New Excerpt From Inside Zhan Zhuang
From the Section - Note To Older Practitioners
The Body Wants To Heal
"If you let it, the body knows what to do and will lead you if you surrender to it’s ‘suggestions.’ This means that even if your alignments aren’t ramrod perfect, don’t judge yourself too harshly.
Over time the body itself will begin to ‘suggest’ changes and if you let it, initiate corrections. Therefore, it behooves us to cultivate a sensitivity to these mostly subtle impulses.
The body has an innate wisdom if we listen. There’s an old saying in Chinese Medicine, “The body wants to heal itself.” This means that the main part of our job in each session is just to show up!"
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New Excerpt From Inside Zhan Zhuang
From the Section -- Structure vs. Relaxation
"When we begin Zhan Zhuang training, we very rapidly run into the apparent paradox of two seemingly opposing aspects - structure and relaxation. If, at the beginning we adhere too rigorously only to structure, we create counterproductive tension.
On the other hand, if we follow relaxation too exclusively, structure breaks down, greatly diminishing the benefits of the exercise. So, what to do? The answer lies in interchangeable use. And later in the unity of opposites."
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New Excerpt From Inside Zhan Zhuang
From the Section - 'Opening and Closing'
"Traditionally, the opening and closing of the joints, sometimes called pulsing the joints, was taught as a second stage in Tai Chi training, following the mastering of postural alignments.
The method finds its origin in the Universal Pulse or Breath, that is, the natural cyclical expansion and condensation of all things in the physical universe.
Once opening and closing of the joints and cavities (thoracic and abdominal) is mastered, this natural pulse generally becomes active during all our meditation and relaxed practices."
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New Excerpt from Inside Zhan Zhuang
From the Section -- Working With Energetic Dynamic Tensions
"One of the first things we encounter energetically in our standing meditation, is the balance that is trying to occur between the descending Heaven energy (gravity) and the ascending Earth energy, which is the basis and support of our Upright Chi, that is, our ability to stand, walk around and function normally as human beings."
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New Excerpt From Inside Zhan Zhuang
From the Section: "Thoughts On Sinking The Chi"
"When the Chi finally ‘sinks’ what is it that we will feel? Firstly, there is a sense of an expanded connection between the bottoms of the feet and the Earth or whatever you are standing on. This feeling in the feet can also be felt as a heaviness in that area while at the same time the rest of the body is integrated, light and yet filled with a certain fullness. This fullness is a reflection of the abundance of Chi generated during one’s practice. There is also a springy responsiveness felt throughout the body. This can be especially apparent in the muscles, tendons and ligaments."
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New Excerpt From Inside Zhan Zhuang
From the Section: 'The Natural Progression Of Stance Training'
"With most all stances and their variations it is often best to start at hip width, sometimes known as normal width. This is generally the most comfortable to begin with. This way we gently allow things to open up before proceeding to the wider shoulder width distance.
The shoulder width variation is often a challenge for many people to do correctly. This is due to the demands made on the body by stretching the deep muscles of the hip, lower back and Kua as well as the tendons and ligaments. If certain areas are resistant or tight, it is easily possible to be pulled out of proper alignment. On the other side of the coin, the benefit to this additional stretching is an overall strengthening of the body’s frame and an increased springiness and flexibility in the joints. Try this. Stand at shoulder width for a few minutes and then switch to hip width and realign everything. Notice the increased relaxation and sense of ease in the hips, legs and Kua."
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New Excerpt from Inside Zhan Zhuang
From the Section 'Internal Martial Power'
"As far as internal martial arts are concerned, standing meditation is a most vital practice, that is, if one wants to obtain a really serious achievement. In most cases in the past it was a closely guarded secret.
All the great martial artists of years gone by were taught it, and why? Because dedicated practice unifies the body’s Chi faster and more completely than any other method.
The three major internal styles all use a form of Zhan Zhuang to develop power. In Xingyi it’s the Santi posture, in Bagua its the pidgin-toed stances and other standing postures and in Tai Chi it’s the Wuji posture at the beginning of the form as well as a number of the various Tai Chi form postures."
For more information, please join me at NEIJIATODAY.COM this SUNDAY JULY 21 6:00PM Eastern for my Webinar entitled 'ZHAN ZHAUNG and the INTERNAL MARTIAL ARTS.'
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New Excerpt From Inside Zhan Zhuang
From the section 'Feet Parallel - Left/Right-Weighted'
Allow
The Heart Chi To Descend
"When beginning this
practice (refers to Left/Right-Weighted Feet Parallel Stances and especially the advanced Single-Weighted Stances) as part of your daily routine, it is generally best to start with the
left side bearing the weight. The reason for this is to allow the Heart Chi to descend first. This is it’s natural direction
of flow. The Chi in the Heart meridian starts in the armpit and moves
downward to the pinky finger."
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JULY 21st WEBINAR - 'Zhan Zhuang and the Internal Martial Arts'
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