Tai chi – Lesson 4: Part the Wild Horseʼs Mane

About This Class

Lesson 4 in Terry Kvasnik's Tai Chi series guides students through the new form movement "Part the Wild Horse's Mane," carefully layering footwork, weight shifting, waist rotation, and the signature brushing hand action before integrating it into the growing sequence from previous lessons. The warm-up includes gentle neck circles, shoulder circles, knee rotations, ankle/foot stimulation, and a full-body "dragon teacups" compass drill that opens the hips, shoulders, and spine through spiraling, squat-supported arcs in all eight directions. The Tai Chi form practice emphasizes softness, curved movement, 45-degree arm angles, a held-ball position, and the principle that all motion originates from the waist rather than the extremities. After the form, the class shifts into an energizing tiger push-up sequence (10 rounds) that builds cardiovascular intensity and upper-body strength, performed with fingertip variations and elbow-to-floor transitions. The session closes with a standing Dantian (belly) awareness meditation, a breath-expansion closing ritual, and a reminder to practice little and often for lasting benefit. Throughout, the instructor encourages students to work within their own range, avoid sharp joint pain, and prioritize comfort and presence over technical perfection.