Yin-Yang-Yoga

Author: chibotaichi

  • What is Taichi?

    Taichi might be best translated as Paradox.

    Extreme Polarity, Ultimate Limits, or Vital Axis are more literal renderings of the term, but if we want to maximize the efficiency of our understanding, Paradox is the idea we want to discuss.

    The fundamental duality of our Reality is expressed as Yin and Yang. Traditional Chinese Medicine says there are two primary forms of Energy (Ch’i), there is Yin Ch’i and there is Yang Ch’i.

    Taichi is even apparent at the level of Ch’i.

    The arguably most-fundamental substance in the Universe, the Ch’i, is still subject to the principle of Taichi.

    Taichi is apparent in all facets of existence.

    The uniquely Human polarity of Good and Bad is the most interesting.

    All of our desires and preferences have an opposite. I like many things so much, that I can barely tolerate their absence. I am trapped in my preference so strongly that anything other than my preference makes me a mess. Siddhartha Gautama recognized this, which is how he became known as the Buddha.

    Much of the difficulty in the Human experience is self-imposed by our strong preferences. We are trapped in the matrix of Taichi, perpetually bouncing between our feelings of highs and lows.

    When we have properly understood the nature of Taichi, we can readily understand the value of Wuchi.

    Wuchi means that the polarity has been removed, there is no Good or Bad. Wu is emptiness, or non-being. If we lose our preferences, then anything is essentially Good. If we look at things truly and objectively, without filtering information through our matrix of Taichi, the world looks very different than we are used to.

    This is the true purpose of all Taichi Practice, to break out of the paradox by seeing the prevalence and absurdity of it. There are numerous beneficial side-effects, which vary by method and intention, but the most important benefit of Taichi Practice is gaining the perspective of Wuchi, which allows you to find Peace despite the constant churning and change that is Life.

  • No Failure, Only Feedback

    Toppling out of a challenging Yoga posture is important, because our reaction is the true substance of the Practice.

    The posture is just a petri dish to observe yourself in.

    When you fall out, how do you respond?

    Some of us get angry. Some of us feel defeated. There is frustration. Sometimes there is a feeling of despair or disgust. Ever get envious or competitive after flailing out of a posture?

    Notice your reaction and then get back in the posture, but do so more attentively.

    Be aware of what you can do differently each time; focus on a single, clear objective with every attempt.

    The ability to perceive subtle information from your Body, and to command the Body with the Mind and Breath, is the greatest benefit of the physical Practice of Yoga.

    Stay focused on listening more intently and being more present with every moment of your experience in-to, and out-of, postures.

    With this mindset there is only feedback about the posture and yourself in a given moment. There is no such thing as failure when you are only exploring.

    The only failure is to stop exploring.

  • Balance is about TaiChi

    Everyone loves to say “TaiChi is about balance.”

    It’s a plenty-true statement, but when we’re approaching TaiChi Practice through physical exercises (more specifically the moving sequences of Taijiquan) it is more important to remember that our balance comes from TaiChi.

    TaiChi is “Great Polarity” and for the postures which express physical balance most blatantly there is one distinct key (which, yes, applies to ALL of the postures/movements to some degree).

    Whenever we seek to stand on one leg, the key is to release or sink down.

    A skyscraper does not stand up because of the part in the sky!

    Even the fourth floor is dependent on something below it.

    You’ve got to get to the bottom of things if you intend to stand at all, especially if you intend to stand like a Golden Rooster on one leg!

    When your body is allowed to fully sink into one leg, the other can have a feeling of emptiness which allows to “float” or even lift up significantly without disrupting your balance.

    On a very simple and practical note, this is so because your center of gravity is lowered and so balance is less difficult.

    A more subtle way to think about it is to recognize that the combined action of sinking and raising creates a fairly large combined-range of motion. Rather than raising your knee two-units, you raise the knee one-unit and sink into your standing leg one-unit which still creates the same total movement but splits the effort into halves!

    Of course, effective sinking depends on correct posture and alignment which is most rapidly cultivated in your standing meditation (Zhan Zhuang).

    Practice makes possible!

  • Movement and Power

    TaiChi-movement always entails, at minimum, a point of Stillness. Better yet, the movement is the results from separation of Yin and Yang, which generates TaiChi-power.

  • When “shifting the weight” *


    Do not uproot your heels.


    Any movement which would necessitate lifting the rear heel is
    improperly large.

    Any range of movement is acceptable, so long as the rear heel remains rooted to the ground.

    This is simple, but many people never notice their inattentiveness taking over and it takes Intention to truly benefit from TaiChi.

    If you know you are making mistakes in your Practice, then it is a guarantee that you are making progress.

    *I don’t like that phrase, but it is very popular.

  • All Boats Rise

    There are flashy styles and approaches to Taijiquan.

    There are styles which favor subtlety.

    The former are like large, impressive yachts.

    The latter, like a simple fishing boat.

    No matter how fantastic and expensive the yacht, it doesn’t fulfill its function without the water.

    The styles of Taijiquan are like different types of watercraft.

    Each has unique traits, essential to their essence.

    A raft is not the same as a yacht.

    Yet it is water which makes each truly functional.

    The TaiChi principles are the key to any style of Taijiquan.

    It does not matter which style you study, perfect, or prefer-

    so long as the TaiChi principle is your true objective.

    The TaiChi principle is like water.

    If you have the principle, any style will be smooth sailing.

  • “What” Shift

    So much of the full-potential of T’aiChi Ch’uan gets lost in translation.

    When students are told to “shift the weight”, in a sense they are only being given half of the directions.

    In my observation, there is a critical distinction between where we are carrying our weight and where we are expressing or generating our power.

    When standing on a given leg, we tend to say that leg is full. It’s Yang, it’s substantial, and indeed it is carrying our weight. However, standing is a decidedly passive, or Yin, activity in the TaiChi Practice.

    When stepping with with a given foot, we describe it as empty. It’s Yin, it’s unsubstantial, and indeed it is not carrying weight. However, stepping is undoubtedly a Yang activity. It is the visible and apparent aspect of Forms practice.

    In other words, where we are holding or carrying the weight of a posture is not where we will find the power. 

    The principle of YinYang separation suggests that as the weight is shifted forward or backward, there is power or intention moving in the opposite direction. What we see occurring is functional because of the opposite action, thus as a result the appearance of shifting forward actually entails a maintaining of Center.

  • How to Make Your TaiChi Look Good

    The only sure-fire way to make your TaiChi look good is to follow the TaiChi principle.

    It will not matter which style you practice or are attempting to utilize.

    If you tend to the principle, the appearance will take care of itself.

    The unique appearance of all the styles of TaiChi stem from the same root of the TaiChi principle.

  • Grasp Bird’s Tail Sequence

    13 years later, this sequence is still a mainstay of my personal Practice.

    Sifu Smiley often said that the sequence is short but full of depth, and I can confirm that he is correct.

  • TaiChi Rhythm: What plus When

    Taiji movement, taken as a whole, is polyrhythmic.

    The rhythms are synchronized, but unique.

    At slow rates of practice this is made apparent, but at a moderate pace it becomes difficult to detect.

    This is why imitated TaiChi looks and feels clumsy.

    The Hands, Feet, Waist and other Body parts all tend to their specific tasks in their own rhythm similar to the dance of the planets in our Solar System.

    Each planet completes a rotation on its axis at a unique rate, creating immensely long days and nights on larger planets but quick periods of day and night on the smaller planets.

    Each planet revolves around the Sun on an individualized orbit, completing the journey without requiring the other planets to wait, nor asking other planets to catch up.

    Our Body can operate in a similar manner.

    When each part is free, or encouraged, to perform its function independently then the true Dance of TaiChi can play out.

    The relationship of specific unique rhythms and movements creates the overall Body-actions we think of as TaiChi.

    It’s not just What we are doing, but also When we are doing it!