Page 35 - Simplifying T'ai Chi Rev3 2017

Chapter 10 T'ai Chi Harmony 85

CHAPTER 10

T'AI CHI HARMONY

Breathing

Correct breathing is very important for T'ai Chi, but as a beginner you shouldn't
concentrate on it so much at the expense of posture and learning a simple form.
During your initial learning phase you should just breathe naturally through the nose
as you are practising. Master the basic T'ai Chi movement first. It is very
noticeable when beginners start to try to incorporate breathing, that they tense up,
lose concentration and their movements become jerky. Your teacher won't want to
see you become red or blue in the face either!
The best way to appreciate and learn breathing technique is to practise simple Qi
Gong. You will then soon find that as you do the dynamic T'ai Chi form, you will
automatically start to apply Qi Gong breathing techniques to control and pace the
movements.
Generally, as all the movements of our T'ai Chi style are based on an in-and-out
movement, breathing will become the metronome for your practice. When you are
ready to add it to your form, you will gradually learn to take deeper and longer
breaths.
The slower the breath count the slower the form. In general as a beginner, breathe
in on inward, pulling and settling movements (Yin), gathering Qi. Breathe out on
outward, pushing, external movements (Yang) and when expelling Jin energy.
Time the movement to your breathing, rather than timing your breathing to your
movements.
Ideally to gain maximum health benefit you should develop deep diaphragmatic or
lower abdominal breathing (the Taoists call this Yang breathing). Once mastered
you will start to experience deeper enhanced feelings of Qi and you will add an
internal organ massage factor to the health giving properties of your practice.
Not so important, but good if you can manage it, as you progress, try to adopt a
tongue position where the tip is just touching the roof of the mouth. This optimises
the airflow passage. Then breathe in naturally through your nose and out through
your mouth.

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