During the course of training there are different stages one passes through. For example when working with Forms we have 10 different criteria for good Forms-practice, also used when judging competitions. These are valuable tools when going through these different stages.

While teaching at this years Tai Chi Caledonia in Scotland there was a discussion about
Spirit - Shen - 神

If you listen to what Faye Li Yip has to say about this subject - from about 1:18 and forward - she gives a good recollection of the different processes in training, although they are all inter-related.

Firstly we have to adjust the body - Shen - 身

Learning new movements, working with new nerve- and muscle connections, reconstructing old patterns of movement and reactions, building a stronger fundament - muscle, connective tissue, sinews, better stamina etc. In Tai Chi Chuan there is a great deal of focus on letting go of unnecessary/unconscious tension to optimze bodily functions. This is of course a fundamental and crucial part of Kung Fu training, and usually includes a certain amount of pain and determination - what is usually referred to as "eating bitter", while going beyond ones present physical boundaries.

Secondly we will have to adjust the breath - Qi - 氣

Qi in this sense is not some mystic universal force, but the breath - adjusting it correctly to the movements and actions we are performing, keeping it steady, calm and deep. In our tradition we always breathe through the nose and trying to keep the breath deep. Since there are many connections between ones breath and ones emotional state it has an important function of keeping focus and awareness for example in a self defence sitiuation. Most meditation traditions use the breath to calm/raise the next aspect;

Adjusting the heart/mind - Xin - 心

In chinese traditions, such as medicine, the physical heart is also connected to, and provides housing to the mind, which involves all the psychological and emotional aspects we connect with the brain and psychology in the west. To have a correct mental state in practice is what we strive for. When fighting it is not always the most fit and well conditioned fighter coming out as a winner - people talk about "a fighters heart" which shows that you can overcome physical weaknesses via the mind/heart. In many Southeast Asian systems there are various examples of working with the "right" mind-set according to the situation. This goes well into the next level as well, since some arts literally talk and train to be "obsessed" using the mind of for example a monkey, tiger etc. This mind-set is also visible in other internal arts as in the animals of Bagua Zhang. In our tradition we have plenty of references to chinese symbolism in our Nei Kung system, which also is a way of adjusting the mind. In Form practice we have the "Tai Chi at Rest"-position before commencing the Form. This functions as a trigger - quitening the mind and the constant chatter of thoughts in our psyche. The analogy is a still water mirror, perfectly reflecting the moon without any distortion or ripple. Just reflecting the now and what is there, no judgements or opinions - very Zen. Most of us are easily absorbed either in the past - which we really cannot do much about, or in the future - which we actually dont know anything about, to a degree where we totally forget that the only moment we have influence over and can change is - right now.

Adjusting the spirit - Shen - 神

At this level of training the boundaries between all the before mentioned aspects sease to exist and blend into one. This is where you see a performer, athlete or artist totally absorbed in what he or she is doing. It is no longer merely a technique - which can be perfectly functional and correct - but something beyond. When experiencing performances at this level you get a sense of "he/she has got IT". Is it the performer performing or is the performance expressing itself through the performer?