How to Practice Tai Chi
When you begin to learn Tai Chi, it is common to first learn some warmup exercises, then some basic movements that you put together for a routine or Form. A large portion of learning in Tai Chi is the Form. During this time students are expected to practice to improve their Tai Chi.
Attending a regular class helps to learn Tai Chi, however you may not retain a lot of information until the next class unless you practice on your own. Knowing “how” to practice becomes important. To help students to get more out of their practice I would like to ask some questions:
Where do you practice?
What time and for how long?
Do you keep a calendar of your practice and progress?
Do you wear any specific shoes or clothing when you practice?
Do you make any notes or a list of corrections after class or practice?
Do you have a list of Structural Requirements?
Do you take any time to reflect on your practice?
Your mind has an editor inside of it and it lives with you. It watches you all the time when you are awake. It wants to help you and motivate you for the things you tell it that are important. If you spend a lot of time watching TV or scrolling through the internet, your mind causes you to desire those things increasingly. They become a habit.
When you decide to practice you should find a place to practice that will be for Tai Chi. Not the living room or den where you relax and entertain yourself. Not the bedroom where you sleep. Not the kitchen or dining room where you eat or have discussions. You should find a place where you can focus your attention on practicing Tai Chi. In this space you can keep all your Tai Chi related items, such as:
A notebook of progress where you can keep your notes from class as well as flyers handed out by your teacher.
A calendar of times and days practiced.
Your Tai Chi shoes and clothing.
Maybe a Tai Chi book or library.
A mirror to check your structure.
A place for your phone or laptop/tablet to play music or watch a video.
Maybe add a mirror or monitor with camera to watch yourself and make corrections.
All these things signal to your mind that this is serious, and you want to improve. It will begin to help create a habit for you.
You don’t have to do all these things to be able to learn Tai Chi. They are tools to use for improving your focus. The more you put into your practice the more you will get out of it. Tai Chi has many health benefits that come from practice. Books and Articles have been written about the research and findings about the benefits of practicing Tai Chi.
A Tai Chi Master once said that practicing Tai Chi is like paddling a boat upstream. The boat is your Tai Chi, the current and river is your life, and the paddle is your practice. Learn to steer your boat against the current of life and progress toward your goals.
I hope this information about practicing Tai Chi makes your paddle more efficient and you achieve your goals from practicing Tai Chi.
Gary Huff
Master Teacher,
Three Dragons Way School of Chinese Boxing, Inc.
Threedragonsway.com
