The Taiji hand form is a series of  graceful, slow and smooth movements and an inwardly focused composure with natural deep diaphragmatic breathing. The movements that make up the form each have names like Grasping the Bird’s Tail, Fair Lady Works at Shuttles, Snake Creeps Down and White Crane Flaps Its Wings. Once you have learnt a form or set of moves, you can perform it daily. 

Moves in the hand form balance yin and yang so that there is separation and continual flow between yin, defending, and yang, attacking movements and stances.

To achieve balance of yin and yang, the body must move as one unit with movement directed from the waist, rather than the limbs acting in isolation. This requires supple, relaxed but strong muscles and joints, which develop naturally with regular practise. Deep breathing enhances calmness and relaxation.

Excessive mental tension and lack of exercise can often cause stressful posture and unwanted physical tension of the body, especially of the shoulders and back. Physical tension in turn increases mental stress, and eventually health problems may develop. The taiji hand form helps release these tensions not only by the nature of the movements themselves, but also by virtue of calm composure and deliberate awareness of tension in the body. Thus, not only is greater harmony of movement achieved, but also harmony of body and mind.

The ancient beliefs would explain the benefits of taiji in terms of the qi becoming centred at a point just above the navel and radiating out, resulting in harmony and balance. However, we are now in a position to explain the benefits in medical and biomechanisitic terms.

The photo album below shows clips of our students performing the Tai Chi Hand Form, both under instruction in small groups, and also together as a class.