taiji alignment question

[shontonga]

Had posted a question in the personal practice section on tai ji

but it was suggested to throw it into the general discussion area ?

 

My questions are about alignments and how do you learn them?

Or improve them!

 

How do you test them on your own?

 

Have worked with others holding a "pose"

then having someone push from different angles,

different places, I like that.

Like push hands too.

Feel and see a lot with both of those

but am practicing mostly on my own these days

and not in any classes with other students.

 

So How can it be done? Self testing alignments?

 

Any experiences or stories of how you learned or are learning would be great!

Connections you feel as things "link"up,

what tricks did you find to help you feel them clearer?

(like tucking the tail or some such?)

 

Or just anything you'd like to share about taiji, Love to hear it!

 

Stay well,

Shon

 

Hey?

Thanks to you guys who replied to the other questions too!

I do appreciate it!

[adam mizner]

hi

alignment must be taught in detail from a good teacher who know about it, it is trained mainly if form practice. posture testing is not a reliable way to test it as one person pushing on another both with poor alignment will not show much at all, the result will be relative to the pushers alignment and root. taiji must be practiced in accordance with the taiji theory. if they principles are correct then the taiji will be as well.

 

metta

adam

 

Had posted a question in the personal practice section on tai ji

but it was suggested to throw it into the general discussion area ?

 

My questions are about alignments and how do you learn them?

Or improve them!

 

How do you test them on your own?

 

Have worked with others holding a "pose"

then having someone push from different angles,

different places, I like that.

Like push hands too.

Feel and see a lot with both of those

but am practicing mostly on my own these days

and not in any classes with other students.

 

So How can it be done? Self testing alignments?

 

Any experiences or stories of how you learned or are learning would be great!

Connections you feel as things "link"up,

what tricks did you find to help you feel them clearer?

(like tucking the tail or some such?)

 

Or just anything you'd like to share about taiji, Love to hear it!

 

Stay well,

Shon

 

Hey?

Thanks to you guys who replied to the other questions too!

I do appreciate it!

[Dainin]

Shon, there's an interesting article in the current issue of Qi Journal entitled "The Role of Momentum in Tai Chi" by John Loupos that may be of use to you. It has some pictures illustrating correct and incorrect alignment. The article was taken the book "Tai Chi Connections" by the same author. Since you are practicing mostly on your own, maybe using a mirror or video camera might give you some useful feedback. Regards --Ken

[Spectrum]

Start from the bottom up. Jump Feet First.

[tumoessence]

If alignment is correct then I find that you should be relaxed as well and not have to hold it. In most cases incorrect alignment comes from the lower back being compressed or put another way the tailbone is not tucked under. Or to put it another way the pelvis is tilted such that if visualized as a soup bowl the soup would spill out the front. Also the head and neck should be suspended. The relaxation comes from the bone structure being in a straight line from top of the head to the ankle. If the bones are not aligned the surface muscles must compensate to "hold" you up. If you are doing Wu style the Loupos article may be confusing since holding the torso perpendicular to the ground may not produce good alignment.

Bill

[shontonga]

hi

alignment must be taught in detail from a good teacher who know about it, it is trained mainly if form practice. posture testing is not a reliable way to test it as one person pushing on another both with poor alignment will not show much at all, the result will be relative to the pushers alignment and root. taiji must be practiced in accordance with the taiji theory. if they principles are correct then the taiji will be as well.

 

metta

adam

 

Thank you Adam.

Yes. It come down again to correct practice.

Teacher is good but not seen as often as i wished !

and mmm, looking for conformation on my own, I guess.

Thank you for the sound advice, much appreciated.

 

Do know how the results are relative but didn't know another example to give : )

Still like that exercise alot and find it very informative

both about this self and the one/s that are worked with.

Princibles.

yup.

ok.

will do. yer right.

No escaping them is there, lol!

Thanks!

 

 

 

 

Shon, there's an interesting article in the current issue of Qi Journal entitled "The Role of Momentum in Tai Chi" by John Loupos that may be of use to you. It has some pictures illustrating correct and incorrect alignment. The article was taken the book "Tai Chi Connections" by the same author. Since you are practicing mostly on your own, maybe using a mirror or video camera might give you some useful feedback. Regards --Ken

 

Hi!

I hadn't seen that article? Will check it out!

Do need to get a mirror at some point ... Have taken videos!

And, Oh My Goodness. That is a Humbling experience, hahahaaa!

 

Thank You Dainin!

 

 

 

Start from the bottom up. Jump Feet First.

 

 

 

: )

Feet first. Yes.

Will make a meditation out of that!

Usually start Way Deep, Way below the feet!

Sometimes the best way to get this child to feel present in her body!

Find if i concentrate on the feet ... end up with burns from inside out .

But if attention moves not such an issue?

Am careful in standing (Hold post/treehugger's pose) because of that.

 

I think some good experiments will come from your words!

Thank you Spectrum!

[shontonga]

If alignment is correct then I find that you should be relaxed as well and not have to hold it. In most cases incorrect alignment comes from the lower back being compressed or put another way the tailbone is not tucked under. Or to put it another way the pelvis is tilted such that if visualized as a soup bowl the soup would spill out the front. Also the head and neck should be suspended. The relaxation comes from the bone structure being in a straight line from top of the head to the ankle. If the bones are not aligned the surface muscles must compensate to "hold" you up. If you are doing Wu style the Loupos article may be confusing since holding the torso perpendicular to the ground may not produce good alignment.

Bill

 

Mmm. Relaxing is such a constant thing being worked with.

To hold a pose correct or not, i can see how it could cause tensions to form.

top of the head to the ankle... there are times i find this clearer than others.

In standing it's quite easy to find, or while holding poses, but through the transitions

I do lose the connections. At times from the tail sticking back out other times am not sure why.

Will have to practice this also!

Thanks for the advice with the article also, do an old Yang style

but will keep that in mind when i check it out!

 

Thanks Bill!

 

 

 

 

 

I appreciate all of your advice, sorry I'm slow in the reply!

Does come back to practice.

... again and again, lol, ok.

 

Thank you all for taking the time though

Your feed back, as well as being sound, is encouraging.

That was what i think was really needed.

Hard not getting to talk things over with folks practicing.

This helps alot.

and gives me some fresh ideas to work with!

 

 

*bow*

 

Shon