（一）體鬆心靜 Relax Body and Quiet Heart
體鬆心靜是太極拳的運動特點之一。“體鬆”是指在練拳時，身體肌肉處於一種放鬆狀態，使身體自然舒展，不得用僵力。“心靜”是指練拳時要排除一切雜念，注意力要集中。
“The relaxed body and quiet heart”is one of the movement characteristics of Taiji Quan.The“relaxed body”means that the body muscles are in relaxation status during practice and the body is naturally stretched without the rigid force.The“quiet heart”means that you shall remove all the distracting thoughts and pay attention.
（二）緩慢柔和 Slow and Gentle Strength
緩慢柔和也是太極拳的運動特點。一套簡化太極拳，二十四個動作，按正常速度需要在5～6分鍾完成，緩慢還需要連貫，即動作連綿不斷。而柔的前提是要放鬆，在此基礎上，使兩臂的姿勢及運動路線都要保持弧形。
The slow and gentle strength is also the characteristic of Taiji Quan.A set of simplified Taiji Quan has 24 movements，which shall be finished in between 5 and 6 minutes at normal speed.It requires slow but continuous strength，namely the successive movements with the premise of the softness of being relaxed.On that basis，the postures and moving lines of two arms shall be maintained in a curve.
（三）動作、呼吸和意念相配合 Coordination of Movements，Breath，and Mind
初學時要保持自然呼吸，練習到一定程度時，須將呼吸、意念相配合。太極拳的呼吸一般都是與動作相配合的，即起吸、落呼，開吸、合呼，如起勢、收勢動作，兩臂向上抬起時吸氣，下落時呼氣。兩手張開時吸氣，合時呼氣。另一種呼吸方式為：凡是一個動作完成時呼氣，過渡動作時吸氣。還可以理解為，向外進攻的動作為呼氣，進攻前的動作為吸氣。無論哪一種呼吸方式都應力求自然。動作與意念的配合，就是練拳時要排除一切雜念，把注意力集中到動作上。以意識引導動作，做到“意領身隨”。