Consider Continuity

Softness and continuity are among the principles of how to move in T’ai Chi Chih. Softness is discussed often; continuity is not mentioned as much and might get overlooked as a key to a quality practice.

There is continuity within a movement, and continuity from movement to movement. I want to discuss the latter. (I will use continuity and continuous somewhat interchangeably, although they are not identical concepts.)

Caroline Guilott wrote an excellent article in the February 2014 Vital Force titled, “Hovering or Landing,” in which she asked Justin about holding the close, to which he replied, “It is all continuous, dear.” This somewhat cryptic reply indicates how all parts of a practice need continuity and are joined together. Justin has also described the need for a continuous connection from the start of Rocking Motion all the way through Cosmic Consciousness Pose. He described this as a thread that runs through an entire practice, joining all the movements together, from beginning to end. With this thread, we make our practice an integrated whole, and not just 19 separate, unconnected movements.

How do we make this thread in our practice? I suggest that an important part of a practice is the spaces between the movements, the intervals when we return to the rest position as we make a “graceful conclusion” and pause before the next movement. As we finish a movement, we keep a quiet mind and remain in the moment. As we do this without conscious thought, we let go of the completed movement and allow the Chi to lead the body naturally into the next movement. The ending of one movement is the beginning of the next. By doing this, we flow from one movement to the next. Even though we stop at rest, our feeling is continuous throughout the entire practice.

Try doing a practice paying particular attention to the spaces between the movements. Give them as much importance as all other parts of a movement.