One of the very basic principles of Tai Chi is a controlled, fluid, relaxed transfer of weight as we move from one form to another. This is not easy and practitioners will spend many years honing just this one principle. Today’s challenge is one that highlights this principle of weight transfer. It will help you also to strengthen your Tai Chi practice and will demonstrate how important the mind-body connection is to this ancient art form.

We will use Leisurely Tying the Robe from Paul Lam’s Tai Chi for Rehabilitation. This is not an easy form but we do it in every class with the Tai Chi for Rehabilitation Sequence.

Begin with Open/Close.

• Circle you right arm forward and up. Notice the transfer of weight as you begin to circle your right hand up. Does your weight move to the LEFT slightly? It should. Repeat this movement several times.
• Continue circling the right arm as you simultaneously circle the left arm down around and up. Are you feeling a shift now to the RIGHT. Yes, again you should feel this shift. Repeat this movement several times
• As you cross your arms in front of your body (right arm in front of left) getting ready to step out withe the right leg as you open the right arm to the right and the left arm down towards the dan tian (palm up) you should now be feeling a shift to the LEFT.
• As you “cut the tofu” with the right arm and simultaneously step to the right you are now shifting weight to the RIGHT.
• So now you can complete the movement by stepping the left leg in for Open/Close. You are now equally balanced on both feet. And once again repeat the whole sequence several times noting and feeling the transfer of weight.

Can you feel these shifts from LEFT to RIGHT to LEFT to RIGHT? These shifts are subtle but these are the very questions you need to ask yourself as you move from pose to pose or form to form.

Now for exercising the brain/body connection. Try to do this same drill leading now with the left hand. This will be the mirror image.