What is Taichi Light: Part 6

Movement Thirteen: Big Bird Flipping its Wings

The Movement: At the end of the last movement, while leaning forward with your arms outstretched, flip your hands to a horizontal position with your fingertips almost touching. Begin to inhale, rock back to resting on your right foot while opening your arms all the way. Then, begin to exhale and close your arms until your fingertips are almost touching. Keep your hands loosely hinged on your forearms and let them swing as your arms move. This is one movement cycle. Do 12 cycles.

The Breathing: Inhale when opening your arms; exhale when closing your arms.

The Imagery: Imagine you were a huge bird, cruising high up in the sky, looking down on the human race with all its foibles. You are miles away from that mess and without a scintilla of worry.



Movement Fourteen: The Kung-Fu Horseback Pose

The Transition: At the end of the last movement, move your hands to your waist and make the upward facing fists. Move your left foot back and crouch down slightly.

The Movement: Inhale fully. Raise your right fist to the chest level, turn it upside down and, as you exhale, slowly thrust it forward as far as it can go as if you were hitting an imaginary object. Then inhale and retrieve your fist and return it to its starting position. This is one movement cycle. Do this six times, alternating right and left. (Do not thrust your fists fast. Move slowly and decisively. Like a tank. It moves slowly but it can’t be stopped.

The Breathing: Inhale when retrieving your fist; exhale when thrusting your fist.

The Imagery: Imagine you were a kung-fu master living a solitary life in the wilderness, practicing your kung-fu skill every morning.



Movement Fifteen: A Giant Crane Taking Off

The Transition: At the end of the last movement, hold the crouching position and let your arms hang on your sides.

The Movement: Begin to inhale, stand up and raise your outstretched arms as if they were your wings until they are 12 O’clock high and your are standing on your toes. Then, exhale and lower yourself down all the way to the crouching position with your arms flipping slowly down. This is one movement cycle. Do this six times.

The Breathing: Inhale when standing up; exhale when crouching down.

The Imagery: Imagine you were a big crane trying to take off after a heavy meal.