Practice Points
Relax; Mind and Body
As mentioned in Yang Chengfu’s, A Talk on Practice, “In practice as you are moving, the bones and joints of the entire body must all relax and extend and be natural”. Relaxation is one of the most important Tai Chi principles. In addition to the lessening of muscular tension and strain, there is an equally important requirement for relaxation at the emotional/mental level. Relaxation is not only a goal in terms of a health benefit; it is also a means by which we discover that traditionally emphasized quality of "effortless strength".
Emphasize Improving Concentration
A student’s practice and its related benefits are reflective of the student’s level of concentration. On every level of Tai Chi practice, the ability to keep the attention of the mind connected to the body experience establishes the foundation for all learning and improvement - be it in health or martial art skills. One of the basic principles of the art is classically stated "Mind leads the Chi" (i.e. - Mind leads the Energy). This is a very clear indicator that although Tai Chi uses the body extensively as a learning tool, and generates excellent benefits for the body, another primary objective of the art is to develop mental skills and qualities.
Be Consistent With Your Practice
When a well noted Tai Chi master was asked to identify the important traits of a good Tai Chi student, he said "natural ability, correct teaching, and perseverance". A moment later, he revised this by saying that really only perseverance was needed, because through perseverance the other traits would come in due course. Especially for a beginner, the cultivation of consistency is the most important quality. With consistency, any goal can be attained; without consistency, nothing is possible. A teacher was once asked if a student should practice on a day when he didn't feel like it. The teacher’s response was, "The question shouldn't arise. You don't ask yourself whether you feel like it or not. You just practice." Like most aspects of Tai Chi, direct and to the point. Often students will say "I didn't practice because I was afraid of doing it wrong, I don't want to develop bad habits". The appropriate response to that is "You already have the bad habits, any practice is to the good". In the beginning it doesn't so much matter what you practice as much as the fact that you practice. It is often said; "Don't tell me how many years you've studied, tell me how many minutes you've practiced". Viewed this way, what we are really doing in our practice is accumulating minutes of practice, during which we feel, relax, experiment, and learn about ourselves and how we respond to different situations. Consistency of practice leads to consistency of attention.
Enjoy Your Practice
We understand in our practice that the greater the level of involvement - body, emotions, mind, & spirit - the greater the benefit, the greater the learning experience. This is the quality of being "centered". Therefore, every student should be challenged to explore the means by which they achieve the most complete level of involvement. Is it through discipline and will? Is it through the desire for results and benefits? While these, and probably numerous others, might be utilized, enjoyment (of the art and your practice) is one of the most powerful motivators available to us. This enjoyment of practice, therefore, includes feelings of the challenge of the study, a sense of getting mentally/emotionally stronger, and a general feeling of enthusiasm concerning life as the great Tai Chi experience.
Adopt a Long Term Perspective
It's important to understand that traditionally Tai Chi isn't viewed in terms of months, or even years, but rather in decades of practice. The ability to assume this long term perspective has numerous benefits. Most notably, it alleviates pressure. When practicing Tai Chi one becomes very aware of one's tensions, imbalances, and weaknesses. It's unrealistic to think that these old habits are going to be remedied quickly, so by adapting a long term perspective, we allow ourselves a longer amount of time to achieve our goals. We practice and grow a little bit every day. No rush, no pressure; just an emphasis on steady progress with the feeling of having a long time to work with.
