Move Naturally
The first chapter—Move Naturally—of Reviving Taiji covers 4 fundamental topics.
- How to Explore Joints and Joints Systems
- How to Breathe Deeply into Core Joints
- How to Wave with Your Whole-Body
- How to Ease into Intensity
Videos connected to the chapters give a good view of it. Right here, you’ll find the four shows that connect to the book…and, right here you can get connected to more. If you don’t have the free book: Reviving Taiji, get it.
All told, you can get four 2-hour lessons to Move Naturally. Each lesson is divided into easy-to-manage, step-by-step chunks. Plunge right in. The first show from each lesson is (almost) here. Check them out…and, if you’ve been here before, use the titles to jump right to each little lesson…
- Move Naturally Introduction: Yes, No, Maybe, Sometimes
- Big Moves: Belly Bellows Breathing
- Subtle Motions: Subtle Sitting—Do the Twist
- Pressure Release: In-Tense, Work-Out
Lesson 1: Move Naturally Introduction—Easy Does It
This Introductory Lesson—Easy Does It—is a series of four 30 minute videos that reveal soft secrets. Secrets that get brushed over in a hurry. Obvious secrets (yeah, that’s what I said…obvious secrets) that, when we could be taking time, we skip right over. In class, it gets gleaned. When we read about it these simple lessons, we nod and then forget to try it. Or we discard simple, obvious secrets with a “yeah, yeah…”
Here we’ll dig right in.
It’s easy.
All four parts of Easy Does It are free, so take your time. And go easy. Discover the circles, ellipses, arcs, and spirals that make your motion flow.
Here’s 1 of 4…
Yes, No, Maybe, Sometimes: Become A Star
See how easy it is? If you get it, you get it because you’re brave enough or at ease enough to Move Naturally. Maybe this one was too easy, and you’re thinking…“Dude, that’s too easy: get on with it.” Well, you’re right…let’s get on with it.
Because we consider Lesson 1 fundamental… one that no one should miss… the whole thing’s free. “Yes, No, Maybe, Sometimes” is the first of four parts, get the rest here: Reviving Taiji/Move Naturally/Easy Does It (the password is ‘easy’).
Lesson 2: Big Moves
Big Belly Bellows Breathing is the first show from Lesson 2: Big Moves. It’s the core and the functional foundation for Big Moves. It will churn your guts. You can apply while you sit at your computer, and you can push it into your martial or your healing practices. It’s kinda of aggressive though, in a nice way. But it’s not for the weak-heart, weak-willed, flower-tossing fool. (I like flowers, but don’t throw them at me.)
Do this now and apply it to your Taijiquan, martial art, healing art, or internal art right after you get up and get it down.
Big Belly Bellows Breathing
Light headed? Slow down. Ease up…soon…there’s more.
Lesson 3: Subtle Motions
See if you can feel it…
Subtle Sitting: Do the Twist
That was fun huh?
After you try it, no doubt you’ll have some ideas about how we’ll apply subtleties to striking. Can you imagine healing applications too?
Lesson 4: Pressure Release
Try it out…
In-Tense, Work-Out
Wasn’t that fun?
There’s infinite ways to apply this one. Think of some and leave a note…
Thanks so much for sharing, Steven.
I was able to watch the initial Yes, No, Maybe, Sometimes video and look forward to seeing the longer version when I can take the time to wait for the download.
I see a direct impact these practices will have for me (one who knows the body but doesn’t physically sense it)and, potentially, my clients who struggle to move naturally with even basic movements.
I appreciate your integration of the structure and function; movement and sensation. I imagine it’s a compiliation of all you’ve experienced with your martial arts training, individual study (Feldenkrais, for instance), and massage training. Maybe that’s just the basics of Taiji itself or martial arts training. Not having practiced or studied martial arts myself, I wouldn’t be able to say.
Best wishes with this endeavor. I’ll continue to read…and practice.
Jenn
Jenn,
I’m glad that you’re taking the time to play with and enjoy this stuff. The shortened version of “y,n,m,s” was my little experiment to see how vimeo works…it will change tomorrow (Mon 23) to the longer version that includes wrists and ankles.
In addition, I’ll provide a download link and the watch it here option.
I will enjoy hearing how it works for/with your clients.
Great stuff, enjoyed so much and it helps so much in my practice of Tai Ji Quan and the relationship to my Karate principles are right in line,, Many of the hand exercises looking as if it came directly from Tensho,,, or should I say,, Tensho came from these exercises,, and the breathing can be said the same for Sanchin. I will certainly go through these exercises with those that practice Tai Ji with me at our classes. Thanks so much.
Charles: Thanks for your input…I am happy to hear that some of the movements connect naturally to Karate.
As I practice Tai Ji Quan,, it seems the less I know about martial arts,,or is it the less I know period..
.. but I find so much in Tai Ji,, that pretty much modern day Karate has lost,, some of the older more tradtional systems,, Okinawan Go-Ju Ryu, Shorin Ryu and Uichi Ryu still follow those same principles , of course these systems have a direct relationship to the Chinese systems. It seems as i get into the forms of Tai Ji and learn more about the techniques with in the forms,, I have had many of a Eureka moment,,in wow,, all these years,, and thats what this movement or technique was all about<< ?? Golleeee why didnt I start Tai Ji back in the 60's ??
I wouldn’t have understood the sophistication of internal arts, had I started earlier.
One of my favorite things about working with movement artists is that they have a firm foundation. They’ve done basics. They’ve enjoyed learning about movement, and they’ve grown. Usually, they can get right in and be amazed by Taiji.
At some point, bodies, minds, and spirits ache for more sophisticated, flowing formations because, deep down, our bodies understand more than our petty, self-conscious minds.
You are doing Good Work Sir, Very Inspiring, for me PersonaLLY, I’ve always been practicing some Sort of Tai Chi, subconsciously, And I understand the applications quite weLL, for someone with no previous FormaL Training…
I’ve sensed the Spirit in you, and you bring much joy & Happiness to others, EventuaLLY, Good wILL Show ItSeLF 2 U…
So, in the Meantime, I gueSS we’LL Just have to keep watching, waiting & Breathing…heh
Take cares & Toodles,
Loc
Btw, I practice Something I caLL: ShaoLin Muay Tai Ji Jiu JitSU, heh…
Tizz a Hybrid of Sorts, but this Pretty much EncompaSSES aLL the Other Arts that are referenced & influence on moi…
I appreciate you helping me on this Journey oF SelF-DISCOVERY, WOO-HOO!
Anyhow, with your help & Videos, I’ve master’d The Last Component to my Training, and My training has nearly Finish’d…
Thanks Again!
TaTa,
Loc