The Opening of Tai Chi
☯️ The very first named movement in the t’ai chi set, “The Opening of Tai Chi”, like many other named movements, is in reality a compound or collection of other movements which together encapsulate all core principles. You would do well to rehearse this in order to enter into the practice. You could try it on the reverse or mirror. ☯️
Understanding “The Water Carrier”
☯️ An even smaller unit of practice that traditionally is used for exactly this purpose of “opening up” to the practice, is the first part of the first move, known as “The Water Carrier”. I would recommend that everyone practice this as often as possible. ☯️
Why This Practice Matters
☯️ Traditionally the instructor would insist that students practice this exercise daily for a year before learning any more. The reason is that it cultivates the “t’ai chi body”, ie the body’s capacity for t’ai chi. ☯️
Step-by-Step Guide to the Movement
☯️ This simple yet profound cultivation practice is known to you all. You stand in bear stance (feet parallel, arms at sides), moving your hands around to the ready position in front in line with the feet and palm facing down. You slide the hands away from the body and keeping them parallel. They pull away from the body and reach out horizontally. Simultaneously and in coordination with the arms you sit behind the knees (lower leg vertical and spine vertical – knees not moving forward while the hips sit down behind). The arms move away halfway while you sit and continue their stretching away until level with shoulders while you stand up again. When you then sit again you’re pulling the elbows to start bringing the arms down, then you stand up again as the arms continue down to the rest position in front of the hips and in line with the feet. ☯️
Simplified Movement Summary
☯️ In short your arms reach out to shoulder height as you sit and stand, then the arms return to the rest position as you sit and stand again. ☯️
The Three Bowls of Water Visualization
☯️ You repeat this in order to perfect the shape, coordination and timing. To aid this cultivation you imagine 3 bowls of water to be kept level (not spilling water) : on the back of the wrists, on the crown of the head, and inside the bowl of the hips. ☯️
Daily Practice & Long-Term Benefits
☯️ Practicing this daily cultivates and maintains the t’ai chi capacity and the benefits of t’ai chi. It is relatively easy to do and is completely symmetrical. Any number of repetitions is beneficial. ☯️
What To Practice at Home
☯️ When people ask, so what can I do at home? The Water Carrier is the first and perennial answer…. ☯️
