As we begin to learn the form, we are learning, in a very practical way, How to attend to our state of balance.
We begin by 1) first shifting our weight from one foot to the other and back, back and forth. This can be from side to side, or front to back, first with one foot forward, then with the other foot forward.
Later stages advance as our attention abilities grow.
2) Once we get used to noticing how our weight shifts, we move on to practicing not just shifting our weight, but into shifting our weight 100% to and from each side.
3) As we get more comfortable with the growth of this awareness, (100% weight shift), and get more used to this state, our attention abilities may then expand so that we are able to notice how the interplay of the various body part positions each contribute to the maintenance of our balance as we move through the form.
As a hand/arm moves forward, a foot/leg moves back so the moving parts counterbalance each other, continuously maintaining the balance over the stationary leg/foot, from head to toe.
This synchronization of all these moving parts is generated by the progressive growth of one’s awareness of one’s state of balance.
This awareness is related to noticing how well one is able to relax the muscles that have to tense to keep one from falling when ever this balance is missing.
4) One’s form evolves with your growing ability to attend to this state of balance, as evidenced by the lessening of tensions as we grow more aware, in more subtle ways and levels, of our state of balance in the gravity field.
The growth of this awareness may begin with arms and legs shifting larger weights and distances. It then evolves into noticing more and more subtle balance changing weights and movement shifts that affect one’s balance in more and more subtle ways.
The growth of our ability to attend to these factors is of paramount importance because the Tensions created whenever our balance isn’t perfect inhibits the flow of Chi.
This is directly related to the health benefits we gain from practicing the form.
Moving from the Center and
The Importance of Hip Rotation
Extra movement almost always complicates the maintenance of balance. When you shift your weight around even a little, these movements may complicate your system’s functionality.
When a movement is generated by rotation, rather than displacement in the gravity field, this balance change is minimized. This might be easier to visualize beginning with the hand and forearm.
Hold your hand in front of you at waist height, parallel to the floor, palm up. Rotate your hand and forearm so that your palm is pointing down.
Notice that if you don’t wave your hand when you do this, the movement doesn’t change your balance, If your hand moves left or right, it’s another story.It would then affect your balance.
This same thing applies to hip rotation.
When you move from the center by rotating your hip to move your hand, the effect of the movement on your balance is minimized, and Chi flow is maximized because everything can stay relaxed!
Perhaps from this discourse, one might gain a better understanding of the role that is played by the growth of awareness as the key to greater functionality in our practice.
This manifests in physical, emotional, intellectual and spiritual movement and growth as well!
Mr. Chow would say “Every brushstroke is Art and Every movement is T’ai Chi.”
Namaste, Daniel
