Page 43 - Simplifying T'ai Chi Rev3 2017

Chapter 13 An Introduction To Zhan Zhuang 139

Second Posture - Embracing the Tree

Here imagine that you are hugging a tree. This posture is often used by those who
are practising Zhan Zhuang using only one position.
1. Lift the hands to a position with the palms facing the chest at a height that
puts the little fingertips level with the heart and the thumb tips with the top of the
shoulder (hands in alignment with the middle Dan Tien). Elbows and hands are
away from the body as if you are holding a balloon gently against your chest.
2. Take care not to tension your shoulders but try not to drop or lift your elbows -
imagine that the water you are standing is midway up your chest and that your
elbows are supported by an inflated balloon or cushion on the surface. If you
press the elbows down the balloons will resist - if you lift your elbows up, the
balloons will float away - learn to control them.
3. Don't hold your hands too far out or too far in towards your body.
4. Focus on breathing, and again readjust muscles to compensate for tension.
In the first posture described earlier, the stance is balanced and central with arms
down at the sides of the body. The transition into the second posture consists of
raising the arms up and holding them in front of you. This action shifts your centre
of gravity slightly forwards, and unless you compensate for this shift you will feel
unbalanced as if about to topple over. Learn to compensate by altering muscle
tension rather than by just leaning back.

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