Breathing and energy in Tai Chi

[Anonymous]

I have been studying Tai Chi for some time but have recently become increasingly perplexed as to how to best apply breathing to the form. Should the breathing be in time with the movements? or should it be deep and relaxed and not in sync at all?. If it is in time with the movements should an inhale or an exhale be timed at the moment of a push or press?. Also when opening and closing the joints and the tantien is this kept in time with the breathing? i.e as I open into single whip is energetic movement performed with intent alone or is an inhale or exhale critical at this point?
Perhaps I am over thinking the whole thing, any suggestions?

Thanks,

Alex

[Anonymous]

From Alex’s post:
If it is in time with the movements should an inhale or an exhale be timed at the moment of a push or press?

That could depend on whether you do regular abdomnal or reverse breathing as I understand.

It is much clearer with the reverse breathing: contracting yin movements are done on inhale and expanding yang movements are done on exhale.

For the regular abdominal breathing things are more confusing; and I’ve come accross somewhat contradictory ideas. Some respected practitioners say that expanding movements should be done generally on exhale with the idea that exhale is more yang in nature. Other respected prctitioners say the other way around: expanding movements should be done on inhale based on the diaphragm movement (expanading) and opening joints.

I’d add another question to Alexe’s post: can we alternate reverse and regular breathing while doing the same form or that would be a no-no?

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the response Igor. I agree that when you apply reverse breathing to the movements everything seems to make logical sense. The problem with reverse breathing for me is that it is presented as an advanced practice not to be touched unless you have experience and direct training. I have wondered if reverse breathing is the end goal and if normal breathing techniques have been kept purposefully “foggy”.

[Author]

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