Description
Book SynopsisThis pictorial guide with supporting text is the first of its kind, illuminating the fundamentals of the arts of tai chi and qi gong through metaphor and visuals that are easy to understand.Beginning students will learn basic principles in a simple format, while experienced stylists will discover nuances that shed light on the secrets of deep, internal, and energetic training that powers the well-documented health and healing benefits of the arts.
Trade Review'Paul Cavel is a gifted teacher who is able to embody the arts and break them down into easy-to-follow steps. I have seen him help others build extraordinary energetic foundations in their bodies. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking to learn or deepen the internal principles that give shape to tai chi and qi gong forms.'-Tai Chi Master and author Bruce Frantzis'Metaphors, images and symbols are the language of our subconscious minds. They help to convey meaning to our consciousness and hence store in the memory quite easily and naturally. If they are chosen well, they are able to penetrate the deeper layers of our consciousness and trigger the deeply imprinted wisdom of our body. The images Paul offers can shorten the process of transmitting information, enhance our learning and awaken our bodily intelligence. This way of teaching requires a very deep level of understanding of the material and, indeed, of human nature itself. Paul obviously has both.'-From the Foreword by Dr Michael Mettner
Table of ContentsAbout the Author
About the Artist
Acknowledgements
Foreword by Michael Mettner
Introduction
All Forms Are Not Created Equal
Myth Is an Image
Journey towards Unity
Through the Eyes of the Ancients
How Principles Are Presented
Three Stages for Embodying Internal Principles
Why Use Tai Chi Postures?
Visual Lexicon
Who Can Benefit from This Book?
Creating a Practice Microcosm
Part 1 Fundamental Principles: Nuts and Bolts
Principle 1: Cultivate the Arts
Separate and Combine
Cyclic Training
Principle 2: The Rule of Third
Principle 3: Become Sung
Principle 4: Build the Pyramid of Giza
11 Steps to Good Posture
Principle 5: Breathe with the Diaphragm
Principle 6: The Mind's Focus
Principle 7: Grow Your Root
Phase 1: Plant Your Feet and Sink Your Qi
Phase 2: Release Tension to Develop Your Root
Principle 8: Moving in Three-Dimensional Space
Principle 9: Arms Are Led by Hands and Wrists
Principle 10: Create Circular Motion
Principle 11: Water Doesn't Flow through a Kinked Hose
Principle 12: Shifting Weight Is Like Walking Upstairs
Principle 13: The Body Turns Like a Revolving Door
Principle 14: The Down Creates the Up
Principle 15: Move Like a Puppet on a String
Principle 16: Don't Play the Juggler
The Five Primary Principles
Part 2 Internal Principles for Connectivity and Flow
Principle 17: Warm Up Body and Mind
Beginning Form
Principle 18: The Body Operates Like the Powertrain of a Car
Peng (Ward Off)
Principle 19: Soften to Close, Release to Open
Lu (Roll Back) and Ji (Press)
Principle 20: The Body Makes Use of Anchors
An (Push)
Principle 21: Opposites Spread Open the Body
Single Whip
Principle 22: Grow Like a Tree
Lift Hands
Principle 23: The Six Connections
Shoulder Strike
Principle 24: Tune in to Heaven Above and Earth Below
White Crane Spreads Its Wings
Principle 25: Create Balanced Openings
Brush Knee
Principle 26: The Continuum of Empty versus Full
Play Guitar (Play the Lute)
Principle 27: All Body Parts Move Like a Swiss Clock
Step Forward, Parry and Punch
Principle 28: Balance Yin and Yang Energies
Apparent Close Up
Principle 29: The Body Moves in Circles
Cross Hands
Part 3 Deeper Principles for Fluidity and Energy Development
Principle 30: Generate Internal Momentum
Embrace the Tiger, Return to the Mountain
Principle 31: Turbine Power Eradicates Inertia
Fist under Elbow
Principle 32: Swing the Pendulum
Repulse Monkey
Principle 33: Spring the Five Bows
Slanted Flying
Principle 34: Unify the Yin Snake and the Yang Crane
White Crane Spreads Its Wings
Principle 35: Sinking Creates Rising
Needle at Sea Bottom and Fan through Back
Principle 36: Energy Moves Fluids, Fluids Nourish the Body
Turn and Chop with the Fist
Principle 37: Balance the Sphere
Lu and Ji
Principle 38: Become a Sandbag
Single Whip
Principle 39: Ride the Wave
Waving Hands Like Clouds
Principle 40: Moving into Stillness
Single Whip
Principle 41: Gather and Bank
Closing Form
Principle 42: Postures Link into Fluid Forms
Afterword
Blood and Qi Are Inseparable
The Fabric of the Internal Arts
Practicalities
To Advance, First Retreat
Moving towards the Tai Chi Space
References
