Opening & Closing Exercises
If I have one question of Master Huang it would be, “Why didn't he include the Opening And Closing as the Sixth Loosening Exercise?” If there was to be a Sixth Loosening Exercise, Opening And Closing would easily have qualified for the position, as it has all the necessary qualities that the other Five Loosening Exercises possess and more. This exercise is similar to the Second Loosening Exercise except there are no arm movements, which makes it slightly easier for the student.
Like the T'ai Chi form, one of the purposes of the Opening and Closing Exercise is to constantly cultivate one's awareness to move up and down the body and to become aware of the subtle adjustments that the body needs to make to maintain optimal physical alignment and relaxation. The awareness is drawn down from the crown of the head, letting go of muscles that aren't required for the act of movement, regardless of whether the body is moving up or down. As the awareness moves down the body, upon reaching the lower limbs be careful not to just consciously bend the knees just because the exercise requires it. When bending the joints of the lower body you don't need to consciously bend the lower limbs, just soften the area and gravity will do the rest. The down side with any direct conscious control is that you don't allow the chi to move the body. Also, if one consciously controls the muscle and joint movement, you risk moving one joint slightly more than the associated joints which will result in functional misalignment, which then creates tension. However, if you soften the whole area, all relevant joints will adjust just enough to cause the correct amount of movement to maintain alignment. When the body has moved as low as your alignment will allow, continue the relaxation into the ground which will cause a sensation similar to a back pressure, which will then cause the body to gently and slowly rise.
When the body is rising maintain your focus on the relaxation and lead the sinking into the ground, while at the same time staying aware of the adjustment that the body needs to make. Essentially your awareness needs to expand (cultivate the awareness). To do this effectively takes time and effort. No matter whether the body is moving forward, back, left, right, up, down or still, whether you're playing the T'ai Chi Form, Loosening Exercise, Push Hands or Weapons, the same truth is evident. There is only relaxation, which fuels all physical movement, with the intent being mindful of leading the process and the changes that this process brings.
If I have one question of Master Huang it would be, “Why didn't he include the Opening And Closing as the Sixth Loosening Exercise?” If there was to be a Sixth Loosening Exercise, Opening And Closing would easily have qualified for the position, as it has all the necessary qualities that the other Five Loosening Exercises possess and more. This exercise is similar to the Second Loosening Exercise except there are no arm movements, which makes it slightly easier for the student.
Like the T'ai Chi form, one of the purposes of the Opening and Closing Exercise is to constantly cultivate one's awareness to move up and down the body and to become aware of the subtle adjustments that the body needs to make to maintain optimal physical alignment and relaxation. The awareness is drawn down from the crown of the head, letting go of muscles that aren't required for the act of movement, regardless of whether the body is moving up or down. As the awareness moves down the body, upon reaching the lower limbs be careful not to just consciously bend the knees just because the exercise requires it. When bending the joints of the lower body you don't need to consciously bend the lower limbs, just soften the area and gravity will do the rest. The down side with any direct conscious control is that you don't allow the chi to move the body. Also, if one consciously controls the muscle and joint movement, you risk moving one joint slightly more than the associated joints which will result in functional misalignment, which then creates tension. However, if you soften the whole area, all relevant joints will adjust just enough to cause the correct amount of movement to maintain alignment. When the body has moved as low as your alignment will allow, continue the relaxation into the ground which will cause a sensation similar to a back pressure, which will then cause the body to gently and slowly rise.
When the body is rising maintain your focus on the relaxation and lead the sinking into the ground, while at the same time staying aware of the adjustment that the body needs to make. Essentially your awareness needs to expand (cultivate the awareness). To do this effectively takes time and effort. No matter whether the body is moving forward, back, left, right, up, down or still, whether you're playing the T'ai Chi Form, Loosening Exercise, Push Hands or Weapons, the same truth is evident. There is only relaxation, which fuels all physical movement, with the intent being mindful of leading the process and the changes that this process brings.