Mirrors are a common fixture in health clubs, martial arts studios, yoga schools and group fitness rooms. By observing form in a mirror, an athlete can check herself for alignment, posture and proper technique. Mirrors can be especially important for practicing tai chi. Unlike other martial arts where an improperly thrown technique will fail to move or stop an opponent, tai chi is most often practiced without a partner. Using mirrors can help you hone your technique in the absence of a live body to try out your postures.
Step 1
Find a sufficiently large training space with mirrors on the walls. For many people, the best location is the same facility where they learn tai chi. An alternative is to mount mirrors on walls at home.
Step 2
Position yourself so you can see the bottom of your feet and the top of your head in the mirror. Tai chi requires precise positioning of all parts of your body. If you can't see some parts, you might miss important mistakes.
Step 3
Face the mirror. Practice a single posture from your tai chi routine, such as "patting horse's mane." If your posture turns you away from the mirror, do not deviate your head position. Use the mirror only when you can look at it with proper alignment.
Step 4
Observe your body position as you move through the posture. Compare it to the position of your instructor and of photos or instructional videos. Make adjustments as necessary.
Step 5
Begin again, cycling through Steps 3 and 4. This time, begin facing 90 degrees to the right of the mirror. This will give you a new perspective for viewing your form.
Step 6
Repeat the cycle twice more, facing away from the mirror and 90 degrees to the left of the mirror. By the time you've run your posture four times, you will have viewed all four major angles.
Step 7
Practice one more time without the mirror, focusing on how the posture feels instead of looks. Tai chi instructor Keith Jeffreys says that internal cues are as or even more important to tai chi than external observations.
References
- Dave Coffman; Martial Arts Instructor; Hillsboro, OR
- "Easy Tai Chi"; Keith Jeffries, 2006
- "The Art of Expressing the Human Body"; Bruce Lee & John Little; 1998
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