Tai Chi – 10 Top Tips for Faster Learning

At first, Tai Chi seems really difficult - it's just that 'at first' can last a long time

• 1

  Feet First

  Focus on getting the foot placement first and practice transferring your weight from one foot to the other as smoothly as you can

• 2

  Soften the Knees

  The power to move comes from the legs as they straighten: push down through the soles of the feet

• 3

  Take Care of Knees and Back

  Keep knees in line with hips and feet, tuck the tailbone under to keep tension out of your low back

• 4

  Move From the Waist

  Start all your movements from your waist and allow all of the body to move together. Turn from your centreline like a revolving door

• 5

  First Steps

  Practice basic stepping, stepping sideways and stepping to the left and right. Work on balancing in the T-stance before stepping to the sides

• 6

  Soften the Shoulders

  Soften the shoulders, let the elbows feel heavy, relax the wrists and fingers. Shoulders stay down even when the arms lift

• 7

  Work Gradually

  Work on one posture until you have it secure then work on the transition to the next

• 8

  Build Body Awareness

  As you execute the moves, be aware of how your body feels and look for areas of tension and moments of imbalance

• 9

  Still Breathing?

  Pay attention to your breathing and to your posture even when you are not doing Tai Chi.

• 10

  Stay Relaxed - Enjoy It!

  Stay relaxed and enjoy your practice, results will come with regular practice and lots of patience