19 March 2008

Single-weighted

A single-weighted posture is one in which you can readily transfer all of your weight to either leg and lift the empty leg by relaxing down, with no tilting of either the pelvis or the spine. If your stance is too long or wide – is double-weighted – then your legs can't knit together properly, and the hips and sacrum will not be able to relax, diminishing not only your power and lightness, but also shielding whole areas of your psyche from the spiritual cleansing of Tai Chi. The natural healing of Tai Chi can only be effective if the principles are obeyed. The most important of these is relaxing into things – the earth, the air, the other person, the work, the movements, the principles, life's pressures and pains – in such a way that we receive a natural return. This requires correct alignment and non-attachment: a willingness to allow energy to flow without becoming attached to it. The best way to do this is to try to always be aware of the energy flowing in the opposite direction. Then you can nestle between.

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