Walking
By Barbara (Bobbie) Purvis
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Here at Columbia Tai Chi Center we recently spent the better part of an hour walking pos¬tures from the Tai Chi form over the course of two days in the same week. It was interest¬ing in that I found that it was TOUGH to do it right, but after I was able to settle down and relax, I really enjoyed it.
The first posture was “Single Whip.” While it is relatively easy in the form, it really requires you to relax, sink, and reach; then, there’s an additional element of coordination in the stance, core and arms. In this walking pattern we moved forward and faced the additional challenge of performing the movement on BOTH sides. It presented a challenge – like a mental puzzle – because prior to the walking exercise I’d only expressed the movement to one side as it appears in the form. After a few tries it got easier, and now I can’t remember NOT being able to do it on both sides.
The backward walking pattern was “Play the Pipa” (aka Play the Guitar). With this walking posture it was harder to coordinate the timing of the step backwards, and the raising and circling of the hands while maintaining balance and trying to attain a sense of flow. But it was so great! Who can’t benefit from a little more work on the fundamentals like sinking, moving from the dan tien, working on coordination and balance?
– Barbara (Bobbie) Purvis is a retired Air Force Broadcast Journalist