Method of Increasing Energy in Chen Style Taiji

1. The Method of Increasing Energy    
1) Place both feet shoulder-width apart, toes turned outwards slightly. Bend your knees and keep your hips relaxed, sitting down a little from your hips. Keep your body upright and your head erect naturally. Keep your chest and chin in and lower your waist. Relax all parts of your body, with your arms by your side, in a natural stance. Your palms should be open with your fingers straight and relaxed without tension, facing your thighs. Close both eyes lightly and look inside as if you can see your Dantian. Your teeth and lips should be touching each other gently, and your tongue should be gently touching your upper palette. Breathe naturally. (Fig 3-4) 

2) Carry on from the previous position. Rotate both palms outwards and raise both arms up to ear level, with elbows bending slightly. Breath in during this movement. (Fig 3-5)

3) Raise your arms above your head, with the elbows bent and your palms facing the top of your head (the arm movement should be in a circular motion from the starting position). Keep breathing in until the end of the movement. (Fig 3-6)

4) Sink your body down slightly. Following the sinking of your body, your palms should press down to the Dantian. (Fig 3-7) As you press down, your arms and shoulders should be relaxed. Keep your palms in front of your Dantian for a few seconds and then separate them to your side, as in the starting position. Breathe out during this movement, and imagine the Qi sinking down to the bottom of your feet (Yongquan). (Fig 3-8)

5) As you return your arms to the starting position, repeat the whole movement from the beginning, as many times as you like (preferably more than eight). This exercise will enable you to initiate your energy circulation and achieve a stronger Qi feeling. Key to the Movement: While you practice, you should keep your breathing deep, long, smooth and gentle. It may not be easy for beginners to do so, but try to concentrate on your breathing as much as possible following the movement in and out. While you breathe in, imagine that both. your arms, as they open, are collecting the energy from space and earth to your Baihui (central point on the top of your head). As you breathe out, imagine the energy flowing down from your Baihui to your Dantian. Keep it there for a few seconds (while your palms are in front of your Dantian). From your Dantian, the energy flows down to Huiyin (perineum) and from there it splits and is delivered through the inside of both your legs, down to Yongquan (central point at the sole of your feet). By this way you can maintain a very good energy level and get rid of the negative energy in your body and fortify yourself against sickness and disease. Click here to learn Lumbar Herniated Disc in TCM.