Standing isn’t as simple as you might think

I mentioned in my OCD post that I have been in the martial arts community my whole life.  Due to my mother’s practice of Tai Chi I have spent many hours moving S L O W L Y or watching others move at a snails pace.  My own training as an adult has been in Aikido, both are considered to be ‘soft style’ arts.

Before any Tai Chi class even starts to think about movement, you stand.  Just stand, for about five to ten minutes. Sounds easy right?

Now make sure you back is straight, body relaxed and there is no tension in your ankles.  They should feel like “freshly risen bread dough” This simple mandate is frustratingly difficult to achieve never mind maintain in movement, even for my mom almost 35 years into practicing.

When my sister and I were young my mom practiced the whole ‘short form’ (a…