CMC 37P Tai Chi Form, T.T. Liang's breathing method, no weights, then 5-lb weights in each hand, front view - 11/11/11 (Autumn)
I have already described T.T. Liang's breathing method in some detail in the articles that accompany the videos at these URLs:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GTEY03FvUF0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nTkZgRuB9A0
During the moving tai chi form, slow, deep, natural abdominal breathing serves a very practical structural purpose: as the abdomen inflates and expands outward in all directions during an inhalation, it helps solidify the weighted leg's connection to the ground. It helps create a stable base for the upright body, before the next step is taken.
Since I also practice the CMC 37P Tai Chi Form regularly with 5 pound weights in each hand (one day without weights, the next day with weights),
I find that T.T. Liang's breathing method also works very well with weights.
During an inhalation, when the inflating abdomen expands and presses against the weighted leg, a firm base is set up. While the base is being set up, I keep the weights close to my center (to extend them prematurely away from my central axis before a solid connection to the ground is set up would immediately tilt me off balance). So I wait, until I can feel my body weight and the additional weight of the two 5-lb weights in each hand dropping through my supporting leg. This usually happens on count 1, during an inhalation. Expanding my inflating abdomen downward into my weighted leg helps press my supporting foot deeper into the ground, solidifying my connection to the earth.
During count 2, an exhalation, I "float" my empty foot into a new position. My weights still remain close to my center. I can't move them away from their original position before I've established a new firm base in my second leg. During count 3 (an inhalation), I shift my weight onto my second leg, and inflate my abdomen downward in the direction of the supporting foot. Having set up a new base, I can safely extend the weights further away from my center during count 4 (an exhalation), because now I have a firm base to support the movement. Without a firm base to support the movements,
I would quickly unbalance myself and tip over when attempting to extend the weights further away from my center.
The discipline of inflating my abdomen into the weighted foot to solidify the connection to the ground BEFORE attempting to make any movements away from that base is an excellent strategy. Expanding my abdomen into my supporting foot allows me to move the weights easier, when I actually have to extend them away from my body. I can do this with a minimum of effort, because a solid connection to the ground has already been set up.
I find that practicing the entire tai chi form with small weights in each hand helps reinforce this principle that the arms and empty leg should be moved only AFTER a solid base has been set up to support the body on the weighted leg. Any deviation away from such a pattern is immediately "punished" - - the weights cause my body to tip over if I try to extend them away from my center prematurely, before a firm base has been set up to support such movement.
ChiGuy396
ChiGuy396@yahoo.com
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EXERCISES FOR ALL SEASONS: CMC 37P Tai Chi Formby ChiGuy39616 views
Great idea I'll try it soon.
tcsail09 2 weeks ago