Early Signs of Progress When Learning Taiji

As a beginner, you will experience a variety of sensations that may excite or confuse you. They are all in fact quite harmless and are just signs to indicate that higher levels are being attained. Some of the early sensations that occur during practice include tingling and sweating, caused by heat generated within the body. These sensations are common and will gradually disappear over time as your body becomes stronger and more accustomed to enhanced circulation of blood and energy. Click here to learn Fungal Pneumonia in TCM.
 
Of all the techniques learnt in the early stages, the static postures are the most important since they encourage greater internal awareness. By gradually increasing the length of time that you are able to hold these postures, you will begin to produce similar sensations to those indicated below:

1) Relaxing your upper body and sinking at the waist produces a feeling of being strongly rooted to the floor, like being stuck to the floor with glue. This sensation is accompanied by an intense heat in the sole of the foot and is a good indication that blood and energy are circulating freely. These feelings are experienced whilst practising static postures but are also felt when performing the Taiji routines slowly.
       
2) The standing postures often create a feeling of hot water being poured into the legs. This feeling rises from the feet and begins to fill the thighs. By relaxing, this heat travels up the back and surges over the top of the head and is sometimes combined with a trembling of the thighs. At other times, an intense heat swirls and pulsates around the body as it begins to fill the channels with energy, in the same way tributaries are filled following heavy rainfall. These sensations are quite normal and are associated with a feeling of lightness in the upper body and total contentment and connection to your surroundings.
 
3) Undertaking regular posture training produces strong feelings of energy circulating within, like
having a warm river of electricity, or magnetic oil, passing inside your body. This sensation permeates both bone and muscle with a strong vibrating energy. These sensations are astonishing and develop a feeling of internal strength and fluidity of movement that provides great encouragement to continue with your studies. Click here to learn Sleep Apnea Syndrome in TCM.
      
4) The Taiji posture is the simplest to learn, but often the most difficult to perfect. As your body begins to relax from regular training, internal energy begins to circulate freely within. Your skin will become highly sensitive and produces a subtle feeling of warm magnetism surrounding the body, like a "Ready-Brek Glow". This energy strengthens your body and provides protection from the invasion of harmful external pathogens, such as infections, and viruses and is one of the important benefits to help strengthen your immune system.

After several years of continued practice, your overall ability in the Taiji forms and postures will advance. This growth brings with it stronger and more intense feelings that will vary depending upon the health and vitality of each student.