In Tai Chi & in Qigong, we are always moving forward, backward, left and right. If you can understand the differences and similarities between 'ordinary' walking, and Tai Chi & Qigong walking, it makes learning those arts easier. How you step one pace forward when walking. You place (e.g.) the right heel and move the weight forward towards the ball of the right big toe. As the weight transfers forwards on to the ball of the right foot, the body elongates on a vertical axis.

Whether you are standing upright without moving, or when you put your foot ahead of you on the ground whilst walking, gravity settles or compresses you into the ground. As it does so, a balancing act automatically takes place in the body. In order to achieve perfect balance, whether you are standing either on both feet or on one foot, or even when you are in the process of walking, the body has to align itself vertically with the point of pressure on the feet/foot.

When pushed, you have a choice: 1) Do you allow the energy of that push to meet its target (in this case probably the point on your spine that is level with the arms of the person pushing)? 2) Do you redirect that energy to where YOU want it to go? If the latter, then how do you do it?

When you first start learning either tai chi or qigong, it's all about learning a set of movements.  For some people, it never goes beyond..

I know a lot of people who, when they hurt themselves, just wait for the problem to get better.  Sometimes this will work, but often it sets

When we walk, we need to create 'full' and 'empty' in the legs.  Most of the time we do it without thinking; it just happens...

Use your back. The arms need to connect to the body; the action is not one where only the shoulder muscles function.

You often hear the expression that you should stand in both tai chi and qigong as though you are 'suspended by a silk thread'. This is ...

In the same way that the body of the plant does this, we, as humans, need to mimic the same actions with our bodies in order to achieve ...

“Song Yao” = Release the waist (see previous blog on ‘Song’). “Kai Kua” = Open the Kua, or inguinal region on the front of the pelvis.

If you put your fingertips on the upper border of your symphysis pubis (pubic bone), and your thumb on your navel, there will be a gap of...

Your balance should improve as you lower your centre of gravity.  This applies to all ages, sizes, and heights, but in particular to older..

Practising the art of sinking is essential; it’s not going to happen on its own. The good thing is that you can practise it all the time...

Above the waterline is the equipment that makes the sailing boat functional – mast & boom, shrouds & sails, sheets & cleats, and a burgee...

The Spinal Line. 1. Crown of head (not to be confused with the hair whorl) 2. Perineum 3. Point between the feet...

Some can, some sometimes can, and some find it almost impossible. Why can some people balance and others not? According to The Harvard ...

How do you position your neck? How does it sit on your body? How does it control you? How does it affect your comfort or discomfort levels?

To practise Standing Qigong is to practise what you should aim to feel in every moving tai chi posture.  What you’re intending to achieve

We don’t usually think much about the way that we move around in our everyday lives; we just do it. However, when people take up tai chi or

Quite regularly, a beginner in tai chi or qigong is put off from continuing classes because he/she is experiencing a bit of discomfort.