Common Mistakes When Practicing Tai Chi

Founder of Energy Arts, Lineage Holder Bruce Frantzis of Wu and Yang Styles of Tai Chi talks about common mistakes when practicing tai chi.
Tai Chi for beginners -
Perfection - Having the attitude that you need to be perfect, is setting yourself up to fail.
Practice with regularity - Build up your strength with regular practice rather than trying to do a weeks worth of tai chi and hurting yourself.
Develop a sense of your body - Understand how your body gets bigger and smaller as you do different movements. Open up your body and let it breath.
Improper breathing - Be conscientious of your breathing. Your breathing should relax and your body will follow.
Relax your mind - If your mind is stressed it will cause your body to stress. While practicing tai chi, make sure your mind is relaxed to get the most out of your time.
Know the difference between tai chi and western meditation. Feeling your body during movements vs visualizing a movement.
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[@McLKeith]

The feel your body and getting bigger and smaller (opening up and closing) are very helpful instructions. My principal Tai Chi instructor constantly asks “how does it feel?”; and “don’t just try to copy the movements”.

[@jadedragonschool]

As Bruce said learning to feel your body is perhaps the most important. After a while you'll get that energy buzz, the tingly sensation in various parts and eventually all over. Anything you do that increases that is going to be good tai chi and anything you do that diminshes that won't be. So the buzzy feeling gives you feedback as to what you're doing right or wrong. Same with breathing. If you're breathing is slow and smooth it will increase the buzz. If it's short and choppy it will interfere with that energy flow. So listen to yourself at all times throughout the form and also throughout your day. A way that will powerfully increase your ability to listen to yourself is to do your form with your eyes closed. This is really hard as balance suddenly becomes a major issue even with both feet on the ground. You may want to skip the one legged postures until you can do the rest of it smoothly with your eyes closed.

[@GlobalTransformationProject]

I recommend this video to all Tai Chi teachers of all styles. Thank you Bruce Frantzis! -- Bill Douglas, Founder of World Tai Chi & Qigong Day

[@SonnyTheJoker]

Yes, to the point. Many people just do Tai Chi in their heads visualizing themselves doing perfect Tai Chi but in reality they just move around like zombie.

[@marcoosgeorge]

You worked with a friend of mine I met in training with Meir Schneider over 20yrs ago when I was recovering from paralysis in my legs. He gave me your concepts and what I've been calling standing mediation through that and after I broke my neck and lost my collar bone. I'm still on my feet and practicing, I'm 60 now. Thank you.

[@ssddpost]

guy has some solid logic that instantly captures the viewer

[@tiggerr42431]

Interesting concept. I struggle to not over analyze each breath, step,and wave, but just flow with it. When I am in the sweet spot, I feel very different at the end of the form and typically warmer inside. I think it has to do with inner organ massage sometimes.

[@theraveninstitutechannelu.4438]

Wonderful. We will save this in both our ENERGY and PERFORMANCE video folders. I find I do what you are saying with regards to "seeing and feeling the body" when I am cycling, but I now will have a keener sense of it. Thanks for sharing. PEACE.

[@davephillips1263]

Straightforward, uncomplicated good advice from a master. Thank you.

[@lauc62]

At the moment I am working on Tai Chi as a meditation trying to make it more mindful without analyzing or anticipating the movement just letting the form flow through my body, at time feel great, at times feel clumsy. Your advice helps, thanks Bruce.

[@bjarnesmith70]

When you learn a piece of music, say on a guitar, you concentrate on memorizing the notes and fingers positions (depending on the instrument). It is only after you have memorized the piece and start to 'flow' with the music, that it becomes art. Same with Tai Chi. There is a very pleasant floating feeling, especially in Yang style tai chi, that comes with practice. It is enjoying this feeling and at the same time being aware of your body position in space and any energy sensations you might be experiencing that lets you know, you are in the meditative aspect of tai chi, and it can feel wonderful at times.

[@GlobalTransformationProject]

I love Bruce's section in this video on the "look on your face" when you are "feeling your body." In my book "The Complete Idiot's Guide to T'ai Chi & Qigong," I talk about this concept of the sensations of the body being the "mantra" of Tai Chi meditation, and how brilliant the Chinese creators of Tai Chi were in this. When I was in Hong Kong touring the Tai Chi research lab at Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Professor William Tsang commented on "that look" on my face when I was doing Tai Chi, being the same as the Tai Chi masters they brought in for their research. That look is common to all Tai Chi and Qigong practitioners when they are immersed in the sensations of the body during the movements. Your mind goes into that alpha brain wave meditative state.

[@mokuho]

Bill Douglas yes its amazing that state, people tell me it looks like i am not there...🙏🏼

[@Dh4m13l]

Sounds like you are promoting your book, and then you speak about how your look is that of a master... very weird comment Mr Douglas. I would still check your book, because I'm sure your knowledge is valuable, though that comment of yours just sounded egotistical and self promotional. Far from what I think a teacher or master is.

[@barbaratubiolo9404]

This is great thanks so much help and very clear understanding

[@buuthang]

Some very good advices here. Thank you for sharing them.

[@MrDesoto33]

Excellent

[@robintropper9706]

SPLENDID eye opener! Thanks for putting this together.

[@Sinke68]

Wonderful class. Thank you.

[@vincenttjoe4860]

Thanks Bruce, you answered some of my many questions about practising tai chi. this is my first view on your series and I would love to see those other videos, pretty exciting.

[@jeffewers]

right on! beautifully explained, I love the imagery and the whole realism of the movements. Many people find it hard to explain these common issues.

[@PathofCultivation]

70% rule is essential. Read that in your books more than 15 years ago and never forgot it.

[@SuperSkinnymoose]

Lucid. Well-paced; I loved the breathing section in particular.

[@bcweatherman]

Lovely... Thanks Bruce. It's relaxing just listening to you... I hope you put on a class back in west NA one of these days!

[@starrwoman100]

Very insightful! Thank you!✨

[@sandraleesmith7853]

thank you!

[@Dh4m13l]

Wow amazing explanations, this is so useful, thank you.

[@1DreamWarrior]

Very insightful thanks Gonna share out and check out some more of your vids

[@GrimeyCrunchdog]

Thanks you, sir!

[@3rdEyeBlinking]

Not just common mistakes, also basic hurdles and traps that EVERYBODY encounters multiple times in their personal learningproces... Good pointers, thanks!

[@UltraTitan-Mudra_Quickies]

Great advice, thanks.

[@blazerman61]

good stuff,bruce!!

[@dragonheart6820]

Thank you

[@tpcass]

Good instruction, thanks.

[@iggyspirit]

gotta feel it....

[@dailydribble]

Thank you ;)

[@scottfishkind5335]

Outstanding!!, Thank you for sharing your expertise in a way that is so clear and meaningful!!

[@ulfgj]

love this. please come to europe and have a seminar!

[@EnergyArts]

Bruce will be teaching in Europe this summer and then again in late fall: www.energyarts.com/events. 10% off for first-time students attending one of Bruce's events!

[@coronal2207]

When I watch this vid, I though 'ummm... ummm..! hell we are onto something...' The moment I heard opening and closing, I subbed

[@ljassem]

can anyone suggest a good class in La..west hollywood area

[@HillardEarl]

These words apply to doing push hands also.

[@mdhalim4703]

nice video

[@mcorleone77]

this guys is the real deal, he very accurately translated the concepts from old Chinese instructors/literature, ironically his explanation is better that those written in Chinese

[@artmikmikartrichard772]

my master is the Nature