Tonus Awareness as a Movement Practice

 See earlier post for general info about tonus and its role in taiji.

                                Tonus Awareness as a Movement Practice

 Any movement pattern  could be used to bring ones Attention to the tonus present during the  movement.  In taiji most, if not all movement, is around or relative to a  central axis of rotation with the objective of maintaining central  equilibrium (balance of forces acting on the axis of rotation).

 A simple example could be the circling of the torso while standing in the Wuji position, feet shoulder width or less.  The head top inscribes a circle around the inside of an inverted cone with the base between the feet, extending upward and outward.  The circles should not be large enough to bring the body out of balance requiring a noticeable contraction of the muscular system to remain standing or a loss of balance requiring a step.  But, with the Attention focused on the immediately affected myofascia supporting homeostasis, slight changes in tonus can be detected.  With practice the sensation becomes more noticeable and the ability to make larger circles increases.

An advanced form in the 8 brocades does this with the heels together and toes of each foot pointing out at 45% diagonals. With practice there is a sensation of moving as if in a stable vortex that holds the body in central equilibrium. 

The purpose of this practice is not the skill of doing it, but the awareness of the action of the tonus in maintaining central equilibrium.  Bringing this awareness to ones taiji practice can accentuate the objectives of the 10 principles during the practice of all taiji forms.