What should I be aware of as regards my knee joints?

The knees are weight-transference, not weight-bearing joints, so be gentle with them. When doing tai chi or chi gung avoid using the deepest or most extended poses you can manage. Observe the 70% rule and stand a little higher. Also make sure your knee is correctly aligned over your foot. The West tends to be an upper-body culture, with poor awareness of the joints in the lower body. In athletics and martial arts, this lack of awareness all too commonly leads to knee problems. The internal martial arts and chi gung are known in China for their ability to heal back and joint problems. There is more information on how to protect the knee joint in Opening the Energy Gates of Your Body.