太极拳意练的核心目标是通过技巧上的灵活性和劲力的精准运用，实现刚柔并济。在短时间内建立起高级神经反射功能，这是一个复杂过程，因此必须循序渐进地进行。日常走架时，要在心中设想对手，集中精神，对每个动作都要有针对性，以体现招式的应用。
气路和劲路的练习应随着姿势变化而调整意识导引，以确保沿着特定的劲路进行攻击（包括各种劲法）。例如，练习开合劲、钻翻劲、滚卷劵需在十字手等姿势中频繁使用意识指导。只有形成习惯才能逐步提高应变能力。
意念是太极拳修行中的灵魂
重视“意”是修炼太极拳不可或缺的一环，思想集中、心平气和，用意念指导每个动作的正确性、连贯性和圆润度。动作过程中，上下相随、内外合一、意到力到，使整套招式中的每一个细节都被意念贯穿，不容丝毫间断。这需要长期坚持，将意与气与形融为一体，让气充盈全身，为锻炼带来重要作用。
长期系统地练习使内脏不停地做出微妙压挤和转动，从而锻炼肌体内部层次，也能感受到气流快速通过腹部产生温暖感，然后遍及全身，如沐春风般，使人感到心旷神怡、高雅不可侵犯的心境。这就是太极拳“行气如九曲珠，无微不至”的境界，也展现了松静圆活之美。
太极拳中的意与形相辅相成
太极拳中的形与意均很重要。我认为，要强调“意”，首先要强调“形”。如果没有重视形，那么即便有很多关于如何运用力量和控制身体移动的理论也将变得无效。而且，在没有深入理解这些理论之前，我们无法真正认识它们。从根本上说，学习正统武术架构——即基本功—is the foundation of everything. This requires a long-term commitment to practice, which is both the process of learning and the process of cultivating one's intention.
Through consistent practice, each movement can be memorized and deeply ingrained in our minds. Over time, this becomes a comprehensive understanding of the entire form, allowing us to consider it logically. This logical understanding is what we call "intention" or "spirit" in Tai Chi.
At first glance, "intention" seems vague and intangible; however, once we understand its true meaning, it loses its ambiguity. It refers to a deep understanding of the entire form that guides our movements with grace and precision. Achieving this level allows us to command our movements effortlessly as if adding flowers on top of an already beautiful painting (锦上添花). This is truly the essence of Tai Chi's intention.
Even if you have mastered proper technique combined with strong intent at your current level, there still remains much more to explore from within. The exploration at this stage differs significantly from previous efforts aimed at shaping form based on intuition. In this new phase, intentions are built upon established quality but now serve as a guide for furthering shape development as well; thus creating an upward spiral where improvements in shape enhance intentions while simultaneously elevating them further through continuous refinement until reaching profound mastery levels such as being able to execute all actions without any pause or hesitation—reaching out-of-body experiences where every move feels effortless yet precise—and ultimately attaining enlightenment-like states beyond human comprehension: becoming “out-of-this-world” masters who seem almost divine by their ability seamlessly integrating all elements into fluid motion making their art appear like magic before others' eyes—exuding gracefulness unparalleled even among other martial arts practitioners worldwide!
