Prescott Tai Chi Classes

Tai-Chi is like threading Chi through a pearl with 9 holes. This is one of hundreds of ancient statements that many have no idea what it means.  Like all statements and techniques there are several possible levels of meaning. There are those who understand, and deeply.

Ok, to start with:  If you have been practicing Tai-Chi for any time at all you know that when one part moves, all parts move. You should also understand that the movement begins in the feet, feeding the energy of earth, gravity, to the legs. The waist then directs this energy through the torso into the arms and finally manifesting in the tips of the fingers. Think about it if you do not yet understand this, it will come to you.
You are about to receive information that can be very useful in helping your Art grow.

Stand facing a wall and lean into it placing both of your arms on the wall. Push with your feet, feel your:

1. Ankles, and then as you keep pushing feel your…
2. Knees. Continue to apply pressure and feel your …
3. Hips.  Next notice the power rising up through your…
4. Spine.  As you continue adding subtle pressure to your push feel …
5. Your shoulders and then…
6. Your elbows …
7. Your wrists …
8. Your hands and then finally… 
9. Your fingers. Play with this exercise in both directions from the ground up and releasing or yielding subtly from your fingers down to your feet. If you have not already experienced the Breakthrough that this represents you have just opened up a door that has enough breahthroughs to keep you busy for a long time. On-going and deepening enlightenment comes from continuous practice and thought. Please continue playing with this technique. I mean continue, never stop. Notice the idea represented here when you are practicing your forms.Notice it when you are playing push hands and continue to play with the wall when you are alone. As long as you continue Tai-Chi which could be for the rest of your life, keep this idea in mind and keep it growing in your body until it becomes second nature.

Anything that is worthwhile in Tai-Chi has layer after layer of understanding waiting for those who receive oral instruction, practice, think deeply and study widely.

Keep in mind the first layer of meaning of threading the pearl.

 As you push feel the energy rise through your

• Ankles
• Knees 
• Hips
• Spine
• Shoulders
• Elbows
• Wrists
• Hands
• Fingers

General Principles

At first it is difficult for a beginner to judge whether the styles and individual movements he

performs are correct or not. In some cases beginners will find styles which are particularly

difficult for them to master. However, there are some general principles to be understood and

adopted which will help produce correct styles and movements:-

1. Throughout the movements our head should remain in line with our spinal column and

not move up and down. If we can do this our neck muscles will become relaxed;

2. We should not hunch our shoulders or fully straighten our arms when we extend them.

When we retract our arms, the elbows should be kept close to the body and not allowed to

jut out at all angles. We must keep our arms and shoulders relaxed in order to move

smoothly. If we fail to do so our movements will be stiff and awkward;

3. We must relax our whole body and avoid stiffening the chest. If we can do this our

breathing will become deep and natural and our movements alert;

4. If your waist is stiff and tense you will find it difficult to move in any direction and your coordination

will be affected as you will be unable to transmit power from the waist to the

actions of your arms and hands. If the waist is stiff, your bottom will jut out, making balance unstable and preventing your movements from being graceful. Relaxation of the

waist is essential.

Subtly tuck your pelvic girdle forward. At the same time release your shoulders, neck and chest. It may sound funny, but remembering that you are a primate is useful. Feel the last statement and you may just have discovered another breakthrough already. Let your head rise up like it is a helium baloon, yet lightly tuck your chin at the same time. Let your skeletal structure remain upright while allowing everything else to release. All tension should be allowed to dissolve. This solution occurs over time. However having said that, follow these suggestions and you can grow faster just as plants grow faster if fertilized. While your head floats toward the clouds let your feet grow deep into the ground. Grow roots. This is not the same as simply being rooted. Our imagination is alive and in Tai-Chi it is the one who masters their mind that grows the fastest. Many True Masters have said use your mind, not muscle.

5. With certain exceptions, most postures in the Hand Form require us to rest most of our

weight on one leg, making it easy to move the other leg to change posture, and to shift the

weight from one leg to the other as we practice. The photographs of the old Master’s form should be studied so that we can get this balance right.A Pearl with 9 Holes

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Philosophy by aaronK