Trend to "no shoes"

[SifuPhil]

The one's with the pretty flower might look good on ya, Phil. Tee Hee!

Just for that, I'm not coming over tonight to help you with those moves. layful:

T'ai-Chi (kung-fu) slippers are usually recommended for T'ai-Chi practice because one of the big principles is that your entire body is supposed to be feeling what is going on. Sometimes it's hard to find your "Bubbling Spring" or center of balance when you're wearing big, clunky shoes.

 

[Pinky]

Just for that, I'm not coming over tonight to help you with those moves. layful:

T'ai-Chi (kung-fu) slippers are usually recommended for T'ai-Chi practice because one of the big principles is that your entire body is supposed to be feeling what is going on. Sometimes it's hard to find your "Bubbling Spring" or center of balance when you're wearing big, clunky shoes.

Bubbling Spring? Ooooh, SOMEone is very Advanced layful:
We stood and watched the instructor go through the 24 moves at the end of the class. I remember one. Something to do with holding a ball, and turning to disarm an intruder.
How'm I doin'?

 

[Pinky]

I think a lot of it has to do with the type of foot one has. I have narrow feet, with a long, extremely high arch, and short toes. Much narrower at the heel than at the front. I never have any problems with them, unless I stand all day on concrete floors. A rigid foot has little give to it, and the tiny bones on the top of my foot ache. I wear flip flops outside in the summer, indoors barefoot or slippers, otherwise I wear my black leather sketcher trainers when I go to town. They caress my arches beautifully! Lol.

I have a high arch too, and if I try to wear flats, my feet just ache. I love some of the prettier leather/beaded summer thongs, but they're sooo flat!

 

[SifuPhil]

Bubbling Spring? Ooooh, SOMEone is very Advanced layful:

Also known as Yung Chuan - the very mid-line center of the bottom of your foot - related to the kidneys in acupuncture.

We stood and watched the instructor go through the 24 moves at the end of the class. I remember one. Something to do with holding a ball, and turning to disarm an intruder.
How'm I doin'?

Very good.

Surprised he's mentioning applications already, but at least he might know them. Most teachers do not.

"Holding the ball" is big in T'ai-Chi - it's a powerful position for energy flow as well as a transitional position for moving between postures.

Did he teach you how to step yet? That's another huge thing.

 

[Ina]

I was a barefoot child, or I wore moccasins. Then I learned to make my own, and that lets me adapt the moccasin to each foot. Fifteen years ago I had surgery on both feet to do some reconstructive work needed because of arthritis, and at that time they cut the nerves in the front of my feet so I couldn't feel the grinding of the many bones. By making my own shoes I can use those Shoals shoe inserts for the cushion, and to build the needed arch. They help me with my balance too.

 

[Pinky]

I was a barefoot child, or I wore moccasins. Then I learned to make my own, and that lets me adapt the moccasin to each foot. Fifteen years ago I had surgery on both feet to do some reconstructive work needed because of arthritis, and at that time they cut the nerves in the front of my feet so I couldn't feel the grinding of the many bones. By making my own shoes I can use those Shoals shoe inserts for the cushion, and to build the needed arch. They help me with my balance too.

It's great that you can make your own moccasins. I had a pair when I was a kid, and remember how comfortable they were. The only footwear more comfortable were the UGGS that my friend sent me from Australia. I wore those things until the fleece insoles wore through. When I visited her, she cut some fleece from her sheep to make me new insoles.

 

[Pinky]

[/I]Also known as Yung Chuan - the very mid-line center of the bottom of your foot - related to the kidneys in acupuncture.



Very good.

Surprised he's mentioning applications already, but at least he might know them. Most teachers do not.

"Holding the ball" is big in T'ai-Chi - it's a powerful position for energy flow as well as a transitional position for moving between postures.

Did he teach you how to step yet? That's another huge thing.

The instructor is a younger female. She did stress how important the step is, and the benefits of the slow but flowing movements. My shoulders were cracking, and my balance is not what it used to be. I had to chuckle when one of the desk volunteers asked if we were there for Yoga classes, because I can no longer do the one-leg stand I once was so good at. In fact, I practically fall over trying to put on my socks these days.