Many people who practice tai chi have been instructed to relax, relax some more, and continue to relax until their bodies turn into goo.

They are practicing “Tofu Tai Chi.”

Being relaxed is a fundamental and foundational skill for any sport or martial art. Those who perform at the highest levels, the pros, are also the most relaxed.

But these pros are also the most explosive – provided they don’t take relaxation too far.

Tai chi students in the western world don’t realize that their practice is similar to playing the piano. You are relaxed before you strike the keys, then you add tension and immediately follow it with relaxation.

There’s a balancing act going on at all times.

And this back-and-forth from relaxation to tension to relaxation gives you control of your body-mind.

It creates inner harmony and peace of mind.

This inevitably leads to you having the ability to turn tension on and off in a moment’s notice throughout the day.

For example, when you’re getting dressed for an important meeting, you may be so anxious that you begin to sweat or feel out of sorts.

You quickly recognize the tension you are feeling and you dial it down. You curb the anxiousness.

This ability to relax away unnecessary tension during the day doesn’t come overnight, but within a week or two, you will definitely notice that you have far more control then you had before.

As for the evening, when you practice before bed, the relaxation response is amazing. The first time you practice in the evening, you unwind your mind, you let go of stress and find yourself falling asleep with ease.

When you practice in the morning, the opposite happens. You may have been groggy when you got up, but after five minutes of practice, you have more oomph than before. You are ready to tackle your day with gusto and enthusiasm.

Pretty cool, eh?

If you haven’t gotten my Badass Tai Chi course yet, you missed the early bird special I had for it.

The amount for the course will go up again fairly soon. Tis why I suggest you get in NOW.

Click here to get started at once.

Matt Furey