I always start my Tai Chi coaching sessions by asking the students how they’re getting on with their training programme, any questions, any problems or any comments, and it helps me to shape the day’s study.

I thought over the next few days I might share some of the most common thoughts.

One of the most common comments is ‘I’ve been concentrating on one particular form or part of it’.

The problem is that while they are doing this the other forms and skills slide. I practice everything in the syllabus every day, in the morning I’ll meditate, do the standing, exercises and Yang Chen Fu form, this takes around 45mins and is my ‘monk’ style training to align mind, breath and body. In the afternoon I work on the ‘warrior’ style training of Chong Chuan, weapons, and 2 person set, again around 45 mins.

I always ‘theme’ my training so that every day every form focuses on a different idea or principle, often an insight will arise that will alter what I’m doing or be stored for another day. I’ll add around 15mins for working on something different or extra meditating making the day’s training around a total of 2 hours.

All through the day I work on mindfulness watching my behaviour, thoughts and emotions with many short meditation sessions. I always have a current ‘insight’ present in my mind to guide me through the day.

This is what works for me.