The basic stance is a way of standing that keeps your body aligned with gravity, improves your posture and promotes relaxation. For most people, the way they stand is unbalanced. Tension in the muscles pulls their body in different directions 24 hours a day. Relearning how to stand has so many benefits considering what a simple change it can be. Stand more securely on stronger legs Take the stress off […]
Generate extraordinary power effortlessly Loosen your hips and spine Remain relaxed in mind and body There are only two main movements you can make that involve the entire body. These movements are the only ones that generate any real power. So every move in tai chi and kung fu that requires power uses one of these. The first is transferring your weight from one leg to the other. The second […]
Invalid rule and here are a few more. Remember the success of any move depends on maintaining the right principles. Don’t panic or tense upStay ‘on your legs’Don’t hold your breath If the person comes back to attack you again you’ll have to resort to joint locks or, if they fail, strikes…. Sorry but to access this course or article you will need a relevant subscription. CLICK HERE to get […]
Release tension in your shoulders Learn to carry them so that tension doesn’t build up Connect your arms to your structure for maximum power One of the most common and debilitating places to hold onto pain and tension is in the neck and shoulders. Shoulder pain and tension is often associated with responsibility – literally carrying the world on your shoulders. It is so common that I can state with […]
Drain the tension out of your posture Stay relaxed even under stressful conditions Gain a stable root to protect you from physical or emotional pressure Everybody carries far too much tension around with them. This tension drains them ofenergy, pulls their body apart and resists every move they make. We are so often told to relax but not many people realise that relaxation is a skill that needs to be […]
Learn to relax every part of your body more and more deeply Discover a faster version you can do anytime to keep tensions at bay As mentioned in my book ‘Stress Proof Your Body’, one of the most popular relaxation exercises is called progressive muscle relaxation. A more efficient and powerful way to achieve the same level of relaxation, is not to tense then relax the muscles but to send a […]
Discover why most movements we make are inherently weak and unbalanced Understand how to move your body with power and purpose Generate real power from the inside out In kung fu and tai chi, we always aim to make our movements balanced, efficient and powerful. A balanced movement is one where the forces involved are balanced throughout the body. At no point is the individual out of balance and vulnerable […]
Understand why leg strength is so important for your overall physical and mental health Discover different ways to train your legs As anyone who comes to my classes will know I talk a lot about leg strength. Basically, without strong legs you have no real support so your upper body will be full of tension to keep your weight off your weak legs. Strengthen your legs and your upper body […]
Raising and lowering your arms Find out how to keep the tension our of your shoulders Discover the true opening of the tai chi form Create effortlessly powerful arm movements Every day we raise and lower our arms hundreds of times. Whether we’re picking thingsup, drinking a cup of tea, using a computer or driving a lot of our activities involve ourarms. Changing the way we raise and lower our […]