Right from my very first class in tai chi I was excited by its principles of strength in softness; of listening to whats going on in any moment all rolled into a system of movement.
Today, exploring, developing and applying to life the principles of tai chi forms the absolute foundation of my teaching

This is Living Movement

5 honed down principles, the quint-essence of tai chi:
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​Freeing - Aligning - Focusing - Sensing - Being
Freeing (Sung)....
is what brings us fluidity, freedom and an ease in moving.
It follows the idea of flow
and recognises the importance of movement (a hinge won’t rust if its kept moving).
You consciously relax (sung) the muscles and encourage a loosening of the joints.
This releasing in the muscles promotes circulation and helps to dissolve unwanted tensions that are held in the body.
There can be many layers built up over time from 5 minutes to 50+ years back!
As well as releasing anxiety,
freeing will unlock your creativity and love for life.
Freeing can be the force or agent of change that helps you move
away from unhelpful and 'stuck places'
​to happier ways of being.
See more ...

Aligning .....
is kinaesthetic geometry.
In tai chi we employ the frame of the body,
allowing gravity and engaging levity
to bring form and structure to who we are and how we move.
Aligning allows us to experience the whole self through postural integration.
It gives us a way to be centred, grounded and present.
It brings us natural strength and flexibility.
This is really useful for getting things done comfortably e.g. gardening or desk work.
It gives us insight as to how we are best ‘placed’,
not only for our own needs but in relation to helping and working with others. 
Read more .....
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Focusing 
is the 'mind' aspect of tai chi.
You allow yourself to become absorbed, attentive to what is happening in each moment.
Learning to be present, actively directing your attention or quietly listening, with clarity,
is truly one of the fundamental cornerstones of tai chi and as modern neuroscience tells us,
becomes a gateway to happiness. Read and see more ...

Sensing ....is the art of listening.
In tai chi you listen with all of your senses.
‘Ting jin’ translates from Chinese as something like ‘listening energy’ and is spoken of in developing your skill and understanding in pushing hands.
You deepen your awareness (or is it expand?) and gather information - from your body, your heart, your head, your hands, your feet, your gut …..  and from your environment.
The more that you can ‘hear’, the more information you have, the better chance of understanding a situation.
Greater understanding means that you’re in a better position to make informed choices.
This might be in a tai chi exercise or may expand way bigger to feel relevant in a life choice situation.

Being
is the Tao, the ‘way’.
I like to think of the 'way' being the 'way that works'
Where is there least resistance? How do things want to move, given the chance?
.... if I can be out of the way, quiet, attentive.
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In tai chi you begin to find 'your' way;
your natural way, your state of being.
If you think of the practice of Tai Chi as a natural balancing force
then it makes sense that your practice will bring you more and more
into your place of equilibrium, your balance.