breathing and motion

Chi Harmony PRO exercise is similar to walking or riding a bicycle in that connecting rhythm and flow are more important than just putting together the moves. Start first standing on both feet with spiral isometrics & stretching, hands and arms relaxed, chin up and down. Coordinate breathing as follows:

1. Go with inhalation.

2. Hold with exhalation.

3. Breathe fully, but relaxed and comfortably through the nose.

Next, combine movement with shifting weight and balance from one leg to the other (without lifting your feet). Extend the rate and length of your inhalation across each movement, end-to-end, emphasizing full exhalation with abdominal contraction. SQUEEZE ALL THE AIR OUT. Practice this exercise while viewing the animation to the right:

1. Bear weight completely to one side (without lifting opposite foot). Exhale fully. Relax. Stretch. Balance.

2. Inhale shifting weight to the opposite leg. Load and bear weight with exhalation. Relax. Stretch. Balance.

3. Continue shifting to opposite side with inhalation.

NOTE: Visualize each movement as a very large, heavy pendulum, swinging from resting point-A to resting point-B: it starts slow and ends slow with a complete pause at each end. While coordination & balance are enhanced through movement, release of tension and greater strength & stability are achieved by holding each pose at rest for several breaths in between, and should be given equal if not greater emphasis.

After mastering a few basics, try coordinating them with stances & transitions, The video provides only a sample of many possible combinations. The elements being non-sequencial and interchangeable can be recombined with variation: improvisation, discovery of personal form, adaptation to personal need, etc.