"Open Wide", with your hands made 'hard' or Yang [see Session 4 - Module 2] and complete a long, deep breath in.

Rotate your hands so that the palms face downwards and then begin to sink at the knees and begin a long breath out.

As a rule of thumb, a breath out normally coincides with all 'pushing' - palms down or outward movements.

Phase 2. Gradually sink further down from the knees and turn the palms to face each other. KEEP LOOKING DIRECTLY AHEAD AT ALL TIMES - because an important aspect of this exercise is a physiotherapy for the back and this is seriously compromised if you bend you neck and back to face downwards.
Phase 3. You should become empty of breath when you reach the greatest knee bend.
Phase 4. With palms now turned upwards, begin to rise up again at the knees and begin to breathe in and become full when your hand reach about shoulder level.
Phase 5. 'Hold full' as you circle your hand around your face.
Phase 6. When you hand reach the top of your head rotate your palms to face upwards.
Phase 7. Breathe out as you push your hands up towards heaven. At the furthermost extension - with your palms still facing upwards, lift your heels off of the ground. This completes the upwards phases of this exercise.

To begin the downwards phases, first lower you heels back down to the ground and begin, with palms still facing upwards, to lower your knuckles towards your shoulders. At first, hold full and resist breathing in until your hands are about halfway through their journey towards your shoulders. While breathing in, bring the back of your hands to to top of your head and then rotate your wrist so that your palms now face the top of your head.

Hold full as you circle your hands downwards until they reach about shoulder level. Continue to hold full and in fact try to breathe in a little more as you open your arms to return to the "Opening Wide" position.

Then, repeat phases 1 - 7 at least five times.

In either case, "Connecting and Earth" is concluded in a quite particular manner, as follows:
From Phase 7 as described above, lower you heels back down to the ground and begin, with palms still facing upwards, to lower your knuckles towards your shoulders.

Now (to conclude) lower your elbows and position your hands to shoulder level with your palms facing outwards - to your left and your right respectively, fingers pointing upwards. Now, on an out breath, push outwards - like Samson pushing at the pillars. Stretch your hands, fingers and legs to full extension and close the "three gates" of toes, tongue and pelvic floor as described in Session 2 Module 1.

Finally, breathe in and then out as you return to the "Conclusion" position in exactly the same manner as also described in [s004m1] which, for clarity, I repeat as follows. Get your elbows behind you a little and bring your hands to alongside your body with thumbs inward and palms facing downwards.

Then, (no hurry!) breathe out and push down with both arms. For now, keep both palms facing down with your thumbs close to the side of your body. As your hands pass your waistline, soften your wrists and hands and return them to the 'Preparation' position ... thumbs gently touching your thighs. Remain in this posture for at least three in/out breaths and then, with final in breath and out breath, return to 'Attention'.

Note that the 'Preparation' and 'Conclusion' postures are exactly the same. The only difference is that one, done when it is, marks the beginning and the other, done when it is, marks the end!

THE DO TAI CHI SYLLABUS - Segment One (Sessions 1 - 5) Tai Chi Foundation Course. Chi Kung exercises to encourage the development and accumulation of Chi. Also functions as a six week 'stand alone' course in Chi Kung style meditative standing and breathing exercise sets culminating in the classic "Embracing the Tree" and "Connecting Heaven and Earth" Chi Kung sets.

In all session lesson plan notes it is recomended that each exercise be repeated "at least five times". This is an ammount that is suitable for begginners. Later, when comfortable, all exercises may be repeated up to thirty times each. If you decide to increase any one particular exercise to say ten repitition, increase ALL individual exercises to the same number.