For those of you who have the classic, “The Dao of Taijiquan” authored by Master Jou Tsung Hwa, you may have questions about how to properly do the tai chi (taiji) diagram exercise in Chapter 3. Here’s everything you need to know in a little video clip (below).
This makes your shoulders and upper body very flexible. When you perform it “whole body” in a bow-and-arrow stance (simple lunge), it works your entire body and balances the energy. Makes you strong and flexible. For tai chi martial arts, it develops your skills and abilities to spar or do push hands very cleverly. Massage therapists and body workers also claim it helps their therapeutic techniques and intuitive sensitivity.
This is an optional “dao yin” (developmental qi and stretching exercise), so don’t feel pressured to master it. Just play with it and enjoy what it can teach you about the changes from yin to yang.