Let's examine the importance of relaxation and relaxation through the article written by Tai Chi Chuan instructor Cheng Man Ching.
Cheng Man Ching says:
"I have been practicing Tai Chi Chuan for over fifty years. It has only been two years since I began to understand the word 'relax'. I remember my Tai Chi Chuan teacher Yang Cheng-Fu, who was not a very talkative person.
If no one asked a question, he would sit all day without saying a word. But in our Tai Chi class, he would constantly tell us to "relax." Sometimes during practice, it seemed like he would say the word hundreds of times so that it would fill our ears. He said strangely, if I didn't say that word, I would never learn Tai Chi in three lifetimes. At that time, I doubted his words. Now that I think back, I wonder if I could have learned Tai Chi Chuan in six lifetimes if he hadn't kept reminding me of the word "relax."
What does “relax” mean in Tai Chi?
Here is an example to help you understand the word.
When we visit a Buddhist temple, we usually see a statue of Me-Lo Buddha. It has a big round stomach with a big smile on its face. It carries a big bag on its shoulder. We see a slogan on this statue: “Sit with a bag. Walk with a bag. It would be a relief to drop the bag.” What does all this mean? To me, a person himself is a bag. Everything he owns is a burden, including his children, family, position and wealth, his baggage. It is difficult to drop a person’s baggage, especially his “own” baggage.
Tai Chi Chuan is difficult to learn.
Relaxing is the most difficult part of practicing Tai Chi Chuan.
"Relaxing one's mind is the most important obstacle to overcome in the practice of Tai Chi. It takes great effort to train and exercise the mind to relax (or to drop "one's" bag)."