Simple Monthly Home Practice - Grasping Sparrows Tail

I enjoy doing Tai Chi and "Grasping Sparrows Tail." I think I have practiced this movement enough so I can "feel" it's energy. When I perform this movement, my heart opens and it uplifts me. For me, it is about grasping, holding and letting go.

When I started Tai Chi, I was tense, competitive and self-conscious. Now the movement appears to be becoming part of me. I particularly love the sensation of letting go. In a way it is like the breath. I breath in, hold and then let go. Grasping is like the in-breath and letting go is the out-breath. And so it goes.

Grasping Sparrow's Tail

1. Stand with feet hip width apart and parallel. Knees are slightly bent. Arms are holding an invisible ball of qi, left hand below, and right hand above.

2. Shift weight to the right

3. Left foot gently steps out to the side, as if stepping onto an iced-over stream.

4. Imagine a sparrow is sitting in the palm of your left hand

5. Turn the waist to the left, allowing the left arm to follow and the weight to shift to the left.

6. At the same time, the right arm gently brushes the sparrow's tail.