Practice All Or Some, In Order Or Not?

I am often asked, “Do I have to practice all the movements in the prescribed order?”

I assume when Justin created the 19 movements of T’ai Chi Chih there were specific reasons for the order of the movements, and then again, some of them may have no particular reason for being where they are in the order of the form. In the early years of TCC he experimented with the form, adding and deleting movements, and moving the order around, finalizing the form as we practice it today.

Justin considered the first two movements as warm-ups, so we always begin with them. And it makes sense that the last movement is Six Healing Sounds: we have spent the whole practice letting go, softening and opening up the meridian channels, so the body is ready to receive the directed energy from the Taoist Sounds. The two “Daughter” movements complement each other in how they work the energy and should always be practiced with one following the other.

But what about the rest of the movements? Justin wrote, “You only have to learn five or six of the movements and do them regularly… to gain the benefits. It is application – constant daily practice – that gets results.”

I believe each movement was designed to move the energy in a specific way, so that when we practice all 19 movements we have thoroughly circulated and balanced the energy system of our bodies. To receive the maximum benefit from the practice we do all the movements. Justin wrote, “Each set of movements seems to have a slightly different effect, adding up to a complete and well-rounded whole…”

What about the order of the movements? We develop muscle memory when we perform a physical movement or action repeatedly. If we always do the movements in the same order our body gets used to a routine, of one particular movement following the next, so eventually we do not have to think about what comes next. The body knows.

I believe it is the same with “Chi memory.” Each TCC movement is circulating and shaping the energy. The energy gets used to being directed in a particular way in a movement, followed by the next energy pattern, followed by the next energy pattern. The energy flows smoothly into a habitual routine of one pattern flowing into the next. Softness and continuity are the results along with a deeper circulation.

When we do all the movements and in the same order, over time, the body develops a recognition of wholeness to the form and the energy within develops a recognition of certain energy patterns, one following the next, flowing into a smooth and fluid practice. The energy becomes used to the routine and responds more quickly and deeply.

Many times I have seen Justin, at the beginning of a practice, placing his palms to face the floor as in our resting/beginning position and they would begin to flutter, even before he began the practice. He had not even started to do the movements and his hands were manifesting the flow of Chi that was being prompted to move by a familiarity of his body language and his intent. The Chi had been conditioned over many years to respond to particular patterns emanating from the body and the mind.

So, while it seems most beneficial to do all the movements in the prescribed order, there are times it is advantageous to change the order. Here is one example. In my beginner classes, at about the fifth or sixth class (during an 8-week class), I have been experimenting with the practice at the end of each class. The students face forward (I do not teach in a circle) and we begin with Rocking Motion and Bird Flaps its Wings and then jump to “the Taffies” and continue to Six Healing Sounds. We then move into a circle and continue the practice with Around the Platter on through to Pulling in the Energy and then Cosmic Consciousness Pose.

There is a purpose for this unusual order. The newer and more complicated movements are in the second half of the form and the students are still struggling to learn these movements. I want the students to end the practice with a feeling of accomplishment and peacefulness. They are more familiar, comfortable and confident with the first half of the form. By putting the first half of the form at the end they finish the class on a positive note. I also like to bring them into a circle for some of the practice, adding another dimension to their experience.

While we receive the greatest benefit from doing all the movements, there may be occasions to leave out movements. There was a time I was resisting doing a particular movement. I just didn’t want to include it in my practice. I didn’t want to ask Justin “why or what I should do about it” because I was afraid he would say I needed to do it more in order to move through my resistance. And that was the last thing I wanted to do. When I finally talked to him about it, he said, “Just leave it out of your practice.”

Justin wrote, “…slow gentle movements will stir up and circulate the most Chi… However, one should experiment with different speeds and choose whatever seems most effective personally.”

If teachers experiment in class by changing the order or speed, or leaving out movements, it is important to let the students know why. Teachers have a responsibility to teach TCC as given to us by Justin Stone. But it is also important to be creative and responsive in teaching, to teach out-of-the-box when necessary to bring about a certain result or understanding.

With practice of the complete form of 19 movements and one pose, with the prescribed, usually nine, repetitions, and in the suggested order, we derive the fullest benefit. But there are times to adapt and modify the practice for particular situations, to bring about particular results, which takes our practice to another level of awareness and enJOYment.