Another reason we move so slowly when we practice Taichi is that we are very vigilant in feeling each part of our body to spot any point of tension. Physical tension blocks Chi flow and keeps us tethered to a reliance on physical strength and mechanical motion. When...
In our Taichi classes, we talk a lot about following and flow. What do those really mean? In the beginning, we follow our instructor. We follow a Taichi video. We follow directions for how to move – where our feet go, how high we should lift our arms. But beyond...
In Master Waysun Liao’s book, T’ai Chi Classics, he says: “The high speed of the mind can alter the experience of time and space…The ancient Chinese used the idea of the immeasurably high speed of mind in their philosophy of energy...
In teaching “pushing hands” at the Taichi Tao Center, Master Waysun Liao instructs students that they shouldn’t complain if their practice partner is standing or moving incorrectly, or if they are too physical. Instead, they should be able to...
“As humans, we try to change everything outside of us to accommodate ourselves, rather than accommodate ourselves to follow nature. In Taichi, we try to stay in harmony with the boundaries of nature. Why? We learn that when we overreach or try to destroy nature...
One thing that separates the study of Taichi from most pursuits in western culture is its endless nature: there is always more to experience, more to practice, more to learn. This concept of endless progress is the secret to Taichi’s appeal over the centuries in...
