Tai Chi movements
are almost always in circles and arcs, flowing like water. Another
characteristic is the twisting or rotation of the limbs while they move in
these smooth trajectories. A hand, for example, will almost always twist or
rotate from palm up to palm down, or vice versa. Awareness and movement are
one.
When walking, the
weight shifts to the front leg. The rear
foot comes off the floor and swings forward.
Its trajectory is a gentle arc -- in toward the supporting leg and then outward
in front. Usually the foot-leg swings
inward as it approaches the supporting leg and then outward as it moves
away. The heel touches first and the
foot rolls into the floor along its outer edge to the ball of the foot behind
the big toe.
This is not a large
arc, but subtle, and one to sense rather than do.
The arms also tend
to swing in a subtle arc: in towards the body and outward as they move forward
or backward. Once again, the arc is subtle.
Once you can sense
the arc, allow the twisting of the limbs to suffuse the movement. Once again,
this is subtle and something to sense rather than to do. Another way to phrase
this is: allow it, don't do it.
After you have a
"feel" for this, bring your awareness to your joints (shoulder, elbow
and wrist; hip, knee and ankle). Bring your awareness to your joints, and allow
them to rotate slightly during walking.
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