TaijiDanz 太極人生

02/16/2026

02/05/2026

🧧 立春, is the first day of spring and the Vernal Equinox! This year was on Tuesday, 02/03/2026.

**An old myth claims you can stand an egg on its end ONLY during the Vernal Equinox, when day and night are equal in length. Supposedly, this is because there is equal gravity between the Earth and the sun on that day. But that's a myth! In reality, you can stand an egg on its end any day.

🥰 However, I personally find it easier to stand on my own single leg. And whichever you choose to do, it symbolizes how your year will begin - balance, poise and stability.

So, I invite you, my (Taiji) friends, to try either the Egg Balancing or/and the Standing on Single Leg posture (use support if necessary to be safe).

❤️ May you find Balance and Harmony in you life. May Health and Happiness be with you always ❣️

01/31/2026

The practice of Cloud Hands healed my shoulder injury, and started my decades-long journey of Taiji practice in body, mind, and spirit.

Chansijin 缠丝劲 (reeling-silk energy) is the source of Taijiquan’s force, and Cloud Hands 云手 is a foundational practice to expressing and developing it. Clouds hands is not merely a hand technique but an embodiment of Taijiquan’s core principles. It is both a “moving stance” and a “condensed expression of Taiji.”

Cloud Hands requires the entire body to move as one like a rolling sphere. Wrists, elbows, shoulders, waist, hips, knees, and ankles coordinate to form a three-dimensional, circular rotation. The key of the movement lies in the waist, with power generated from the hips. Practising Cloud Hands trains the waist and hips to rotate left and right like a door hinge - flexible yet stable - rotating smoothly from side to side and driving the whole body, achieving the principle that “force issues from the spine.”

The centre of gravity shifts continuously between solid and empty, and the whole body blends into the movement. Yin and yang, empty and full, opening and closing are the essence of Cloud Hands. When the left hand rises it is yang; when the right hand lowers it is yin. When the weight is on the right it is full; on the left, it is empty. As the weight shifts, yin and yang transform accordingly. The entire movement is about finding dynamic balance between yin and yang. When the hands move outward, it is opening, but the intention should carry a sense of closing. When the hands draw inward, it is closing, yet there must be a sense of opening. Shifting the centre of gravity continually between the legs strengthens lower-body support and stability, while developing coordination in the alternation of empty and full in the legs - to facilitate a fundamental skill - the Taiji cat-step footwork.

In ex*****on the hands move, the eyes follow, the body turns, the steps shift - every joint in the body connect, to fulfil the Taiji principle “when one part moves, the whole body follows”, and the coordination of hands, eyes, body technique, and steps 手眼身法步.

The rotation of the arms in Cloud Hands involves a spiral, coiling quality, like wringing a towel. This “reeling-silk energy” is the source of Taijiquan’s explosive power. In push hands, it serves as an effective technique for neutralising linear attacks, using waist and hip rotation along with the rolling of the arms to wrap, absorb and dissolve an incoming force.

01/17/2026

Have you tried drinking a glass of HOT water first thing in the morning? Try NOT asking for ice water, instead ask for water without ice or hot water at the restaurant now!

01/17/2026

01/08/2026

01/07/2026

12/11/2025

Tai Chi Chuan (太极拳 Tàijíquán): The Art of Holistic Wellness in Modern Medicine

For centuries, Tai Chi Chuan (太极拳 Tàijíquán) has transcended its origins as a martial art to become a refined system of health cultivation, natural therapy, and mind–body integration. Consistent practice not only improves central nervous system function and supports conditions such as cervical and lumbar degeneration, but also activates the body’s inherent self-healing mechanisms by reducing chronic stress, regulating breathing, and balancing the autonomic nervous system.

Through gentle, continuous motions, Tai Chi stimulates internal organ function, strengthens the legs, enhances circulation, and supports long-term cardiovascular health. These restorative effects have drawn global medical interest, backed by numerous peer-reviewed scientific studies. Today, Tai Chi stands as one of the most compelling examples of holistic medicine in motion.

1. Holistic Medicine (整体医学 Zhěngtǐ Yīxué): Ancient Philosophy in Modern Renewal

Holistic medicine is grounded in the classical understanding that humans are an integrated whole—a microcosm (微观宇宙 wēiguān yǔzhòu) interacting with the macrocosm (宏观宇宙 hóngguān yǔzhòu). True health arises not merely from organ function, but from the equilibrium of body, mind, and environment, aligned with the principle of “Heaven–Human Unity (天人合一 Tiān Rén Héyī).”

This worldview declined in the 20th century as Western biomedicine—focused on symptoms, isolated systems, and acute treatment—took precedence. Yet modern medicine has since encountered limitations in addressing chronic illnesses and long-term well-being. This has led to a renewed scientific interest in traditional systems of health cultivation.
Within this revival, Tai Chi re-emerges not as an outdated practice, but as a reliable, evidence-backed natural therapy harmonizing ancient insight with modern research.

2. Tai Chi Chuan: The Spirit of “Heaven–Human Unity (天人合一 Tiān Rén Héyī)” in Motion

If holistic medicine views humans as part of nature, Tai Chi is its most vivid expression in movement. At higher levels of practice, the practitioner is no longer simply “performing movements,” but instead enters a state where intention, breath, sensation, and motion merge seamlessly—an embodied form of meditation in action.

Through natural breathing (顺呼吸 shùn hūxī) and flowing transitions, Tai Chi regulates internal energy (内气 nèiqì) and blood circulation (血液 xuèyè), fostering balance between body and mind.
Where Western thought often cultivates the idea of “conquering nature,” Eastern philosophy honors harmony and resonance. Thus, the essence of Tai Chi is not about force or victory, but about rediscovering the innate rhythm of life and returning to natural alignment.

3. The Integrated Body: “When One Part Moves, the Whole Body Follows (一动全身随 Yī Dòng Quánshēn Suí)”

This core principle represents Tai Chi’s biomechanical sophistication. When the waist (腰 yāo) rotates, the shoulders (肩 jiān) respond; when the hands (手 shǒu) extend, the eyes (眼 yǎn) accompany; when the head (头 tóu) is lifted correctly, the spine (脊柱 jǐzhù) aligns, allowing qi (气) to naturally sink to the dantian (丹田 dāntiān).

The classics describe this as:
“Move one strand, and the whole body follows (运一缕，全身随 Yùn Yī Lǚ, Quánshēn Suí).”

Every subtle adjustment creates a whole-body ripple, activating the tendons, fascia system, and internal organs. This is why Tai Chi is considered a mindful, whole-body neuromuscular training, enhancing flexibility, motor coordination, and internal stability in ways unmatched by isolated strength exercises.

4. Breathing and Internal Cultivation (内功 Nèigōng): The Heart of Tai Chi Healing

Tai Chi is distinguished by its refinement of breathing and internal cultivation. Breathing is natural, soft, slow, deep, and continuous—
“deep, soft, even, long, and unbroken (沉、软、均、长、连续 Chén, Ruǎn, Jūn, Cháng, Liánxù).”

This is the art of “cultivating a single breath from within (练一气之内 Liàn Yī Qì Zhī Nèi)”, transforming Tai Chi into a living form of qigong (气功 Qìgōng) that nourishes internal organs, regulates autonomic function, and calms the mind.

As skill develops, practitioners embody the Three Internal Harmonies (内三合 Nèi Sān Hé)—Mind with Intent, Intent with Qi, Qi with Power—and the Three External Harmonies (外三合 Wài Sān Hé)—Shoulders with Hips, Elbows with Knees, Hands with Feet.

This synchronized integration represents the classical Taiji state: balanced, unified, rooted, and expansive.

5. Practical Application: Natural Prevention and Management of Chronic Diseases

In modern society, chronic conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, anxiety, arthritis, and spinal degeneration require long-term management. Tai Chi provides a safe, sustainable therapeutic complement with well-documented clinical benefits.

Modern research confirms this.

A British Journal of Sports Medicine meta-analysis shows Tai Chi improves blood glucose control in type 2 diabetes.

The U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) recognizes Tai Chi for improving balance, reducing fall risk, lowering stress levels, and supporting emotional well-being.

Neurological studies show improved proprioception, slower cognitive decline, and enhanced autonomic stability.

The classical saying summarizes its internal mechanics:
“Root in the feet, power rises from the legs, is governed by the waist, and manifests through the hands (根在脚，发于腿，主宰于腰，形于手指 Gēn Zài Jiǎo, Fā Yú Tuǐ, Zhǔzǎi Yú Yāo, Xíng Yú Shǒuzhǐ).”

This describes a continuous chain of internal power (内力 nèilì) using the entire body as an integrated system—not fragmented muscles, but whole-body elasticity, fascia flow, and spiral force.

Through this mechanism, Tai Chi enhances longevity, resilience, and vitality—the true foundation of enduring health.

6. Conclusion: Timeless Wisdom for Modern Well-Being

Tai Chi is far more than gentle movement; it is a comprehensive system uniting philosophy, medicine, and the art of motion. It empowers practitioners to regulate, heal, and renew themselves, restoring harmony within and with the world around them.

In an age burdened by stress, chronic illness, and fragmentation, Tai Chi stands as a timeless pathway back to balance, clarity, and inner strength.

11/10/2025

❤️ Taiji life, now and then.

08/06/2025

And thus, Taiji (Push Hands) was born!

This is a passage about Zhang Sanfeng 張三豐, founder of the Wudang School.

Zhang Sanfeng was a skilled doctor with a virtuous medical ethics, often providing free medical care to the locals living below the mountain, earning him widespread respect. One day, he went down the mountain to purchase daily necessities. The storekeeper refused to accept payment, but Zhang Sanfeng insisted to pay, and after much pushing and shoving, the two sides were unable to reach an agreement. Ultimately, this led to the birth of Tai Chi.

This story not only showcases Zhang Sanfeng's noble character but also reveals the fascinating story behind the birth of Tai Chi. Through this description, we understand that Zhang Sanfeng was not only a master of martial arts, but also highly respected for his medical skills and charismatic personality. The emergence of Tai Chi also embodies the wisdom and philosophy of Chinese culture, emphasizing the importance of harmony and balance.