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Tai Chi Chuan journal #10
This morning during my taichi lesson, I struggled to resist a steady push directed into my arm. It felt shaky and powerless, no matter how much muscle power I put into the effort. Then, my teacher told me to relax and imagine that my elbow is against the wall and can't be moved. I did it and it totally worked. My imagination accomplished the physical task that my muscles couldn't.
After practicing a bit, we switched sides and it was my turn to give him a steady push. Well, my troubles repeated: no power, no control. Again, he told me to relax and change the focus, i.e. imagine pushing along a straight horizontal line that went through his body toward the tree behind his back. And it worked again. Moreover, this greater result was achieved by a much smaller physical effort. Practically effortless, I'd say.
Before, I learned how to focus on imagined fixed points to maintain steady balance and body position. Now, I need to learn how to imagine lines and surfaces.
After practicing a bit, we switched sides and it was my turn to give him a steady push. Well, my troubles repeated: no power, no control. Again, he told me to relax and change the focus, i.e. imagine pushing along a straight horizontal line that went through his body toward the tree behind his back. And it worked again. Moreover, this greater result was achieved by a much smaller physical effort. Practically effortless, I'd say.
Before, I learned how to focus on imagined fixed points to maintain steady balance and body position. Now, I need to learn how to imagine lines and surfaces.