Mind Body Breath

Breathing – the traditional teaching of Tai Chi points to movement comprising of mind, body and breath.  The intention of the movement must first arise in the mind although this may become automatic – unconscious.  The body acts on the minds intention and the breath follows the body. 

However, it is worth considering how this feels in practice.  The intention to move may first be perceived in the lower body through a shift in balance.  A fraction of a second later the breath becomes evident as it joins the minds intention and the bodies movement.  My personal perception of this practice is the breath feels like it is drawing or pushing the limbs of the body as the mind has intended. 

In the opening sequence of the forms we start as Wuji (Wu Chi) – simply nothingness.  We then shift balance to the left foot and raise the right knee.  As a Yin movement the in-breath starts as balance is being transferred to the left leg and feels like it draws up the right knee and flexing the palms inwards.  A contracting sensation as the abdomen is drawn in and the diaphragm drawn upwards.  In the next movement the right heel moves down to touch the floor before turning the foot in on the heel and the palms out.  As I feel the shift in balance as the heel starts to move down then the Yang out-breath pushes the heel to the floor before driving the rotation of both the right foot and palms of the hands.  An expanding outward sensation as the diaphragm and abdomen relax.

So the breath starts at the first perception of a shift in balance for the next movement in the sequence.  The breath results from the bodies movement and the body moves with the minds intention.