Dancing with Wind and Gravity
It can be easy to lose the flexibility in our legs when practicing Qigong or Tai Chi. Muscles and tendons can tighten without us even being aware of the change. This tension in the legs prevents our body functioning effectively as a connected whole. Something that may be noticed as a deterioration in our ability to balance.
It's something I noticed practicing the Tai Chi sequence of movement's up on Bembridge Down on a bright but very blustery day. I was aware as I stood preparing to begin the form that my stability was being disrupted by the gusting wind. This continued as I moved through the first postures of the form but decreased as the movements began to flow. Had the 'springy bouncy' sensation in my legs hardened without me noticing?
The unpredictable gusting wind had acted like a subtle partner testing my sensitivity towards an outside force much in the same way the exercise 'push hands' is used to develop martial skills.
So let's play with awareness when stepping. Firstly in classes I point to an insightful survivor Billy Connolly (Connolly 1985) who suggested the theme music ‘Barwick Green’ from The Archers radio programme (Wikipedia 2025) should be used as an upbeat national anthem. While humming this 'maypole dance' while skipping joyfully around the room it's possible to release tension in the legs. This can support us to find and become aware of a 'springy bouncy' sensation or feeling in the legs. To be aware of the muscles, tendons and facia that help us balance. An internal connection between legs and spinal column that includes the psoas muscles. This represents a different perspective on the indigenous traditional Tai Chi teaching referred to as releasing the 'qua'.
A practical example can be incorporated with Tai Chi walking. Here we practice slowly walking, smoothly transferring our weight from one foot to another.
Simply hum and dance each step using the Archers theme tune (other tunes are also available). Notice how the steps feel. This may include a light, free or soft internal sensation but remember we may all perceive and interpret our own sensations in different ways. What we are looking for is an awareness of any change in internal sensation or feeling between normal stepping and dancing stepping.
Now stop humming the tune but keep dancing or 'springy bouncing' each step. Does the internal sensation of the step change? Try to relax the movement as we would when moving to the musical tune, aim to replicate the dancing 'springy bouncy' internal sensation.
We can now try stepping while reducing the bouncy dance like movement in each step while at the same time retaining the 'springy bouncy' internal sensation. This is something to play with. The aim is a transition from dancing stepping to Tai Chi stepping while retaining the same free open internal sensation.
Partner work is a traditional way to develop sensitivity towards balance when being attacked in Tai Chi martial practice. Yet for some of us the physical contact with another person can create emotional tension that obstructs the learning process. Practicing high on a cliff top overlooking the sea on a blustery day offers perhaps another form of partner work, dancing with the wind. We can develop sensitivity by bringing our internal awareness to our balance as we are buffeted around on a blustery day.
However, it is important to be aware of the difference between these ways of developing sensitive internal awareness. Stepping while dancing develops sensitivity towards the force of gravity. Push Hands develops sensitivity towards the force of gravity and an external force that is also directly interacting with the force of gravity. Practicing on a blustery day develops a sensitivity towards the force of gravity and an indirect external force, in this case the wind.
So a simple observation when practicing Tai Chi in nature takes us on an unfolding journey. Our Embodied Tai Chi practice helps us unfold a sensitivity, we become more perceptive towards our interaction with the environment we act within. A sensitivity towards our balance so that we are aware of tension and disjointed physical connection. We start to unfold an understanding of our self and through this understanding the world around us, in this case wind and gravity. We have also touched on music as a way to find flow in our movement. It seems that when we simply practice without seeking (wu wei) a wonderful panorama of insights can unfold.
Reference
Connolly Billy (1985) An Audience With Billy Connolly; Production company London Weekend Television (LWT), Released October 26th 1985 (United Kingdom), accessed 26th February 2025
Wikipedia (2025) "Barwick Green"; https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barwick_Green , accessed 26th February 2025
