It is probably true to say that few people make any prolonged attempt to achieve the tactile and strategic skills necessary to accomplish the fundamentals of the push-hands method. Yet it is an essential part of the internal martial arts and extremely useful in terms of emotional health and physical balance. Most teachers would agree that much time and misunderstanding is generated by the novice. The most common of which among western novices is the notion that Push hands is meant to be a combative test of personal prowess. This makes things too understandable, overly visionary, and a little too nicely new age.
Nothing comes that easily to hand in martial technique as a rule.
The Push Hands Method requires mental application emotional balance, intuitive understanding of energetic expression coupled with a refined sense of conservation of position and purpose. Changing fluidly through the postures in a meaningful way is paramount. The body, emotion and strength must work with responsive clarity. This can be accomplished by gradual insight, research, friendship and patience. If it is possible devote considerable time to acquiring deep four cycle breathing.