but hope some of these ideas will help you find find the way through the current challenge. I'm not sure if you are doing the moves too slow or if you have the correct pace and others are going too fast. Adherence to the principles is the best guide for your practice.
Thanks for reaching out and if you have any questions again please don't hesitate to reach out. 🙏
@@CenterLifeBalance Thank you so much for this advice very much appreciated. LS.
The area I’m struggling with is smoothing out the movements in my 48 form and also I’ll try to do it nice and slow and then find myself speeding up
Relaxation is what brings smoothness and fluidity to the movements. Tension between parts creates delays. This can leave the form feeling clunky or disconnected. For one full from pick just one thing to focus on for the whole form start to finish. Eg for a full form check yourself every 5 seconds "are my shoulders really sinking down and relaxed in this position" - break the movements down and allow yourself time to relax and sink as you close each movement. Come to an almost full stop before continuing into the next movement all the while checking shoulders continually for relaxation and for sinking down into the waist. For men especially relax the solar plexus and belly let these area expand out fully. This will help relax the center. My teacher once said the third form is your first form. Meaning the first two are warm ups. As we do more forms we will sense more of why is going on. Sometimes I will only focus on "finding my foot" for an entire form, or "suspending the crow point" or "relaxing the back" for a full form. This is a powerful way to practice because when you are continually focussing in relaxing one area only, and maintaining that relaxation no matter what else is going on, the adjacent areas that are not relaxing will be more obvious than ever before. Speeding up is ok as long as you don't let your arms and hands get too far ahead of the center. Remember the principle "center leads" . No part should move by itself alone . The center is involved in every little movement. Sounds like you're well on the other already if you are having this challenge so keep doing what you're doing. Try to implement some of the ideas above, and keep me posts let me know what worked and why didn't work for you. Each person will have a different learning style. Thanks and be well 🙏
@@CenterLifeBalance ♥️