The Inner Structure of Tai Chi

Zusatztext "I highly recommend this book for any tai chi student. It is a great introduction to the inner workings of internal energy and gives plenty of practice for more advanced students." Informationen zum Autor A student of several Taoist masters, Mantak Chia founded the Universal Healing Tao System in 1979 and has taught tens of thousands of students from all over the world. He tours the United States annually, giving workshops and lectures. He is the director of the Tao Garden Health Spa and Resort and the Universal Healing Tao training center in northern Thailand and is the author of 25 books, including the bestselling The Multi-Orgasmic Man. Juan Li is a senior Universal Tao instructor who began his studies with Mantak Chia in 1982 and now presents these teachings throughout Western Europe. He lives in Spain. Klappentext Explores the deep, internal work necessary for the effective practice of tai chi, with illustrated instructions for mastering Yang-style Tai Chi Chi Kung. Demonstrating tai chis relationship to the three forces--Universal, Cosmic, and Earth--that animate all life, the authors reveal a practice to produce the full spectrum of benefits that tai chi can bring. Leseprobe Chapter 3 Basic Principles of Tai Chi Chi Kung Tai Chi Chi Kung is grounded in the principles of the Tao. The extent to which you have incorporated and integrated these principles into your movements determines your level of mastery. It does not matter if you know a long or a short Tai Chi form; what counts is knowledge and application of the Tai Chi principles. This chapter introduces the basic principles of Tai Chi Chi Kung. Study them, memorize them, and apply them in your movements. The best way to practice initially is to take one principle at a time and work on it until you can do it automatically, without conscious thought. Then work on the next principle in the same way until you have mastered them all. The second half of this book introduces the more advanced Tai Chi Chi Kung principles. Do not worry about learning these until you have mastered the more basic principles included in this chapter and have gained competence in the Tai Chi Chi Kung form (or another Tai Chi style) as presented in chapter 5. Eventually, with daily practice, you will discover that you have incorporated the Tai Chi principles into your everyday life--as you sit, walk, stand, and lie down, you will notice that you are moving in a fresh, effortless, and beautiful way. This is the reward of Tai Chi Chi Kung. Here, then, are the basic principles of Tai Chi Chi Kung. Clearly Distinguish Yin and Yang Just as in the universe, where all manifestation is an interplay of yin and yang, all the movements of Tai Chi are a constant interplay of yin and yang. Without yin and yang, active and passive, there is no movement. Tai Chi practice recreates the process of cosmic expression through the sequence of movements. The primordial state of Wu Chi is expressed in the first posture of standing still, totally centered and balanced--unmanifested. The moment the legs are separated and one begins to move, the process of yin and yang becomes active. In Tai Chi, yin and yang are primarily understood in terms of substantial (yang) and insubstantial (yin). This is what creates the flow of the energy. Substantial (yang) is a relative term in Tai Chi. It means the most active element of the moment. In terms of the legs, it can mean that all or most of the weight is on one foot. In terms of the arms, it can mean that one arm is in front and is discharging energy through a punch or push. Insubstantial (yin) refers to the other arm or leg, which is playing the supportive and stabilizing role at the moment. -- Yang movement: Exhale and push forward -- Advancing is yang: Feel chi pressure release -- Yin movement: Inhale and sin...

Auteur

A student of several Taoist masters, Mantak Chia founded the Universal Healing Tao System in 1979 and has taught tens of thousands of students from all over the world. He tours the United States annually, giving workshops and lectures. He is the director of the Tao Garden Health Spa and Resort and the Universal Healing Tao training center in northern Thailand and is the author of 25 books, including the bestselling The Multi-Orgasmic Man. Juan Li is a senior Universal Tao instructor who began his studies with Mantak Chia in 1982 and now presents these teachings throughout Western Europe. He lives in Spain.

Texte du rabat

Explores the deep, internal work necessary for the effective practice of tai chi, with illustrated instructions for mastering Yang-style Tai Chi Chi Kung. Demonstrating tai chis relationship to the three forces--Universal, Cosmic, and Earth--that animate all life, the authors reveal a practice to produce the full spectrum of benefits that tai chi can bring.

Résumé
Explores the deep, internal work necessary for the effective practice of tai chi.

Échantillon de lecture

Chapter 3

Basic Principles of Tai Chi Chi Kung

**Tai Chi Chi Kung is grounded in the principles of the Tao. The extent to which you have incorporated and integrated these principles into your movements determines your level of mastery. It does not matter if you know a long or a short Tai Chi form; what counts is knowledge and application of the Tai Chi principles.

This chapter introduces the basic principles of Tai Chi Chi Kung. Study them, memorize them, and apply them in your movements. The best way to practice initially is to take one principle at a time and work on it until you can do it automatically, without conscious thought. Then work on the next principle in the same way until you have mastered them all.

The second half of this book introduces the more advanced Tai Chi Chi Kung principles. Do not worry about learning these until you have mastered the more basic principles included in this chapter and have gained competence in the Tai Chi Chi Kung form (or another Tai Chi style) as presented in chapter 5. Eventually, with daily practice, you will discover that you have incorporated the Tai Chi principles into your everyday life--as you sit, walk, stand, and lie down, you will notice that you are moving in a fresh, effortless, and beautiful way. This is the reward of Tai Chi Chi Kung.

Here, then, are the basic principles of Tai Chi Chi Kung.

**Clearly Distinguish Yin and Yang

**Just as in the universe, where all manifestation is an interplay of yin and yang, all the movements of Tai Chi are a constant interplay of yin and yang. Without yin and yang, active and passive, there is no movement. Tai Chi practice recreates the process of cosmic expression through the sequence of movements.

The primordial state of Wu Chi is expressed in the first posture of standing still, totally centered and balanced--unmanifested. The moment the legs are separated and one begins to move, the process of yin and yang becomes active. In Tai Chi, yin and yang are primarily understood in terms of substantial (yang) and insubstantial (yin). This is what creates the flow of the energy.

Substantial (yang) is a relative term in Tai Chi. It means the most active element of the moment. In terms of the legs, it can mean that all or most of the weight is on one foot. In terms of the arms, it can mean that one arm is in front and is discharging energy through a punch or push. Insubstantial (yin) refers to the other arm or leg, which is playing the supportive and stabilizing role at the moment.

-- Yang movement: Exhale and push forward
-- Advancing is yang: Feel chi pressure release
-- Yin movement: Inhale and sink back
-- Sinking back is yin
-- Feel chi pressure build up and store at the tan tien

In terms of advancing and sinking back, an advance is yang and sinking back is yin. In terms of the breath, inhaling is yin and exhaling is yang. Raising the arms is yang; lowering them is yin.
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