11/12/2025
Be Like the Silk Worm
What is silk reeling, and should all Tai Chi practitioners be doing it?
Yes, indeed we should. Here's why.
Pound for pound, silk is stronger than steel because of its high tensile strength and elasticity. It comes from the silk worm, which spins a microscopic thread round and round itself, creating a continuous fibre.
Silk reeling in Tai Chi is the practice of spiralling and circling in creating continuous movements. It is the way we should move in general to create dynamic and powerful movements.
I have made a video showing you how I have more power, strength and movement to keep a kettlebell above my head with one hand while I touch my toes with my other hand. By spiralling.
You'll see that I can't do the same movement if I move downward in a straight line.
What's the point of this video? I want to prove a point - that if we want to excel in Tai Chi or any athletic endeavour, we need to learn to spiral. We need to know how to effectively use the rotations of our hips, shoulders and forearms all together in our movements.
We should already know to move as one unit. In Tai Chi, we know we are supposed to connect the whole body and move the whole body as one. Sports professionals of all sorts will tell you the same thing.
Would you like to learn more? Get in touch if you are interested in attending in-person classes or getting access to more videos like this one. Please click on the photo to access video. Enjoy. https://youtu.be/q9n0K5pmvJQ?si=h9ZIHXs5sRPya-rn
It's Wendy Chan from Tai Chi the Way of Life.
Please message me if you are interested in learning Tai Chi with me, online or in person. Thank you 😍😍😍
Be Like the Silk WormWhat is silk reeling, and should all Tai Chi practitioners be doing it? Yes, indeed we should. Here's why. Pound for pound, silk is stro...