Taiji - How to Progress to the Next Level?

After learning several Taiji forms and practiced for several years, some friends often ask this question: How do we progress to the next level?

I am thinking... it depends.

It depends on what motivated you to learn Taiji in the first place and what motivates you now to move to the next level. You must ask yourself how you would be different from today if you would achieve the next level.

1. If you think of Taiji as a gentle form of exercising and do not want to spend too much time on understanding the internal meaning, I suggest you just keep practicing the form for the rest of your life. You will definitely get the benefits out of it.

2. If you are interested in performing Taiji in addition to the health benefits, take more lessons to perfect your postures, transitions and make your movements more graceful.

3. If you are curious about various Taiji styles. You may try learning other forms and styles with different teachers. You may compare the differences among various styles to find out the root of Taiji.

4. If you are amazed by the gongfu (or Kungfu) that Taiji masters possess like Chen Xiaowang, you will need to find the masters, learn from them and develop your strengths and gongfu.

5. If you want to get further health benefits such as reducing stress, experiencing internal connections and smoothing internal energy flow, you need to understand the principles of Taiji and put it into practice. You will have to practice Taiji daily, observe yourself, focus on your intention and feel the internal qi.

6. If you want to apply Taiji principles to your life for happiness and success, you will have to go a step further. You not only have to feel the internal qi, but also use the qi to energize you and train yourself new ways of reacting to the world. This will take a long time. However, nobody can do it for you except for yourself. You should do some readings, exchange ideas with your pals and most importantly, use your brain to think and your body to feel.

In any case, keep practicing!

When Master Li Deyin visited NJ this May, he told us a story about seeing a 94-year old gentleman doing Taiji in a cold day without wearing many layers of clothes. The old man's postures and movements were not perfect but he was so immersed himself in the form. He looked so healthy and at ease. Mr. Li reminded us keeping up the practice was so important for getting the health benefits.

The Ten Basic Rules of Practicing Tai Chi

"Tai Chi for Health" by Edward Maisel

1. Relax. Avoid any nervous or muscular tension. Relax facial muscles as well. The result will be a look of serenity.
2. Empty your mind of thought and allow it to become wholly concerned with and aware of each movement of the body.
3. Perform the actions as slowly as possible.
4. Keep the same tempo throughout. Some actions lend themselves to a faster tempo, but avoid any such temptation to hurry.
5. Breath easily and naturally through the nose.
6. Every action should be comfortable. If it is not comfortable, it is not correct.
7. Never push any action to the utmost. Never stop as far as possible. Always reserve the end of the action to become the beginning of the next one.
8. Every action should be performed with careful deliberateness. Nothing is unimportant. Perform each action as though for the first time.
9. No conscious strength or force should ever be exerted.
10. Action is continuous from the beginning of Tai Chi to the end of Tai Chi. Never stop an action. Never be completely still.