Movements of CMC 37, Taiji (Tai Chi)
1. Glide the weight back onto the right foot while arms become horizontal – palms down. 2. Turn your waist to the right while pivoting on the left heel so that toe faces the front wall. At the same time, the arms arc upwards in unison so that the elbows are at...
Movements of CMC 37, Taiji (Tai Chi)
This movement is also known as Play “Pipa” 1. Pushing the hips forward, glide weight forward onto left foot allowing right foot to follow through by lifting off the floor and traveling inward, place it back down at one half shoulder width. 2. Turn waist...
Movements of CMC 37, Taiji (Tai Chi)
This begins a series of movements that will keep weight on a single leg in the final expression of the movements. Get ready to feel those thigh muscles! 1. Leading with the hips (waist), pour weight into the left leg — moving first toward side wall, then the waist...
Movements of CMC 37, Taiji (Tai Chi)
An excellent posture for chi circulation. It is popular to get into the final expression of this movement and hold for some time to circulate the chi and strengthen the body. 1. Pour most of the weight onto the left leg while backing away from you own hands, thereby...
Movements of CMC 37, Taiji (Tai Chi)
Grasp Sparrow’s Tail is completed with Push. 1. Pushing off the right foot, shift the weight almost completely onto the left leg. Keep the right knee slightly bent. At same time “wash left hand over right” palms face down. 2. Draw the elbows down and back...
Movements of CMC 37, Taiji (Tai Chi)
The fourth part of Grasp Sparrow’s Tail is Press. 1. From the end of Roll Back, begin to turn waist to face side wall while also beginning to pour weight into right leg. At same time, begin to send fingers of left hand toward side wall with hand coming closer and...
Movements of CMC 37, Taiji (Tai Chi)
The third part of Grasp Sparrow’s Tail is Rollback. Here the importance of the waist in Taiji practice is emphasized. 1. Shifting very little extra weight onto the right foot, turn the waist slightly to the right. The right forearm and both hands extend slightly right...
Movements of CMC 37, Taiji (Tai Chi)
One of the core practices I focus on for Tai Chi is the Tai Chi Walk. This version of The Walk (which is really more of a glide with wide, short stepping rather than walking forward) is a continuous repetition of the movement Brush Knee and Press. We use this exercise...
Movements of CMC 37, Taiji (Tai Chi)
Ward Off Right continues Grasp Sparrow’s Tail and begins by 1- Relax the right hip joint and push all weight forward on to the left leg, peeling up the right heel 2-Turn waist right, forming a slanted ball with the hands – left hand on top – pivoting...
Movements of CMC 37, Taiji (Tai Chi)
Ward Off Left begins the series know as Grasp Sparrow’s Tail – a collective name for: Ward Off Left, Ward Off Right, Roll Back, Press and Push. Continuing from the end of Beginning, 1-Relax the left hip joint and fully sit into the left leg 2-Turn waist...
Movements of CMC 37, Taiji (Tai Chi)
Taiji is stillness in motion and motion in stillness. The beginning movement demonstrates the separation of yin and yang as stillness is transformed. 1. Arms float upward like bubbles from the bottom of a pond. Wrists are bent and tranquil – fingers being drawn...
Movements of CMC 37, Taiji (Tai Chi)
First movement – “Preparation”… Better not to think of “Preparation” as preparing to begin the form, but rather as preparing to let go of everything else. Allow the day to slip away, prepare to pay attention to only yourself, to...
