5 Principles In 3 Postures #18

Embodied Tai Chi 

Five Principles In Three Postures 

Discussion - Connection 

The term connection used here describes the spiralling posture in traditional Tai Chi referred to as Chan Ssu Chin or Silk Reeling. The somatic interpretation used in Embodied Tai Chi first links its application to breathing. We then utilise the flexing effect to find the most effective application of each posture.

Shoulder Blades and Breathe 

Breath out a few times relaxing your abdomen. Now flex your shoulder blades back as you breath out noticing any effects on relaxing your abdomen. Know flex your shoulder blades forward as you breath. Many people find that their abdomen relaxes more with the shoulder blades flexed backwards. Here we break from traditional teaching by directly linking the shoulder blades backwards or closed position with the 'yang' out breath and posture. 

Shoulder Blades and Posture

If the shoulder blades in the backwards position enable a more effective 'yang' breath then we can seek the best position of hands and elbows to achieve this in each yang posture. The same principle applies when undertaking a 'yin' posture with the shoulder blades forward or open.

Shoulder Blades and Connection 

Mindful movement requires us to pay attention to our inner physical sensations and feelings. To do this effectively we need to avoid tension. We can do thi by noticing the flexing of muscles, tendons or fascia as we turn our hand. With a relaxed open posture we can notice how that flex first transfers to the elbow, then the shoulder and finally the shoulder blade. This 'connects' the hand to our spine through the 'flex'. The spine is open in the upright Qigong posture and 'connected' with the flex of the 'springy bouncy' sensation feeling to the legs. So this flexing connection links the hands to the ground at acupuncture point kidney one in the feet.

It is important not to over think the movement of the shoulder blades through the hands, this will distract from an awareness of the whole body moving together. When practicing the Tai Chi form the hand / shoulder blade movement is simply felt as a rounding of the back or an opening of the chest.

…… This program of learning explores five key principles of Tai Chi in the sequence of postures 'grasp the sparrows tail', 'throw down' and 'double handed push'.

Copy the sequence of posture and movement using the Tai Chi video or images. Never do anything that is uncomfortable. After uncomfortable comes tension ruining your practice. After tension comes discomfort. After discomfort comes injury.