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34 EXERCISES

24. ROWING IN THE CLOUDS

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Quick Links to Postures 18-34 | 18 Sunrise & Sunset | 19 Peeling the Octopus | 20 Circle the Shoulders | 21 Rising Up the Mountain | 22 Carry the Wand to the Moon | 23 Lifting the Oar | 24 Rowing in the Clouds | 25 Paddle Through the Narrow Stream | 26 Look into the Water | 27 Search for the Hatchet | 28 Turn the Rudder | 29 Steady the Boat | 30 Rowing Backward on the Calm Lake | 31 Rowing Forward on the Calm Lake | 32 Turning the Boat | 33 Push the Swing | 34 Netting the Fish


STAGE 1: SEATED

This seated stage can be best performed on a stool as the back of a chair (and the sides and arms) will restrict manoeuvrability For this posture.

Begin with the wand resting on the thighs with hands lightly grasping both ends.

Left Side

Inhale

Focus on the left hand as you move the left hand to the right. Stop when you reach the centre of the body. Then raise the left hand, at arms length, to head height. Move the left tip of the wand - and the torso - to the left corner. The wand is now slanting, facing the left.

Exhale

Continue to move the wand in arc to the left and back, focusing on the left hand as you turn the upper body left and lower the left tip to the left side of the body straightening the arm which comes down past the shoulder.

Right Side

Inhale

At this stage the right hand has moved the right tip of the wand across the body to the front left of the groin. Your focus transfers to the right hand as it moves forwards then upward to head height then to down to the right corner, head height. Simultaneously, the lift tip of the wand travels forwards towards the front of the body, staying close to the body.

Exhale

As you continue to move the wand in arc to the right focusing on the right hand turn the upper body to the right and lower the right hand to the right side of the body, straightening the arm which comes down to about shoulder height. The left hand has travelled across the body, groin height, to the right.

You then continue by focusing on the left hand which is now the centre of the body about waist height moving it up again so that it reaches head height to the left for the left stage again. Continue the whole left and right sequence.

Repeat several times.

Consult the "important points" in exercise one regarding "moving in water".

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STAGE 2: STANDING STATIC

Stand with feet at shoulder width and parallel, toes facing directly forward. Legs should be straight with knees slightly bent. You begin with the wand resting horizontally against your thighs, arms extended fully.

Perform the torso movements as in the seated stage while keeping the lower half of the body - including the hips - still. Only move the arms and torso.

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STAGE 3: STANDING WITH FOOTWORK

This posture uses the Side Stepping footwork.

APPLICATION

Applying the footwork to the posture:-

Stand with feet at shoulder width and parallel, toes facing directly forward. Legs should be straight with Knees slightly bent.

Perform the torso movements as in the seated stage with these additional steps:-

When you move the left tip of the wand out to the left take a sideways step with the left foot. When the right tip of the wand performs its circle on the right step up with the right foot. You should turn the trunk to the left and right as you perform these movements but keep the feet facing forward. Repeat this sequence with another left step and step up with the right foot. But the second time you step up with the right foot - when your right arm raises head height - you transfer weight to the left foot and take a sideways step with the right foot, stepping up with the left, and so on.

Altogether you have then two steps to the left and two steps to the right.

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NOTES

This posture is part of the Tai Chi Boating Wand form.

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Return to Posture Index || Previous Posture - 23. Lifting the Oar || Next Posture - 25. Paddle Through the Narrow Stream

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© 2018 Michael Davies