Relaxation, etc Tips (newbie question)

[unixfudotnet]

Anyone have any times for relaxing? Seems to be a constant battle for trying to relax, even hear SiGung telling it to the Sifus in the school.

I am still working on getting the form right, and only seems I can really relax after I can do the form right (in most parts now). There are still parts I struggle in (1 leg kicks and snake creeps down), yet I do try to keep my stances low as I am trying to build up stance strength etc as well.

Just curious for those that have passed this road I am on already, and if you could offer any tips, that may have helped you when you were in my shoes

I understand that this is a personal journey, but tips in relaxing could really help

[SPJ]

To think slow and slow and slow.

To think stillness.

To think nothing.

Immerse yourself in a pool.

Focus on your Dan Tien.

Total relaxation of mind and body.

Imagine you are surfing or let the ocean waves carry you.

No resistence.

Go with flow of the wave.

Imagine something carries your wrists up.

Elbows sinking.

Jin on Bai Hui on top of your head.

The neck is suspended.

The back is slightly arched. The chest is slightly in.

The hip and the knee.

Focus on your body parts from the top down to the feet.

The feet are rooting into the ground.

Feel Qi flow from Dan Tien up and down. Move toward distal limbs and back.

No tension in mind and no tension in muscles.

Just feel.

All your sensory nerve and function are acute.

All your motor nerves are calmed.

On and on.

Best of luck.

[Ego_Extrodinaire]

Nicely banned.

[Toby]

I have the same problem as you unixfubar. I use strength too much and have problems relaxing. Two things help - one of my sihings says I should literally "think happy thoughts" instead of being aggressive and trying to outmuscle my opponent. I should think "this is fun" and enjoy it rather than "destroy, destroy, destroy". Another thing that helps me is to wear myself out first. Lately I've been doing a fair bit of bag work each day so by the time I start MA practice I'm slightly fatigued. Fatigue helps me.

[unixfudotnet]

Thanks

[looking_up]

That's a lot to think about when you're trying to relax

[qiphlow]

relax: no exertion
try: exertion

"trying" to relax is self defeating. you have to work the form over and over, soon you will be comfortable with it, and will begin to relax and feel the form more deeply. the first few years are EFFORT, in part because we are growing accustomed to a new way of moving/thinking.