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One of the key figures in the Yang family style of Tai Chi was Yang Cheng Fu. In the 1920's and 30's he developed what most people understand by Yang style Tai Chi these days.
One of the things Yang Cheng Fu wrote was a commentary involving 10 important points to remember when practising Tai Chi. I have included these with a short commentary by another Yang Master, Chen Wei-ming. Some Chinese words are used which are emphasised in italics. They are briefly explained by equivalent words in English in the following brackets. I have added a few more than the original text. Sometimes these equivalents cannot be taken too literally.
1) The head should be upright
The head should be upright so the shen (spirit) can reach the headtop. Don't use li (strength), or the neck will be stiff and the ch'i (breath) and blood cannot flow through. It is necessary to have a natural and lively feeling. If the spirit cannot reach the headtop, it cannot raise.
2) Sink the chest and pluck up the back
The chest is depressed naturally inward so that the ch'i (breath) can sink into the tan t'ien (energy centre beneath the waist). Don't project the chest: the ch'i gets stuck there and the body becomes top-heavy. The heel will be too light and can be uprooted. Pluck up the back and the ch'i sticks to the back; depress the chest and you can pluck up the back. Then you can discharge force through the spine. You will be a peerless boxer.
3) Sung (relax) the waist
The waist is the commander of the whole body. If you can sung the waist, then the two legs will have power and the lower part will be firm and stable. Substantial and insubstantial change, and this is based on the turning of the waist. It is said "the source of the postures lies in the waist. If you cannot get power, seek the defect in the legs and the waist".
4) Differentiate insubstantial and substantial
This is the first thing of all in T'ai Chi Ch'uan (Tai Chi). If the weight of the whole body is resting in the right leg, then the right leg is substantial and the left leg is insubstantial, and vice versa. When you can separate substantial and insubstantial, you can turn lightly without using strength. If you cannot separate (them), the step is heavy and slow. The stance is not firm and can be easily thrown off balance.
5) Sink the shoulders and elbows
The shoulders will be completely relaxed and opened. If you cannot relax and sink, the two shoulders will be "uptight". The ch'i (breath) will follow them up and the whole body cannot get power. "Sink the elbows," means the elbows go down and relax. If the elbows raise, the shoulders are not able to sink and you cannot discharge people far. The (discharge) is close to the broken force of the external schools.
6) Use mind and not force
The T'ai Chi Ch'uan Classics (Writings of previous masters) say "all of this means use i (mind) and not li (force)." In practising T'ai chi Ch'uan the whole body relaxes. Don't let one ounce of force remain in the blood vessels, bones, and ligaments to tie yourself up. Then you can be agile and able to change. You will be able to turn freely and easily. Doubting this (not using li), how can you increase your power.
The body has meridians like the ground has ditches and trenches. If not obstructed, the water can flow. If the meridian is not closed, the ch'i (breath) goes through. If the whole body has hard force and it fills up the meridians, the ch'i and blood stop and the turning is not smooth and agile. Just pull one hair and the whole body is off-balance. If you use i not li, Then the i goes to a place (in the body) and the ch'i follows it. The ch'i and the blood circulate. If you do this every day and never stop, after a long time you will have nei chin (real internal force). The T'ai Chi Ch'uan Classics say, "when you are extremely soft, then you become extremely hard and strong." Someone who has extremely good T'ai Chi Ch'uan kung fu (Tai Chi skills) has arms like iron wrapped with cotton and the weight is very heavy. As for those who practice the external schools, when they use li, they reveal li. When they don't use li, they are too light and floating. Their chin (internal force) is external and locked together. The li of the external schools is easily led and moved, and not to be esteemed.
7) Upper and lower mutually follow
The T'ai chi Ch'uan Classics say "the motion should be rooted in the feet, released through the legs, controlled by the waist and manifested through the fingers." Everything is the same (acts in one breath). When your hand, waist and foot move together, the eyes follow. If one part doesn't follow, the whole body is disordered.
8) Inside and outside coordinate
In the practice of T'ai Chi Ch'uan the main thing is the spirit. Therefore it is said "the spirit is the commander and the body is the subordinate." If you can raise the spirit, then the movements will be naturally agile. The postures are not beyond insubstantial and substantial, opening and closing. That which is called open is means not only the hands and feet are open, but the mind is also open. That which means closed means not only the hands and feet are closed, but the mind is also closed. When you make the inside and outside become one, then it becomes complete.
9) It is mutually joined and unbroken
As to the external schools, their chin (internal force) is the Latter Heaven brute chin (Low-grade energy - interrupted). Therefore it is finite. There are connections and breaks. (During the breaks) the old force is exhausted and the new force has not yet been born. At these moments it is very easy for others to take advantage. T'ai Chi Ch'uan uses i (mind) and not li (force). From beginning to end it is continuous and not broken. It is circular and again resumes. It revolves and has no limits. The original Classics (Tai Chi texts written by earlier masters) say it is "like a great river rolling on unceasingly," and that the circulation of chin (a form of internal energy) is "like pulling silk." They all talk about being connected together.
10) Seek stillness in movement
The external schools assume jumping about is good and they use all their energy. That is why after practice everyone pants. T'ai Chi Ch'uan uses stillness to control movement. Although one moves, there is also stillness. Therefore in practising the form, slower is better. If it is slow, the inhalation and exhalation are long and deep and the ch'i sinks to tan t'ien (energy centre below waist). Naturally there is no injurious practice such as engorgement of the blood vessels. The learner should be careful to comprehend it. Then you will get the real meaning.