The Five Steps of Taiji are a continuum. Master Lü’s Five Steps of Taiji advances from mastering external practices gradually into the internal practices of Taiji. You cannot continue to step 2 without mastering step 1 to a certain level. Each step will continue developing through years of practice and throughout your life. It is not a mistake to go a step down and return to basics: we all have to do that at some point during our Taiji-journey. Often the process is described as walking upwards in a circular staircase – sometimes you return back to where you started, all the while advancing. Nobody has absolute or perfect posture nor movement, but with correct training and guidance, we are all getting closer to it.

1. POSTURE. This is the key to step inside of Taiji. You can never emphasize the importance of posture too much: this is the foundation that everything is built on. With correct posture you will find the necessary external structure and right alignment to reach balance and connection in your body. All joints are in a natural position, relaxed and open.

2. MOVEMENT. When you have reached correct posture and structure you can start to move, keeping this structure and connection at all times in training. With correct movement you will connect your postures in the form, harmonize the movement and keep external connection in the body throughout the form.

3. ENERGY, QI, BREATHING. It is time to recognize the subtle effect of breathing in movement; to find the natural rhythm of breath. You are not changing the breath, but just following it, naturally joining it. Breathing will start the movement and end it. When you have relaxed enough, Qi will appear and start moving in the body with breathing. The movement of energy will move your body. You have stepped to the internal side of Taiji. Your internal movement will be expressed as external movement.

4. MIND, YI. The first three steps have tamed your monkey mind and in your practice you are experiencing a deepening feeling of solitude and inner peace. It’s time to “grasp” the Qi and start to control it with your mind. Your mind will lead the energy and the movement of energy will be expressed as external movement.

5. SHEN, SPIRIT. This is a level that not many have achieved. It cannot be described in words and therefore cannot be studied in theory. When the first four steps are ready, Shen will emerge.