Calm the Mind, Relax the Body

     The first step in learning and practicing Tai Chi and Qigong requires the coordination of a calm mind and relaxed body. This is key to maintaining health through improved circulation and stress management. If you are thinking about daily activities, things you need to do or people you need to call, you often respond to these thoughts by becoming anxious, which creates tension. You will calm your mind and relax your body through awareness of correct posture and your breathing. 

     When practicing Tai Chi, Qigong and Push Hands, use your mind to relax all of the joints and to expand the muscles in your arms, legs, and torso.  The most efficient way to relax your body is to release or let go of all tension. But don’t go completely limp and fall into collapse. Expand while relaxing at the same time.  Expanding releases tension stored in the muscles, which relaxes them even further. The more relaxed you are, the more blood, qi energy and power can flow through your body. Furthermore, expanding promotes flexibility, by relaxing the muscles and joints, and thus allowing for more range of motion in the joints and enabling you to move smoothly and more gracefully.. The more you expand the more flexible you become, which prevents and actually helps relieve aches and pains associated with aging and poor posture.  

     Regulating your breathing is the next step in calming your mind and relaxing your body.  You should regulate your breathing, making it slow, even, soft, deep, and quiet. Breathe naturally, through the nose. As you inhale, expand your abdomen, and as you exhale gently contract your abdomen . This is called normal abdominal breathing and it has a relaxing effect on the body.