There
are many things that you discover along the way. For example when you have a down, miserable
day at work, a hard workout and you find at the end you are not tired any
longer, rather you are refreshed and renewed.
Along
the way, I made this discovery with my Yang Long Fist Tai Chi studies.
Along
with the study of the Yang Form, there are a set of drills you study to get
your body in shape for your tai chi practice. You learn the Yang form, first as
a slow study. The drills isolate portions of the study and work them to help
slow your respiration and movement for the form.
Those
exercises are also a way to slow you down from the pace of life.
Of
course the form itself works the same way. Theoretically it does the same
thing.
But
there is always more that can be done.
After
about 10 years into my own Yang study one day I was reading Tai Chi Magazine
and it had an interview with one senior Chinese Tai Chi instructor. It it he
described his favorite drill. I was struck by the simplicity of the drill. I
decided to give it a try.
The Drill
1. Begin
with your hands at your bodies side. Fingers extended.
2. Begin
inhalation, as you slowly breath in your arm rise to just about level with your
eyes. The fingers are hanging slightly down with no tension.
3. Begin
exhalation, as you breath out your arms return to your sides. The fingers
slightly rise till the hands are straight.
4. Ever
more slowly start another inhalation, as you more slowly breath in your arm
rise to just about level with your eyes. The fingers are hanging slightly down
with no tension.
5. Begin
exhalation, as you breath out, continuing to do so slowly, your arms return to
your sides. The fingers slightly rise till the hands are straight
Repeat many
times. Each time you go slower. Timing your respiration to the rate of rise and
fall of your arms.
This breathing exercise
slows you down for the strongest way to enter the flow of tai chi.
While
this is a tai chi drill, it also is a great way to slow down and clear your
mind and body before karate practice.
No comments:
Post a Comment