The Tai Chi Space: How to Move in Tai Chi and Qi Gong

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. COVER CONTENTS ABOUT THE AUTHOR ABOUT THE ARTIST ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS FOREWORD Introduction Part 1 Fundamental Principles: Nuts and Bolts Principle 1: Cultivate the Arts Principle 2: The Rule of Thirds Principle 3: Become Sung Principle 4: Build the Pyramid of Giza Principle 5: Breathe with the Diaphragm Principle 6: The Mind’s Focus Principle 7: Grow 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 Principle 18: The Body Operates Like the Powertrain of a Car Principle 19: Soften to Close, Release to Open Principle 20: The Body Makes Use of Anchors Principle 21: Opposites Spread Open the Body Principle 22: Grow Like a Tree Principle 23: The Six Connections Principle 24: Tune in to Heaven Above and Earth Below Principle 25: Create Balanced Openings Principle 26: The Continuum of Empty versus Full Principle 27: All Body Parts Move Like a Swiss Clock Principle 28: Balance Yin and Yang Energies Principle 29: The Body Moves in Circles Part 3 Deeper Principlesfor Fluidity and Energy Development Principle 30: Generate Internal Momentum Principle 31: Turbine Power Eradicates Inertia Principle 32: Swing the Pendulum Principle 33: Spring the Five Bows Principle 34: Unify the Yin Snake and the Yang Crane Principle 35: Sinking Creates Rising Principle 36: Energy Moves Fluids, Fluids Nourish the Body Principle 37: Balance the Sphere Principle 38: Become a Sandbag Principle 39: Ride the Wave Principle 40: Moving into Stillness Principle 41: Gather and Bank Principle 42: Postures Link into Fluid Forms Afterword REFERENCES