Cloud Hands – issues with shifting weight

[Anonymous]

Hi, I recently got “Opening the Energy Gates of your Body” and must say it’s a fantastic read.

I’ve been going through the practices and am practicing the beginning stages of cloud hands.

However, I’m having some issues with shifting 100% of my weight onto one leg while maintaining the alignments.

I can only shift 100% of my weight onto one leg if either:
1) The knee of the weight bearing leg bends much lower than in the standing posture
2) Otherwise, if I must maintain the same knee bend then the non-weightbearing-leg must float upwards so that just the toes are touching the ground
3) If I don’t do either of the above, then to shift 100% of the weight onto one leg requires me leaning my upper body forwards

If neither 1,2 or 3 are done then I can only get about about 70% of my weight shifted onto one leg.

Has anyone got any pointers on what I might be doing wrong?

Also, do you know where in the leg you should be feeling the burn the most, is the mostly in the back of the leg?

Many thanks!

[Anonymous]

Hello David- best wishes, I have found that book to have a great depth in it (more even than just what I read, upon first getting it… back when it was first-released; what a find in a bookstore.
First, the last, where you “should be feeling the burn”.. I don’t think one should feel ‘a burn’ (let alone the most).. as that isn’t the goal of the exer (of course, one may as the muscles engage (their reaction- and as you develop the “looseness”- issue below)..
but not the point to have the thigh/butt seizing-flexing tight.. rather to have the muscles like a water balloon able to shift and stretch like a rubber glove twisted and pulled… -as in other post-comments I mention my thought on the difference between learning/developing a skill, and performing it once one knows how-to, may differ a bit (steps on the path)

the Trick about that move – to me (my perspective, hope it helps some – is think of a book stood up on a table like a “door” – then tip it so one of the lower corners (say the bottom-right) rotates: thus turning to the right.. thus the lower left corner swings fwd-across
(in the standing practice this may be a small turn in the beginning; as you mention seems to relate to releasing tension-binding.).

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note the connective tissue contraction that holds you from turning in this twisting way is the same sort of tension that is fed from a burn-type workout…. and “lengthening” in a spiral way (like taking a rubber glove and turning pulling it) is much deeper then just a “linear-stretching” ie the usually lean towards your toes or such.. simple vectors can be done even with some of the deeper bindings- which these type of exers illuminate and help integrate (thus transform you…)

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to continue from the above “book like a door” metaphor (ie if do with a book, can see easier).. if that book is along a line on table, then as turn to the right, the right lower-corner (R hip) stays on the line, and the L moves fwd (a bit, just a little- as you release).. then the L moves back to the line, and then stops there, and the R moves fwd.. (this can be down with the knees still- and hips staying level and even .. but a gradual process, depending upon one’s binding.. as not just in “legs” but in pelvic and lumber (and thus Ab-intestine cavity).. so it starts with just looking straight ahead, and then turn to one side a bit, (staying 70%, released and even) and then reverse back to front and stable, and then turn to the other side a bit.. (even if in beginning that is less movement… or contrary if you move full 100% but lose structure…. both are part of the learning process.. but don’t “add” tension or force then over time….)

[Some other posts were written in the past regarding this process on this forum that might help.]

I hope above might help some- cheers

[Anonymous]

If you don’t bend your knee any further and shift over to one side, what hurts or doesn’t work ? I suggest this is the area that is troubling you.

Most likely your hips / lower back, so doing some hip exercises (figures of 8s), I believe there might be some in that book.

Also ensure your feet are not too far apart and that you are not twisting at the waist, and that the hips remain horizontal and not dropping off on one side.

In any case it will be very useful for you to consider the situation and resolve it in a Taoist manner. Using the 70% rule, being pragmatic, have a little experiment here and there, looking at the mirror, feeling your body and so on. And then you can learn.

pg 164 Kwa Squat, can help with strength in the leg
pg 156 70 percent rule and not to overdo it
pg 217 spine warmups
Taoist Sexual Meditation p170 hip exercises (figure of eight)

Please don’t settle for a poor posture (feet turned, ankles in strange angles, leaning forward etc…) just settle for getting 70% of the way and in balance, and work from there.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the replies and advice.

I’m getting the hang of it now, it seems the problem was my feet were too far apart. With them being closer, I find I can shift weight more easily without losing the alignments.

It’s going to take a lot of practice, but I’m getting there!

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