我曾见过一些练习太极拳的人，看到书中提到“猫行步法”，误以为这只是形容一种轻灵的走姿，就像家猫或野猫一样稳健。然而，我后来了解到，这在传统太极拳中确实有一种叫做“猫形步”的独特练习方法，但这种详尽的介绍却很少见于书籍和杂志。

我们平时走路的时候，总是先用一脚去，然后另一脚跟上。但是，“迈步如猫行”就不能这样做。名家郝少如先生曾经说过：“不许后脚用力，要让前脚站稳了，后脚慢慢地移动过去，而且当后脚放在前面时，在重心还没有移动过去的时候，还要能无费力的抽回来。”我的老师林墨根先生也曾教导我：“太极拳中的猫形步体现的是腰胯带动四肢的虚实运动，要下苦功把它练到位，即使辛苦，也能增强腰腿的松软沉稳之力。”

cats move by lifting one leg while the other three legs support their body. Humans are different, we lift one leg and only have the other to support us. The lifted leg should be slightly bent to support our entire weight, and we must pay attention to balance and coordination, always keeping our mind focused on our waist. When practicing slowly, it's even harder for the supporting leg.

The cat form step in Tai Chi is closely related to the waist and hips. It has slow and fast versions. Generally, you start with the slow version first until you're proficient, then move on to the fast version.

When starting from a right foot forward left foot back position (right bow stance), first relax your perineum (when moving forward) or your abdomen (when moving backward), looking forward slightly upwards. From your right knee joint loosen up through your ankle joint down to your heel bone at Yongquan acupoint. Your right heel should point 45 degrees outward while your foot sole and toes touch the ground firmly with good coordination between them and your body.

Next, slowly turn your waist towards the right side until left heel lifts off from ground level. Second is relaxing my left shoulder when this happens there should be more stability in my right foot; then relax my left inguinal fossa before turning my waist towards left side simultaneously leading outwards of Mingmen acupoint with slight upward head movement.

Thirdly let both glutes drop downwards while lifting frontally up just a bit as I lightly lift my knee forwards followed by using my right hipside hold up my left hip till reaching Yongquan acupoint again but this time leaving it behind as well like pulling away into space without any effort whatsoever—thereby creating an external appearance of eight directions yet inside being like a non-existent bow that’s not really bending nor lying flat which makes me feel as if I am standing on tip-toes at all times throughout these movements

Then imagine transferring weight onto lower Dantian area where energy accumulates before falling onto another foot making one real turn virtual upon landing at Yongquan acupoint again after some time rests here gently tapping fingertips against each corner of both feet soles respectively though still keeping posture straight upright standing tall over two feet —and lastly allow outermost edge around toe tips along with ankles remain firm unyielding steady meanwhile carefully lowering knees down till they become soft & relaxed allowing full freedom for easy movement within these steps

And finally achieve proper pose maintaining centerline vertically balanced -waist lowered sagging -hips tucked inward together forming an ideal state where remaining completely stable despite having taken multiple steps ahead just now giving impression that each step was either not stepped upon or did not exist thus proving effectiveness & efficiency gained during practice session through constant repetition improving skill mastery learning new techniques perfecting those already learned refining overall performance enhancing quality understanding its true essence nature