Moving like a flowing river

Under heaven nothing is more soft and weaker than water.
Yet for attacking the hard and the resistant, nothing can surpass it.
The weak can conquer the strong,
The soft can conquer the hard.
Under heaven everyone knows this
Yet no one seems to apply it.
Lao Tzu

I was reminded of the above text by Lao Tzu, when I saw how different the beach looks today after yesterdays storm, millions of tonnes of pebbles have moved to form a new terrace equal in height, to the height of yesterdays high tide. And yet, when we put our hand into a bowl of water, the water molds to the shape of our hand effortlessly. Try to pick up a handful of water and water trickles through our fingers. But water, with all its softness, will cut through mountains and re-shape landscapes.

So when we change from one posture to another in Tai Chi, our movements should flow like a river, effortlessly, continuously moving and changing position with out hesitation. Just as rain drops falling on the river become part of the river, so should each posture of a form become like one long posture. And each 'drop' of internal energy combine and move like a flowing river through out our entire body.