One of the many things that you must do when doing tai chi chuan is to be song. In many tai chi chuan articles, song is translated as relax. Personally, I think it is more proper to translate song as loose.
The word ‘relax’ gives the impression of resting or doing things without having to exert effort. This is not entirely correct in describing song of tai chi chuan. To be song means your body, muscles, tendons and ligaments are not fastened or pulled tight and allowed to move around freely without any restraint. However, internally your mind is sharp, concentrated and alert.
It is very important to understand correctly what song is. If you missed this by an inch, you will end-up thousand miles away. The secret of song is to emphasize internal first and external second. Internally, you embrace the alertness of a cat about to pound on a mouse; full of alertness and concentration. You feel and are aware of every inch of your physical movement and internal sensations. Externally, you let loose of all stiffness and physical tensions. If you can do this, you are in line with the yin yang concept. Internally your mind is concentrated and chi excited (yang), and externally you are soft, loose and without strength and tensions (yin).
This is called excites the shen (mental) and calms the chi. This is the secret of song. If you are able to do this, song will gradually give rise to nei li (internal strength).
The word ‘relax’ gives the impression of resting or doing things without having to exert effort. This is not entirely correct in describing song of tai chi chuan. To be song means your body, muscles, tendons and ligaments are not fastened or pulled tight and allowed to move around freely without any restraint. However, internally your mind is sharp, concentrated and alert.
It is very important to understand correctly what song is. If you missed this by an inch, you will end-up thousand miles away. The secret of song is to emphasize internal first and external second. Internally, you embrace the alertness of a cat about to pound on a mouse; full of alertness and concentration. You feel and are aware of every inch of your physical movement and internal sensations. Externally, you let loose of all stiffness and physical tensions. If you can do this, you are in line with the yin yang concept. Internally your mind is concentrated and chi excited (yang), and externally you are soft, loose and without strength and tensions (yin).
This is called excites the shen (mental) and calms the chi. This is the secret of song. If you are able to do this, song will gradually give rise to nei li (internal strength).
So the next time you do taichi, pay more attention internally.
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