As you know, taiji encourages relaxing in response to incoming pressure and force.  It strongly discourages the idea of meeting force with force.  Instead, it asks us to relax and meet aggression with softness and listening.  This should not be mistaken for inaction or surrender, rather we learn to remain calm while things swirl around us so that we can approach things from a place of quietness, understanding and great internal power.

One of the hardest things to convey is the quality of relaxing which does not mean that one allows muscles to go slack and our minds to become slothful.  The “relaxing” that we are seeking is more along the lines of observant and non-investment, being relaxed but ready to respond as needed - a quiet readiness.

Ever wonder how to use taiji in your daily life?

Ever wonder what the white snake tastes when it flicks it’s tongue?

I never ceased to be amazed at the things that practicing Taiji teaches me - or reminds me - about everyday life. Most recently, the form reminded me that when you are doing something that USED to work... and that thing stops working, you should let it go. Stop doing the thing that did work just because it did in the past. When something is no longer effective - change. "You know Yìjīng易經?"

Congratulations to Allie Fowler on her successful Red Sash Test!! She raises our rank at the same time she raises hers! She performed the entire form with grace and solidity that makes us all proud. She has come a long way - from back pain that prevented her from moving to leading her classmates through 45 minutes of constant motion that was controlled and focused - such an impressive change!