“Move like a cat
Flow like water
Soften like silk”

This is my mantra. Am I talking about tai chi or yoga? Actually the more I study both arts the more I use this mantra for both my yoga classes and my tai chi classes. It’s about practicing softly, slowly and continuously. But the aspect that I want to write about is “soften like silk.” In tai chi we refer to this as silk reeling which has a slightly different connotation but nonetheless, softening of the movements is part of the formula.

I am still a beginner at tai chi so I am speaking from my personal journey as I travel the path of learning and practicing tai chi. I struggle with this concept of silk reeling but it is a huge component of tai chi and one that I need to know more about and also one that I need to learn how to experience, the important part. In the meantime, I am finding that the concept itself is helping me not only in my tai chi play but also in my yoga practice. Whether our life force is referred to as prana in yoga or qi/chi in tai chi the practice of both of these art forms is an attempt to move this qi/prana throughout the entire body and to learn how to harness this life force energy. Silk reeling is a way to gather and build this energy in the body.

In all the workshops that I have attended the topic of silk reeling always comes up. Most of the time the explanation, if given at all, is mystifying. A few weeks ago I attended a workshop give by William Ting. To date his explanation of silk reeling works the best for me. He describes silk reeling also known as “chan ssu jing” as a spiraling energy. The act of spiraling requires some physical movement even if ever so slightly. To generate the spiraling movement the turning must twist in opposite directions. Master Ting uses the analogy of wringing water out of a towel. To make the water come out, you must twist both ends of the towel in opposite directions simultaneously, while stretching the towel at the same time. Translate this analogy to our bodies and the feet are one end of the towel and the hands are the opposite end. Twist so that the feet become rooted and the qi extends upwards.

In tai chi the origin of this spiraling movement is the dantian. It is the location where we accumulate our energy and from where we release it. The masters talk about silk reeling or “chan ssu jing” as a whole body rotational movement that starts at the dantian, an area which is located three fingers below the navel and three fingers toward the spine internally. In yoga we call it the “hara” point or center of our being. The term “hara” comes from the Japanese martial arts world. The “hara” is located at the solar plexus or stomach area and is the point where the body’s energy is accumulated.

In the tai chi classes that I teach I guide basic silk reeling exercises.  In one class there is a student who is a master knitter who spins her own yarn.  Knowing enough about spinning she ponders how silk reeling relates to tai chi and wonders how silk reeling works to gather energy for the physical body.

Pictures convey concepts that we can’t easily put into words.  Notice how this woman pulls individual threads of silk and guides them to a spinning wheel.  From here she spins the silk to make it make it many threads that become stronger and stronger.

So this is what I picture as I move into “Single Whip” in both the Chen and Yang styles of tai chi.  This is also the movement that I imagine as I move into yoga poses such as Warrior I to Warrior II from Down Dog.  There is softness and a conscious building of energy as I move into and out of these forms or poses. Now I try to generate the yoga poses from the dantian center.

Here is yet another way that yoga and tai chi balance and embrace each other.