Proper Postural Alignment in Tai Chi and Good Posture for Everyday Life

[@katherinemcintosh485]

I love your work! You have corrected my perception of Tai Chi principles on so many levels! Thank you so much!❤

[@InternalTaiChi]

This is absolutely the BEST comment I could have read this morning. Thank you so much. You verbalized my overall mission in teaching Tai Chi: to help others gain the "right" perception about Tai Chi principles.

[@JeanParmer]

Susan is a knowledgeable, patient, wonderful teacher.

[@InternalTaiChi]

Thank you so very much, Jean!

[@earlstanley8942]

Your transparency of disclosing your injuries and how you can heal through this process makes it attainable. Thanks

[@InternalTaiChi]

Hi Earl. Thank you. What a beautiful comment. Thank you for watching and taking the time to leave your positive feedback. This healing art is absolutely attainable. It does not take year as and years. Qi does not know time. :-)

[@esferademanu]

I have a bit scoliosis, I use to said that alignment is my 24 hours postural homework. I am always measuring the spaces, walls, and tables to align my body. Thanks again for share this nice information.

[@InternalTaiChi]

You are very welcome. Be gentle to your body and don't force it!

[@esferademanu]

Gracias

[@asingingtree]

Yes, this is very helpful to learn. I come from a yoga background where we did a lot of twisting, so this will be something new. I like the buttons attached by a silk thread.

[@InternalTaiChi]

Thank you. Yes, Tai Chi and Yoga are quite different. Thank you for leaving your comment!

[@philipr8245]

Great video! Back 2 basic is very important. It is amazing how fast we forget our base foundations as we think we are progressing. Keeping the explanation simple is so important and are often forgotten my male sensei. Great tea shirt.

[@InternalTaiChi]

Thank you so much for the positive feedback. I agree. I think when we use a lot of fancy terminology we can potentially create a barrier for our students. They have to spend energy trying to interpret rather than learn. Anyway, hope you continue to watch my videos and thanks for the positive feedback!

[@philipr8245]

I totally agree. Will do. Honored will your reply!

[@dm-tq2sx]

Dear teacher. Your explanation is superb!! You have cleared my doubts of tucking the tail bone and relaxing chest. I will say just wow!

[@InternalTaiChi]

Oh thank you souch!! Your comment made me smile. I appreciate your positive comment!

[@lorrainedaugherty3451]

I am so sorry to hear that you have herniated discs, but am so impressed that your knowledge of movement has created your pain free existence. The more I listen to your youtubes, the more I'm convinced that a pain free existence is possible for me 🎻too. Thank you so much for sharing.

[@InternalTaiChi]

Thank you, Lorraine. So many people think that the body is static when it comes to pain, but the body is an ever changing soft tissue entity that has the built in capacity to heal. Keep at it, especially the hope and faith in your own body's ability to move from pain to healing. Thank you again for leaving such nice comments!

[@patriciamartin6309]

Osteopath says I have v slight scoliosis of lower spine about 5% . That was a shock . I’ve been struggling with some pain so reminding me about not closing mid line and rotatating rather than twisting is very helpful 🦋❤️

[@InternalTaiChi]

I’m happy you found the advice helpful! Thanks for your positive comments.

[@carolinewestwood6245]

Thanks!

[@InternalTaiChi]

You are welcome.

[@InternalTaiChi]

Does that heart mean you sent me $? If so thank you so very much!

[@plee4384]

Beautiful.

[@InternalTaiChi]

Thank you! 😊

[@marcoacosta4]

Thanks for class. This topic is very important

[@InternalTaiChi]

Thank you for your comment and for watching!

[@larandaeakin6649]

How I wish I'd known this years ago! Thank you for providing this very helpful explanation.

[@InternalTaiChi]

Thank you, Randi! I guess my mother was right when she said "stand up tall!" 😊

[@loredanamassini9484]

GREAT teach

[@InternalTaiChi]

Thank you so much!

[@patriciamartin6309]

Really great I go Susan will bear these tips in mind ❤

[@InternalTaiChi]

Thank you! It really is important to our practice. Thank you for watching my videos and for your positive feedback.

[@111Soham]

Wow- thank you Sifu Susan! What a helpful video. Is it possible to make another video showing how to attach the thread to connect the hip and shoulder kua as described around the 2:36 minute mark? It would be very appreciated.

[@InternalTaiChi]

Oh that is a great idea! Yes I will certainly do that. Thank you for watching and commenting.

[@111Soham]

Thank you, thank you, thank you! Can’t wait!!!

[@InternalTaiChi]

You are very welcome@@111Soham !

[@GarrettMennone]

Great video

[@InternalTaiChi]

Thank you!!

[@teresacarter2036]

Hi there, Susan. I'm wondering if you teach classes and if so where and when? Do you certify students in qigong? I'm mostly interested in qigong for it's simplicity but tai chi is pretty good too. I'm interested in getting certified and if you have any recommendations for who is good for that? I'm looking for proper alignment so as to improve my flexibility and also strength and balance, physically and emotionally. Thank you for this video, it is awesome! Teresa

[@InternalTaiChi]

Hi Teresa, I teach Qigong on Tuesdays at 10am central time via live streaming. If you'd like to attend go to the About tab on my channel and send me an email. Or go to my website and send an email. Once you email me, I can address your other questions as well. Thanks for watching and for your comment. I look forward to hearing from you.

[@garytompkins3761]

Excellent video although I am confused about not crossing midline. It seems to me there are multiple times in 24 form where midline is crossed. Wave hands,. Brush knee, cross hands before a kick and others. Am I not seeing something here? Thanks so much for posting all your wonderful content. The videos have been very helpful

[@InternalTaiChi]

Generally speaking this is a solid principle and applies to most all styles of Tai Chi and forms. If you have been taught to cross midline it may be that you were taught incorrectly. We can cross our wrists AT midline, but we do not take both wrists or especially elbows, PAST midline. You can test it out. Assume the posture you are referring to, having crossed past midline with an arm, elbow or wrist and have someone push on you gently. Are you stable? Also where is your breathing? Is it up high? How open up the arms a bit, so that the wrists and elbows are on either side of midline (or the wrists can be crossed at midline, touching wrists together aligned at midline) and then have them push on you. Also check where your breathing is. It is likely you are much more stable in the second position and your breathing is lower. If our armpits are closed and squished, then we are also crowded ourselves and it is analogous to crossing midline. Good luck and thanks for the comments!

[@joshpickles9022]

I think the easier way to explain it is that you don't ever close the space under your armpit. You can think of it as holding an orange under your armpit. The hands and wrists do cross the midline during the form but need to avoid making orange squash!

[@miwi5530]

I would surely agree with everything, except “no twisting”. Isn’t twisting a natural movement, like when you are walking, e.g. right foot forward and right shoulder backwards? And what about tai chi postures where e.g. left foot is forward and right hand to ( brush knee in yang style)? What is your view?

[@InternalTaiChi]

Thank you for your excellent question. We do not twist. In brush knee, we still rotate the entire spine. You can test it out. Do Brush knee while twisting and have someone push on you from different directions. 1. Check where your breath is. 2. Feel how you are more easily uprooted. Now try it again and rotate from the hips, keeping your spine aligned. Test 1. and 2. and compare. I have a video on how to do Yang brush knee properly. Check my Yang playlist. It might shed more light on this. Otherwise, I can (and should) make a video to this point and demonstrate it. I appreciate your insight, perspective and being so respectful in your comment!

[@julesb1421]

Hi Susan - so helpful - i think i have been doing wrong in qigong (if this is the same for qigkng?) I have been twising from waist (have done alot of yoga) and keeping my knees completely stable and unmoving and guess that is wrong? Im just starting tai chi and want to get basics right! I think im afraid of knee twisting if i rotate but guess its quite subtle?

[@InternalTaiChi]

Thank you for the positive feedback. You are correct and you're thinking. We should rotate not twist in Tai Chi and Qigong. The principal is the same for both arts. If you really want the cheese to flow, it is best to keep everything aligned and move as one unit. It should not work the knees. If your knees are twerking, then you are attempting to turn too much. The rotation is generally only about 45°. If you are in a square room, you would rotate from the front left corner to the front right corner, at least when you're first starting out. I hope this helps. Feel free to email me or post more questions and comments as you journey along. Soon I will be posting a new video on four common mistakes. Make sure you take a look at that one. I think it is scheduled to release next week or the following week. Thanks again.

[@julesb1421]

@Flowingmobility thanks so much for this reply - I definitely been doing stuff incorrectly - I would maybe like to try out your live stream class, can I just pay for one on your website and see how I go? Also what time zone are you in (I'm in UK) cheers

[@InternalTaiChi]

@@julesb1421 You can certainly attend one of my live streaming classes. I will let you attend one for free to see if you like it first. If you could please send me an email request, I will send you the link. You can find my email address under the about section on my KZbin channel. If you have trouble finding it message me here, and I will help you. I am on the road for 2 days, I will be able to provide the link to you by Saturday evening. I have a wonderful group of people, and even someone else from UK! I think you will really enjoy it.

[@julesb1421]

@@InternalTaiChi thanks! Will get on it and email you - appreciate it