Taiji forms as Qigong Exercises for Healing - 01

Practice of the Taiji form is also Qigong practice in that the movements are not just martial but develop the ability to move Chi through the body without obstruction and thus healing the body.

This is the first of a series of blogs to present a 20 minute routine that will introduce the concept of Taiji as a healing art and to improve your form work.

Wu Chi - standing meditation

• Stand in front of a tree (real or imagined)

• Legs apart about hips width, the knees lightly relaxed, shoulders relaxed, hands by the side (relaxed in a natural curve).

• Calm the body, allow the sense of relaxing downward to the earth as there tree reaches to the earth for nutrition and stability.

• Head lifts t the heavens as the tree reaches up for the sun's energy.

• Sink down to earth through “bubbling well” (yongquan, the part of the bottom of the foot that is like equivalent to the center of your palm.

• Imagine that you are like the tree, reaching (with the mind) up to the heavens to enhance the spirit and down to the earth for energy

• Do this meditation as long as you like. Perhaps start with 1 or 2 minutes. After a while you might try this for 108 breaths.

A small movement is better than a big movement,

No movement is better than a small movement,

Stillness is the mother of all movements.

Grandmaster Wang Xiang Zhai