Body Basics

The body has 4 major groups: legs, torso, arms and head. A discussion of each of them & how they relate to Taijiquan follows.

Legs: Keep knees bent. Don't put your knee past your ankles. Your knee has a dynamic range. Constant placement of the knee will lead to knee injuries. Even worse - you will not be balanced!

Torso: Also known as the "center" and different from the "waist". Should be thought of like the trunk of a tree. The powerhouse of the body & holder of the chi. Visualizing your pelvis as a bowl of chi (chi-tos?), try to keep it level & don't let the chi spill out. All movement arises from here. This will become easier as you progress.

Arms: With your arms down at your side, notice that they don't hang just straight down like stiff iron rods. They have a bit of curvature and are supple and more rope-like.

A quick mention about the shoulders is in order here especially since they connect your arms to your body. The shoulders should stay loose and relaxed, not stiff.

Head: Look straight ahead with your nose pointed straight out. Imagine a string connecting the top of your head to the heavens.

Body: Look at yourself in the mirror. Do you notice a nice rounded shape when your arms hand down? What do you see? If you are standing as instructed above, with your arms hanging naturally at your side, you should see a rounded shape for your body. The body should not be stiff & straight. Avoid harsh lines - stay circular.