Tai Chi Consistency
The future belongs to the consistent.
Not the talented, not the lucky,
but the one who shows up, even when it is hard.
Show up.
Effort never betrays you.
Consistency in Classical Tai Chi practice every day is more important than the total time spent each day. Practicing for shorter periods regularly is more effective than having longer, infrequent sessions. The key to reaping the benefits of classical tai chi, especially in the early stages of study, is consistent and unhurried practice over time.
I searched for activities that promote learning and development. Generally, it indicates that building a habit through consistent small actions leads to significant long-term results. Research suggests that establishing a lasting habit requires a commitment of around 60 days.
This consistency helps form a habit, which in classical tai chi is crucial for mastering the classical tai chi "internal discipline" movements and experiencing the health and mental wellness benefits. The same consistency with the suggested commitment helps form habits for mastering classical tai chi Forms: Square, Round, and Left sides (mirror image).
Establishing just a small but consistent practice can have profound effects. The emphasis here is that the act of regular practice is worth much more than the long durations of time in each practice session.
Consistency is a more critical factor than the amount of time spent when forming habits. When creating a habit, it has its roots in repeating a task over time. Consistent practice is the key to success. While the total time invested matters, the regularity and reliability of the action lead to habit formation, as habits are not the result of genetics or random chance but are built through consistently repeating your work.
Your consistent behavior may even have occasional lapses, but that will not stop your progress. What counts is that the ongoing effort plays a more significant role than simply sticking to your practice. You typically need to take approximately 10 weeks to adjust to your behavior, after which it requires minimal thinking.
This consistency creates momentum, making the action easier and transforming it from a struggle into a natural part of one's routine. When you are consistent, you develop the ability to achieve significant results from smaller actions. You are showing up consistently each day. That will work better than trying to spend hours at a time. Make it a point to spend at least 10 to 15 minutes dedicated to practice. That is way more effective than increasing the amount of time you spend.
Consistency is more effective than sporadic, lengthy practice because your muscles remember how much you understand. Anchor your practice to an existing routine, a cup of coffee, tea, or even a shower, to make it easier to establish. A helpful technique is habit stacking—attaching your tai chi practice to a subconscious routine you already perform, like going outside to get the newspaper.
Remember, it's okay to have occasional missed days; the key is to avoid "zero days" by doing even a small activity related to tai chi, such as watching Master Stephen Hwa's Teachable.com lessons or YouTube videos, keeping your practice in gear. Love what you are doing, have patience, and view your practice as the first steps toward improving your skills.
