05/30/2023
According to “The Yellow Emperor's Canon of Internal Medicine", “each breath (inhale and exhale) moves the pulse six inches”; “each day consists of 50 orbits”. The phrase refers to the benefit of the body's meridians to run 50 cycles a day, each cycle taking about 28.8 minutes. Therefore, it is believed that any practice that is less than 30 minutes does not yield much benefit. Qi is not able to break through blockages and regular failure to spend the minimum required time may mean that the desired health and capability results will not be realised.
It is difficult for beginners to calm down to enter a quiet zone. When the mind is restless and wandering it is not possible to have the sensitivity to experience and control the breath (qi), intention (yi) and spirit (shen). Generally it takes at least an hour and half for internal feelings to permeate the body. For the body to feel warmth and lightness, and for tension to be released and the legs feel strong. In this state of calm, the repair effect of the body and mind is optimum and gongfu progress is the fastest.
Therefore, one should continue to practise after entering the state, and keep the state of quiet for as long as possible. From ancient times, the basic principles of practice are often based on one ‘unit’ of time, i.e. two hours, as the body gets progressively stronger after three to five meridian cycles.
Taijiquan master Chen FaKe said that practitioners should “strike while the iron is hot” and to “keep the fire burning”. To not let the furnace go cold once it is lit and to keep the fire burning by consistent practice instead of having to light the fire each time you practise.
The effect of practice must be able to withstand loneliness and to devote time steadily, but it cannot be "only" measured by time while ignoring the "quality of practice".
