The Tai Chi Space: How to Move in Tai Chi and Qi Gong (A Pictorial Guide)

Description

This pictorial guide with supporting text is the first of its kind, illuminating the fundamentals of the arts of tai chi and qi gong through metaphor and visuals that are easy to understand. Beginning students will learn basic principles in a simple format, while experienced stylists will discover nuances that shed light on the secrets of deep, internal, and energetic training that powers the well-documented health and healing benefits of the arts. CONTENTS About the Author About the Artist Acknowledgements Foreword by Michael Mettner Introduction All Forms Are Not Created Equal Myth Is an Image Journey towards Unity Through the Eyes of the Ancients How Principles Are Presented Three Stages for Embodying Internal Principles Why Use Tai Chi Postures? Visual Lexicon Who Can Benefit from This Book? Creating a Practice Microcosm Part 1 Fundamental Principles: Nuts and Bolts Principle   1: Cultivate the Arts Separate and Combine Cyclic Training Principle   2: The Rule of Thirds Principle   3: Become Sung Principle   4: Build the Pyramid of Giza 11 Steps to Good Posture Principle   5: Breathe with the Diaphragm Principle   6: The Mind's Focus Principle   7: Grow Your Root Phase 1: Plant Your Feet and Sink Your Qi Phase 2: Release Tension to Develop Your Root Principle   8: Moving in Three-Dimensional Space Principle   9: Arms Are Led by Hands and Wrists Principle 10: Create Circular Motion Principle 11: Water Doesn't Flow through a Kinked Hose Principle 12: Shifting Weight Is Like Walking Upstairs Principle 13: The Body Turns Like a Revolving Door Principle 14: The Down Creates the Up Principle 15: Move Like a Puppet on a String Principle 16: Don't Play the Juggler The Five Primary Principles Part 2 Internal Principles for Connectivity and Flow Principle 17: Warm Up Body and Mind Beginning Form Principle 18: The Body Operates Like the Powertrain of a Car Peng (Ward Off) Principle 19: Soften to Close, Release to Open Lu (Roll Back) and Ji (Press) Principle 20: The Body Makes Use of Anchors An (Push) Principle 21: Opposites Spread Open the Body Single Whip Principle 22: Grow Like a Tree Lift Hands Principle 23: The Six Connections Shoulder Strike Principle 24: Tune in to Heaven Above and Earth Below White Crane Spreads Its Wings Principle 25: Create Balanced Openings Brush Knee Principle 26: The Continuum of Empty versus Full Play Guitar (Play the Lute) Principle 27: All Body Parts Move Like a Swiss Clock Step Forward, Parry and Punch Principle 28: Balance Yin and Yang Energies Apparent Close Up Principle 29: The Body Moves in Circles Cross Hands Part 3 Deeper Principles for Fluidity and Energy Development Principle 30: Generate Internal Momentum Embrace the Tiger, Return to the Mountain Principle 31: Turbine Power Eradicates Inertia Fist under Elbow Principle 32: Swing the Pendulum Repulse Monkey Principle 33: Spring the Five Bows Slanted Flying Principle 34: Unify the Yin Snake and the Yang Crane White Crane Spreads Its Wings Principle 35: Sinking Creates Rising Needle at Sea Bottom and Fan through Back Principle 36: Energy Moves Fluids, Fluids Nourish the Body Turn and Chop with the Fist Principle 37: Balance the Sphere Lu and Ji Principle 38: Become a Sandbag Single Whip Principle 39: Ride the Wave Waving Hands Like Clouds Principle 40: Moving into Stillness Single Whip Principle 41: Gather and Bank Closing Form Principle 42: Postures Link into Fluid Forms Afterword Blood and Qi Are Inseparable The Fabric of the Internal Arts Practicalities To Advance, First Retreat Moving towards the Tai Chi Space References