Crow Bridge

[Path to Mastery 4/22/10 – Wk32 D4 (Str 9.12.09)(Ph2 11.15.09)]

Continuing our Tai-Chi Journey:

Crow Bridge refers to connecting the tip of your tongue to the roof of your mouth.  There are a lot of explanations as to why this should be done. 

Crow Bridge is named after the legend of a couple that were separated from each other and could only meet once a year when crows would form a bridge for them to meet.  The tongue is supposed to bridge a natural Chi pathway that is disconnected from the roof of the mouth to the throat.  It is believed that by placing the tongue on the roof of the mouth, you complete the Chi pathway the travels through the center of the front of the body. 

It is also said that the mild tension on the tongue necessary to create the bridge allows the white blood to flow through your mouth to prevent your mouth from getting dry, meaning your mouth will salivate.  I didn’t understand the importance of this until I started studying relaxation a bit deeper.  Apparently, when the mouth is dry, the body will not relax.  When the mouth is salivating it is a signal of relaxation.  Also, when you place the tongue on the roof of your mouth, your jaw cannot tighten.  According to western science, the body cannot relax unless you have a relaxed jaw.  So, the Tai-chi people figured out that by placing the tongue on the roof of the mouth, you salivate and create a slack jaw that brings you into deeper relaxation. 

Pretty cool huh?

So, when you remember, gently place your tongue on the roof of your mouth and relax your jaw, and you will feel much more relaxed.  It also helps you regulate your breath as well.     

History of Tai-Chi Journey up to this point:
Before the blog opened to the public, we covered the single person part of the system.
1. Chi-Gong (Taoist Longevity, White Crane Chi-Gong); 2. Standing Meditation
3. Stepping Mediation; 4. 7 Basics; 5. Basic Form; 6. 30 Form; 7. 108 Form
8. 4 Type Pushing Hands

Interactive training after we went public with the blog. 
1. 8 Type Pushing Hands (Covered from 2/2 ~ 2/11); 2. San-Shou (Covered from 2/12 ~ 2/15)
3. Ba-Gua.(Covering from 2/16 ~ 2/19); 4. Weapons (Covered on 2/23)
5. Healing System (Covered on 2/24)

Non-Structured System:
1.Introduction (Covered 2/25); 2. Free moving – conditioning (Covered 2/26); 3.Free hand pushing hand (Covered 3/1); 4.Free hand (2 person drills and multiple person drills) (Covered 3/2); 5.Free hand weapon (2 person drills and multiple person drills) (Covered 3/3)

Detailed Instructions:
1.Principles (Covered 3/4)
2.Principle of Principles (Covered 3/5)
3.Principles of Upper Body #1~5 (Covered 3/8 – 3/15)
4.Principles Governing Lower Body #1~5 (Covered 3/16 – 3/22)
5. Principle Governing the Whole Body: (Covered 3/23)
6. Principles Governing Movement #1~5 (Covered 3/24 – 3/31)
7. Principles Governing Relaxation – General Concept (Covered 4/1 – 4/14)
8. Principles Governing Breathing
  1.Awareness of Breath (Covered 4/19)
  2.Breathe Naturally (Covered 4/20)
  3.No Sound Breath (Covered 4/21)
  4.Crow Bridge (Covered 4/22)
  5.Dan-Tien Breathing
  6.Directed Breathing
  7.Small Heavenly Circle
  8.Great Heavenly Circle
  9.Reverse Breathing
  10.Whole Body Breathing