Yang's Ten Principles Redux

I have mentioned on several occasions that Tai Chi is more concerned with understanding the principles of practice than the mechanics. The mechanics are a means to understand principle. Once you acquire the principles (deep in your bones and muscles), then the mechanics become at once irrelevant and completely natural. Everything you do becomes Tai Chi. If you don't seek the principles, then nothing you do will be Tai Chi. Here are Yang Cheng Fu's Ten principles:

1. Keep your head erect
2. Keep your chest inward and let your Chi stick to the back (spine).
3. Relax your waist
4. Distinguish substantial and insubstantial stances
5. Sink your shoulders and elbows
6. Use the "Yi" (mind) instead of force
7. Harmonize the upper and lower parts of the body
8. Coordinate the internal and external parts
9. Continuous and flowing movements
10. Tranquility and peace in movements

I have activated a web site for T'ai Chi players (http://taichiplay.googlepages.com/) which contains a commented version of these principles along with several selections of the classic literature of T'ai Chi.