Back to push hands, the subject of recent past posts. Perhaps the best practice of push hands is when we are not practicing push hands. My teacher says the best solo preparation for push hands practice is Zhang Zhuan, standing Qigong. He also says that out of the totality of all our practice hours, only 10% (+/-) should be dedicated to partner practices. That leaves 90% of our time that can be focused on solo practices. We can obviously share our form, Qigong, meditation, etc... practices with our students and friends, but we don't have to. If practice partners are not available, we can always practice alone
Granted, my previous posts on push hands were very specific and certain concerning my thoughts and preferences about this aspect of practice. But even given that, I still follow my teacher's advice in that the overall majority of my practice is solo practice. In my case, at the time of this writing, the majority of my solo practice is indeed solo due to work, travel, living arrangements, etc... at this time of my life. I practice with others and teach when I get the chance, but the overall day-to-day training is with my shadow. And even this advice should be taken with a grain. If you get the chance for partner practice, take it. It's important. But value the solo practices overall. That is where the difference is made.
The wonder of this practice is the depth found in unexpected places. We learn to do by practicing to be; learn stillness through movement; learn to move by being still; find ourselves by working with others; we discover the Universe by inquiring within our own small, yet infinite, interior; we find the way by not following any way at all.
Granted, my previous posts on push hands were very specific and certain concerning my thoughts and preferences about this aspect of practice. But even given that, I still follow my teacher's advice in that the overall majority of my practice is solo practice. In my case, at the time of this writing, the majority of my solo practice is indeed solo due to work, travel, living arrangements, etc... at this time of my life. I practice with others and teach when I get the chance, but the overall day-to-day training is with my shadow. And even this advice should be taken with a grain. If you get the chance for partner practice, take it. It's important. But value the solo practices overall. That is where the difference is made.
The wonder of this practice is the depth found in unexpected places. We learn to do by practicing to be; learn stillness through movement; learn to move by being still; find ourselves by working with others; we discover the Universe by inquiring within our own small, yet infinite, interior; we find the way by not following any way at all.
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