The "Three Practices and Three Adjustments" of Tai Chi
Tai Chi is a holistic movement. As a therapy, its integrity is reflected in the "Three Practices and Three Adjustments". What exactly are three practices and three adjustments? Let me introduce them to you!
?Three practices? Refers to practicing essence, practicing qi, and practicing spirit. ?Three adjustments? They are regulating the body (regulating the essence), regulating the breath (regulating the breath, one exhalation and one inhalation are one breath), and regulating the mind (regulating the mind). "Three practices and three adjustments" are the "three elements" of Tai Chi.
Essence, energy and spirit are the three treasures of the human body. Everything in the world has three qualities: matter, energy and information. "Essence" is the human body material, "Qi" is the human body's energy, and Shen is the human body's information. On the one hand, the energy, energy and spirit are innately received from parents; on the other hand, they are acquired through the transformation of diet and the absorption of nature’s energy, and also benefit from self-cultivation.
Taijiquan has always been said to be: practicing essence turns into qi, practicing qi turns into spirit, and practicing spirit turns into emptiness. There are many interpretations of this statement. One is that practicing boxing requires three stages: practicing essence, practicing qi, and practicing spirit.
1. Lianjing refers specifically to the training of the limbs, which is a physical exercise, commonly known as "external training of the bones and skin". This is "External Gong", also called "Ming Gong" (the destiny of the body's tangible things).
2. Qi training specifically refers to the practice of breathing, which is the movement of qi, blood and internal organs. It is commonly known as "inner breath training". The meaning of human body Qi is very broad. Breathing breath is an important aspect of it. By practicing external breathing (pulmonary breathing) and internal breathing (tissues and organs breathing), the gas exchange between the human body (blood) and the external media is strengthened; the gas exchange between various parts of the body and the blood is promoted. At the same time, abdominal breathing is used to strengthen the transformation of abdominal pressure and the lifting and lowering of the diaphragm, thereby massaging and stimulating the internal organs above and below the diaphragm.
3. Training the mind specifically refers to training the brain, which is a mental exercise. Through brain training, the brain nerves are strengthened to input, process, transmit, output information and issue instructions to control the functions of the whole body.
Tai Chi requires the "unity of mind and Qi", that is, practicing Shen and practicing Qi are combined into one, forming "Internal Strength", also called "Xing Gong" (the activities of mind, Qi and heart are called Xing). The well-trained moves and movements are manifested as form and embodied as strength. As far as practicing "internal strength" is concerned, it also belongs to "internal strength".
Tai Chi emphasizes that "nothing is motionless". The body moves, the internal organs move, the qi and blood move, and the nerves move. All movable parts must move, and they move at the same time. Up and down follow each other, and left and right correspond. The internal and external are harmonized to achieve "both body and soul", "double cultivation of life and life", "strong energy, strong spirit, sufficient spirit", and the three combinations of essence, energy and spirit.
To achieve the three combinations of essence, energy and spirit, it takes a long time. If a beginner wants to pass the three stages of practicing Jing, Qi and Shen at the same time, it will be difficult for him to succeed. It is best to proceed step by step, first through the basic stage of training and building a foundation, then to the intermediate stage of Qi training, and then to the advanced stage of Shen training.
"Three practices" means "three adjustments", which means to adjust the posture, breathing, mind and soul to meet the requirements of boxing theory. The three most basic principles of Tai Chi are loosening the body, consolidating the Qi, and concentrating the mind, which are the key points of the three adjustments.
"Life lies in movement", and "life" in all parts of the human body also lies in movement. ?Three practices and three adjustments? It is precisely to make all systems of the body (limbs, cardiovascular, brain, spirit, meridians, internal organs, etc.), various organs and tissues move at the same time. It is an exaggeration to say that you will not get sick if you practice boxing, that you can cure all diseases, and that you will definitely live to an old age. However, the characteristics of Tai Chi's three practices and three adjustments as a whole are indeed more conducive to health care and longevity. As far as treating diseases is concerned, the improvement of the overall condition of the whole body can automatically promote the improvement of local lesions, and it will have great effect over time.
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