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Taiji practice as a process of physical change.

In your practice of Taiji, it’s best not to force or strain anything in one’s posture, nor to be collapsed or limp. The ultimate goal of Taiji practice is to achieve and maintain a state of Wuji. Wuji translates as “no extremity”, but it’s good to think of it during practice as having all forces inside and out, mental and physical, in balanced harmony. This is not something you do. It is something you reach, and continue to refine for the rest of your life.

Early in their practice, many students (myself one of them) see their teacher’s demonstrations, hear his instructions, and eagerly try to move their posture into the proscribed “proper” alignment. It is true that when your tailbone naturally drops and the crown of your head floats upward, that your spine and torso will release tension. Also, when your weight and balance rest easily through the centers of your feet and into the floor, and your ankles, knees, and hips gently bend and soften, the release in your torso becomes complete and sinks through the lower body into the ground. Your Dantien (your physical and energetic center) can then fill and pump Chi (vital energy) through the body.

All that being said, your body has learned, through the course of your life, some way of standing, walking, and moving about. It’s not going to change just because your Taiji instructor says it’s a good idea. I had practiced for years before I realized that the body can not and will not be forced to change. It has to be slowly and methodically convinced. Feelings of discomfort during this process are natural. It takes time for your body to let go of old habits and relax.

If you try to force your body into postures, your joints, tendons, muscles, and connective tissues will come under stress. The body reacts in one of two ways: by generating tension to protect itself, or worse, injury. The opposite isn’t much better. If you slouch, collapse on your structure, or allow limbs and torso to be limp, you’ll create postural imbalances, overstretched and weak muscles and tendons, worn out cartilage, and again, injury. At best, you just won’t benefit much from your practice.

Taiji philosophy is to seek a balance of Yin and Yang. Yin and Yang are symbols representing all opposites in the universe; but for our Taiji practice, let’s consider them as soft and hard, or tension and relaxation. With this in mind, remember that when your teacher instructs you to seek a certain physical structure, or posture, this is a guide toward proper alignment, not a rule. That means that reaching harmonious alignment is a journey. Take it step by step. Listen to what your body feels. Listen to your teacher’s instructions, and gently apply just enough energy intention to stimulate changes in your posture.

If you apply observant awareness, gentle intention (which is movement of internal pressure, or energy through focus), and patience, your body will strengthen where it needs to, stretch where it needs to, release, unify, and you will find that state of Wuji.

The rest of your practice will be to challenge and expand your ability to maintain this state. Indeed, all of life does. Remember, everyone’s body (and mind) has its own pace of adaptation. Don’t become frustrated, or compare your progress to that of others. This is your journey. With diligence, patience, and learning through guidance, you’ll find your Taiji.

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