Standing and turning: Month 4 question

[Anonymous]

Any advice from experienced practitioners/teachers appreciated on two aspects of turning while standing covered in the Month 4 intermediate videos part 2:

1. The first may be simple I think…Bruce does not quite explain the returning to centre sequence as clearly as the turning out (push off, shift, lift heel, centre turn, 4 points, Kwa, etc either direction). I feel I get the outward sequence and I have some sense of flow and connectivity with arms, through body to feet- but I am less sure of the return of the ‘literal’ return process. I think I am getting a break in my flow when I am starting to turn back (probably because I am wondering about it as I didn’t feel I picked up clearly from the videos the ‘correct’ sequence…so I am guessing but unsure that it is just reversing what was done: with heel still raised, rotate that foot back to centre, drop heel and shift weight to centre, then rebalance centreline, etc, before doing the other side. I am sure he does not explain because it is obvious, but an instant of doubt in me breaks the flow. Can someone confirm the sequence of returning to centre (in your own words)

2. The second question is maybe a little more ambiguous- Bruce talks about sending the energy from centre line through the bones to the hands and feet, and relaxing the muscles around them- I am sure that is going to take a bit of experimentation for me, and what I am experiencing may simply be explained by the early stages of where I am in that process, but I am wondering how in a rotated out position with the weight on one foot and very little weight on the toes of the outer foot, are you trying to send equal energy down both legs (the heavy and the light). At the moment my sense of chi is drilling into the floor with the weighted leg and I am not sure at all what I am or should be circulating down & up the raised heel one…is there a difference….your thoughts appreciated.

It is really great teaching breaking it down and building it up: and 4 months in, despite my occasional 2 steps forward, 4 steps back feeling, and my usual struggles to incorporate it all with a quiet mind – If I pause and think dispassionately, having explored ‘standing’ many times over the years, I have already gone way deeper in these few months than I could have imagined at the start of the program, and it feels that what I am learning slowly, I am really learning. Looking at these videos about doing very little from the outside…and everything from the inside is real a gift.

Regards & thanks
Nick

[Anonymous]

Just to say, on point 1 – the first issue is settling down a bit, I found that by raising heel less -just releasing it off the ground (compared to before which was quite high) and rotating a little less far, the return to centre is making more sense and is smoother

On Point 2, I think I am just feeling too much muscle engagement on the weighted leg, and have to find my way to release/sung/dissolve somehow somehow.
Nick

[Anonymous]

Hey Nick, that is fantastic.. (I saw your previous-original post, and yet i had a feeling that you might discover something, rather than my stating it.. so I followed that feeling.)- anyway, good luck in your continued discovery, and the persistent practicing.

-just as a note, many people might have a tendency to feel kinetic-pressure (either through the bones having force on them, and/or the muscles tensing by weight shifting on, or off, them) and perhaps confusing that with “qi flowing through” when in that case it is likely that most would have a much harder time to feel “qi flow” through when there is tension.. rather than the unweighted..

(just as a poss- compare, not the same but context-shift, compare to the feel-the-energy-ball exer.. that slight-magnetic sense, and/or feel the sense of chill, or tingles, or shivers, ghost in the air, ripply wave that seems to move through the air and contact your skin.. — anyway,)
–whether the above is literal or just a sense, if you’ve felt -or can seek-find- that sort of feeling..

and look for that feeling in each of the legs: first indiv, and then focus on one leg and slightly notice in the other.. and then in both simul, each side has quite a distinct feeling, and yet something in common. [if not all at once, but explore a bit, and then practice-let it settle, and perhaps later re-examine; perhaps you will AHA and see-feel it flowing in a much idfferent way.]

( how else could it feel? if the old writings about qi are relevant, and they actually grew that into something intense.. what might they be seeing? perhaps is a flow- which I could feel now, yet I am just not noticing it- until the oh, maybe that? encouragement, and nurturing it. } -just a thought cheers all..

(any others getting started with this have thoughts on this?) luck

[Anonymous]

Thank you Taokua,

As you said, This is exactly what was/is going on:
“many people might have a tendency to feel kinetic-pressure (either through the bones having force on them, and/or the muscles tensing by weight shifting on, or off, them) and perhaps confusing that with “qi flowing through” when in that case it is likely that most would have a much harder time to feel “qi flow” through when there is tension.. rather than the unweighted”.

It took me by surprise on my weighted leg in the rotated position..not when central (when separation of qi flow is clearer for me and I can work better with bones and muscles). Knowing there is a difference is the beginning ….finding small adjustments/alignments & intents gives me flashes of release of kinetic pressure, so I know it is possible, just practice! I think any new position arms or legs brings on a body challenge, that leads to adjustment and necessary learning response. What is interesting to me is that over many years doing various forms of Tai Ji and Qi Gong I would have rotated (without obvious awareness of a ‘problem’), but the difficulties experienced in this process of this learning shows me that I am only just becoming more aware of the subtleties involved and breaking new ground.

I know I usually work it out myself for better or worse during the month, but using the forum to ask the question is for me the best way to take the thought out of my busy mind during practice time…and see who out there is going through what9at whatever level), and can give insight into their own understanding.

I am lucky at the moment to be able to make the practice part of my working day & be persistent, mostly at my own discretion (as my own boss, working alone…and used to self discipline in my work with no one to whip me into shape for results I know how hard it is to keep at practice with demands of kids/work /life commitments, so I am just making hay while the sun shines …where I live the rain always comes sometime soon! I do wonder how others are experiencing the videos & learning process….(refers to the other post you just replied to on ‘arms raised’)

Thanks again
Nick

[Anonymous]

Wonder if Bruce can add anything when reviewing questions ( or anyone else) that may be helpful .

Still having some difficulty with the tension/muscular tightness on weighted leg on standing posture turns. When weight is equal I seem to be able to release the legs down fairly consistently & smoothly with Chi through the Mid region-Knees- ankles, etc. When I do the turn, I find holding that position for beyond a minute – I quickly pass 70% & feel too much tightness in thigh and whatever muscles/tendons surround the knee. I ‘think’ my alignments are as should be, I feel I move from Kwa and upper body points connected- and have made the move as subtle as I can- It is the holding of it that brings on the weighted leg tension, not the move itself which feels good. I realise it is hard to address without seeing me do it…but I am one of these Bruce sometimes refers to as practicing alone at a weather station in the North Pole (not quite literally, but….)

Takoua…on reflection I don’t feel that I am confusing the strong downward kinetic force on the weighted leg with Chi flow. – it is like some kind of muscle lock happens after the rotation, as I try to hold the outward position.

I thought that the month 6 (beginner video) focus on leg points would logically help, and I have had great lower body/leg progress when weight is balanced….but not so when weight is on one leg….

I am certainly not feeling Flamingo…they make it look so easy !

Regards

Nick

[Anonymous]

Wonder if Bruce can add anything when reviewing questions ( or anyone else) that may be helpful .

Still having some difficulty with the tension/muscular tightness on weighted leg on standing posture turns. When weight is equal I seem to be able to release the legs down fairly consistently & smoothly with Chi through the Mid region-Knees- ankles, etc. When I do the turn, I find holding that position for beyond a minute – I quickly pass 70% & feel too much tightness in thigh and whatever muscles/tendons surround the knee. I ‘think’ my alignments are as should be, I feel I move from Kwa and upper body points connected- and have made the move as subtle as I can- It is the holding of it that brings on the weighted leg tension, not the move itself which feels good. I realize it is hard to address without seeing me do it…but I am one of these Bruce sometimes refers to as practicing alone at a weather station in the North Pole (not quite literally, but….)

Takoua…on reflection I don’t feel that I am confusing the strong downward kinetic force on the weighted leg with Chi flow. – it is like some kind of muscle lock happens after the rotation, as I try to hold the outward position.

I thought that the month 6 (beginner video) focus on leg points would logically help, and I have had great lower body/leg progress when weight is balanced….but not so when weight is on one leg.

I am certainly not feeling Flamingo…they make it look so easy !

Regards

Nick

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