Four Gates

LI 4 is located on the padded area of your hand between the thumb and index finger, between the first and second metacarpal bones. Massage this point with your thumb on both hands for approximately 30 seconds.

LV 3 is located in a hollow on the top of your foot below the gap between your big toe and the next toe, between the 1st and 2nd metatarsal bones. To stimulate this point, place your right heel in the juncture between the bones that attach to the large and second toes and gently knead the point for approximately thirty seconds. Then switch sides to stimulate the point on your other foot.

Baihui for Clarity
Massage acupuncture point, Baihui for mental clarity. Located on the top of the head midway between the ears Baihui is used to clear the mind, calm the spirit, and improve focus. Stimulate the point with your index finger for 30-45 seconds for a quick “brain boost”.

Yintang for Calmness
Yintang, a point located midway between the eyebrows is sometimes referred to as “the third eye”. Stimulation of Yintang is known to calm the mind, enhance one’s ability to focus, soothe emotions, promote sleep, and relieve depression.

Wuji Zhuang 無極樁

How are we going to develop the power of Thirteen Postures? Every school of Taijiquan has its own way of training and cultivating “internal energy” (内功). The master begins with a method known as “live pole” （活樁）. Actually the master calls it “live farmstead” （活莊）, which conceives the body as a hub connecting a bunch of networks, not unlike that of a farmstead linking up adjacent farmlands and pathways.

It starts with Wuji (無極 ) , which is a form of meditative standing. In essense, you try to keep your mind in a state of emptiness. Physically, it requires you to:

1. Stand erect, with feet shoulder-width apart.
2. Hang arms loosely from shoulder joints. Fingers open and relax with space in between.
3. Tuck your chin. Head upright. Like Baihui point (百會穴) is attached to a spring from above. Baihui point is not in the middle of the head, but near the twirl of the hair.
4. Straighten your spine.

From Wuji we move into action and perform a series of ten postures slowly.

1. Head on 貫頂          
   

   Head On 貫頂

2. Turn around 扭環    
3. Mingle 混化
4. Push along 推揉
5. Converge & diverge 聚散
6. Rotate 旋轉
7. Grind 圓研    
8. Spinning palm 轉掌
9. Piercing palm 穿掌  
10. Live pole 活莊

The master describes the movements in terms of opening, closing, rising, falling, floating, sinking, diverging, converging, floating, sinking, twisting and spiraling, etc.

Turn Around 扭環

I have drawn up a few sketches here in the hope that you can get some idea of what these movements are like.

Mingle 混化