Things You'll Need:
- Tai chi instructor
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Step 1
Practice the Yang style long form in tai chi by finding a suitable instructor who can help you memorize the 108 movements. Many martial arts studios, especially those that focus on Chinese fighting styles, offer tai chi classes. Since the Yang style long form is the most widely taught version of tai chi (over Cheng Men-ching and Wudan forms), you should be able to find a suitable instructor fairly easily.
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Step 2
Learn to breath properly before you practice the Yang style. With tai chi, inhaling and exhaling are equated with the opening and closing of specific physical movements. For instance, inhale when you take a forward step to start any of the 108 movements and exhale as you bring your body back to rest.
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Step 3
Use the proper hand forms. These hand forms include the yin (where your hand is aligned with your arm), the yang (where your hand is at an angle to your arm), the fist (where your fingers are curled into your palm, but relaxed), the hook (where your fingers all rest on the tip of your thumb) and the neutral position, which is completely relaxed.
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Step 4
Concentrate on balance while you practice tai chi forms. The entire art of tai chi is based upon the yin and the yang, the two opposing forces in nature, and bringing them together within the chi, or your source of energy and life.
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Step 5
Don't rush to learn all 108 movements. It takes a lifetime to perfect each movement, and the reward is in the journey you take to achieve that perfection.
