Get Hip to Your Hip Alignment

In a bow stance, when 70% of your weight shifts into your right leg, your right hip should be released back. The knee goes forward and should track over the middle of your foot, but the hip is released back. The hips are positioned under the shoulders and you maintain that alignment when your weights shifts forward and back in a bow stance. Some students, while shifting their weight forward, turn their hips and shove the right hip forward.  Turning the hips could strain the lower back and cause hip pain. 

Your "Demeanor" During T'ai Chi Practice

Looking at some early pictures of myself during practice, I look very serious. Almost stern. I am serious during practice but I'm also happy and joyful! 

It's good to have a "lightness of being", not just in your physical body but also in your mental aspect. Think of how you feel when you are looking at something beautiful. Your inner feeling is usually expressed in a faint smile and a softness come across your face.  

I remind students to consider their facial expression during practice. Feel the sensation as if you are observing something beautiful, because you are. You are observing all the beauty that is you, performing this beautiful practice moment to moment. Often, when I remind students to move in an effortless, tension-free way, I'm referring to the physical body. You also want to be tension-free in your thoughts. Let go of judgmental and negative thoughts about yourself and others.  Looking at those early pictures of myself was a reminder to be tension-free in my body and mind.