WHAT IS THE BEST TIME TO PRACTICE TAI CHI
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The best time to practice Tai Chi is the time that works best for you and allows you to practice consistently.
I have read in many Tai Chi books that sunrise and sunset are ideal times to practice. This makes sense to me for several reasons. Practicing in the morning can be a peaceful way to begin your day, while an evening practice can help you slow down and transition from the activity of the day.
But after practicing Tai Chi daily for more than 32 years, I believe something is more important than choosing the perfect time of day: making Tai Chi a consistent part of your life.
Is It Better to Practice Tai Chi in the Morning or Evening?
There are benefits to practicing at either time.
Morning Tai Chi can be a wonderful way to wake up the body, focus the mind, improve your balance, and begin the day with movement and awareness. Practicing before the responsibilities of the day begin may also make it easier for some people to maintain a consistent routine.
Evening Tai Chi gives you an opportunity to slow down after a busy day, release unnecessary tension, and bring your attention back to your breathing, posture, and movement.
Sunrise and sunset can also be beautiful times to practice outdoors as the day transitions from night to day or day to night.
I enjoy both, but I have never followed a strict schedule for when I practice. For the most part, I practice Tai Chi and Qigong every day, but the time depends on what fits into my schedule.
Morning or evening isn't nearly as important as finding a time that allows you to keep practicing.
How Often Should You Practice Tai Chi?
Ideally, I recommend practicing Tai Chi every day.
That doesn't mean you need to perform a complete form or practice for an hour every day. Even a few minutes of focused practice can keep you connected to your Tai Chi and reinforce what you are learning.
Consistency is more important than waiting until you have enough time for the perfect practice session.
If you have only five or ten minutes, you might work on a few postures, practice your weight shifting, focus on your balance and alignment, or simply spend some time standing and becoming aware of unnecessary tension in your body.
A short practice is still a practice.
A consistent Tai Chi practice can benefit both the mind and body. Learn more about the lifelong benefits of practicing Tai Chi.
How Long Should You Practice Tai Chi Each Day?
There is no single amount of time that is right for everyone.
Your practice time will depend on your experience, what you are working on, your physical abilities, and the amount of time available that day.
A beginner might spend a few minutes practicing one movement learned in class. An experienced practitioner may spend considerably longer working on forms, individual postures, Qigong, applications, or other aspects of the art.
Instead of worrying about how many minutes you practiced, ask yourself whether you practiced with awareness and purpose.
Over time, those minutes add up.
What If You Can't Practice Your Tai Chi Form Every Day?
This is where I believe the idea of Tai Chi Daily becomes bigger than simply practicing a form every day.
The symbol most commonly associated with Tai Chi is the Yin Yang. It represents balance and the relationship between complementary forces. Tai Chi teaches us principles that don't have to end when our formal practice ends.
There may be days when work, family, travel, illness, or other responsibilities make it difficult to practice your complete form. You can still bring the principles of Tai Chi into your everyday life.
Improve your posture while sitting at your desk. Allow your shoulders to settle and relax. Pay attention to your balance and posture when you walk. Become aware of unnecessary tension in your body. Slow down your breathing when life becomes stressful. Make a healthier choice at your next meal.
Even the smallest everyday movements can become opportunities to practice.
Notice if you're gripping your computer mouse more tightly than necessary and relax your hand. When you open or close a door, become aware of how you're moving and practice moving your body as one connected unit.
The same awareness can extend beyond physical movement. When you find yourself caught in negative thinking, try shifting your attention toward something positive. Work toward having a more positive outlook on life.
Sometimes I like to approach the day with the feeling that something wonderful is about to happen.
These things may seem small, but Tai Chi has taught me that small adjustments practiced consistently can make a difference.
Try to improve one thing each day.
You may not practice your form every day, but you can still work toward improving the balance of mind, body, and spirit a little each day.
To me, that is also part of practicing Tai Chi daily.
My Experience Practicing Tai Chi Late at Night
There was a period when I was learning and practicing the Chen-style 56 competition form outside in my backyard. For some reason, I often found myself practicing around 11 p.m.
My German Shepherd Ronin would be outside with me, usually running circles around me and trying to get my attention by bringing me sticks. Don't worry—I wasn't ignoring him. I always made sure he had plenty of play and exercise too.
It was winter in New York, and I'm definitely more of a warm-weather person. I would bundle up with a hat, gloves, scarf, and heavy coat before heading outside.
The main reason I practiced outdoors was simple: space.
The Chen 56 form requires quite a bit of room, and practicing outside meant I didn't have to interrupt the form to reposition myself because I had reached a wall or piece of furniture.
Practicing on grass presented another challenge. The ground wasn't perfectly level, so I had to remain centered and aware of my balance.
But there was something else I came to appreciate about practicing outside at night.
On a clear night, I could look up and see a bright moon and a sky filled with stars. Sometimes I would feel connected to something much larger than myself. I'm not religious, but when I'm outside in nature, I often feel very close to God.
There is something special about hearing the insects and frogs, an occasional car passing in the distance, and the moments of silence in between—all while relaxing Asian meditation music plays softly in the background. It's an amazing experience and one that is difficult to fully describe until you've experienced it yourself.
If you have a safe, well-lit, and comfortable place to practice outdoors at night, I hope one day you'll give it a try.
It wasn't sunrise. It wasn't sunset. It wasn't even particularly comfortable outside.
But it was the time and place that allowed me to practice.
And that's what mattered.
The Best Time to Practice Tai Chi Is the Time You'll Actually Practice
If sunrise works for you, practice at sunrise.
If practicing after work helps you release the tension of the day, practice after work.
If the only quiet time you have is 11 p.m., there is nothing wrong with practicing at 11 p.m.
And if you only have a few minutes today, use those few minutes well.
Tai Chi isn't about creating a perfect practice schedule. It is a lifelong practice of developing greater awareness, balance, relaxation, structure, and harmony—not only in our movements, but in our daily lives.
Find the time that works for you, practice consistently, and allow the principles of Tai Chi to become part of the way you live each day.
Your journey, our shared path.™