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Warrior Work
Week 44
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The Tao of Da Feet
By Peter Hill
There are many famous Tai Chi phrases that capture different truths that take on different layers of meaning as you train and train and train
and go deeper into the art. If my ADHD doesn’t sidetrack me too often, I plan on exploring some of these phrases in different articles. This
quarter we look at this one: “The chi is rooted in the feet, directed by the waist and manifested through the hands.”
The chi is rooted in the feet………….there was recently a show on the national geographic channel called “Fight Science”. In the show, they
demonstrated how real power starts at the ground with the connection the feet have and travels up through and out the body part that is striking,
pushing, blocking, kicking etc. The name for this spiraling energy is “kinetic linking”. Any place in the channel, from beginning to end, can trap or
lock up the energy and dissipate or block the flow of this chi – concurrently, this is why Tai Chi is done slowly so the practitioner can become
aware of the blockages and open them with gentle and rhythmic movements. In many cases, a great practitioner will utilize other fields of
knowledge to also enhance the process.
For instance, within the foot you have 26 bones and 33 joints – WOW! Chiropractors have a great tool called an activator that can help align
these bones properly. Reflexology is a type of foot massage or bodywork that helps relieve stress, tension and other mental, emotional and
physical stressors trapped in the feet – if you get a chance to have one foot worked on, get up, walk around and feel how huge a difference a
little bit of bodywork can make on your feet and I guarantee you will get the other one done. (you can also work on your own feet) “Cultivating the
root” is an opening taichi exercise that stretches and compresses the Achilles tendon helping to not only enhance awareness of rootedness but
to also increase range of motion and improve balance.
Rolfing is another great bodywork modality to help align or realign the feet as needed. Any rolfer will tell you that if the feet are off
(misaligned) then the knees are off, the hips are off and the misalignment continues up through the back, neck and head promoting sprains,
tears and other joint injuries along with other related health issues. I have used all these modalities and they work synchronistically. (I also
happen to be a certified reflexologist)
The important lesson here is that without cultivating a strong flexible root in your feet, then instead of spiraling energy up through your spine
and out into your actions and words creating what you will, you may find yourself tripping into a web of defeat. But as Lao Tzu says (here comes
another famous phrase) “To fall seven times, to rise eight times. Life starts now.”
So be a bit more mindful, aware and grateful for the amazing things your feet allow you to do and where they allow you to go. Taking care of da
feet helps prevent defeat!
By Peter Hill, Copyright 2004
www.getittogether.net
www.worldtaichi.com
Warrior Week Home >>
Week 44
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Tao of Da Feet
By Peter Hill
There are many famous Tai Chi phrases that capture different truths that take on different layers of meaning as you train and train and train
and go deeper into the art. If my ADHD doesn’t sidetrack me too often, I plan on exploring some of these phrases in different articles. This
quarter we look at this one: “The chi is rooted in the feet, directed by the waist and manifested through the hands.”
The chi is rooted in the feet………….there was recently a show on the national geographic channel called “Fight Science”. In the show, they
demonstrated how real power starts at the ground with the connection the feet have and travels up through and out the body part that is striking,
pushing, blocking, kicking etc. The name for this spiraling energy is “kinetic linking”. Any place in the channel, from beginning to end, can trap or
lock up the energy and dissipate or block the flow of this chi – concurrently, this is why Tai Chi is done slowly so the practitioner can become
aware of the blockages and open them with gentle and rhythmic movements. In many cases, a great practitioner will utilize other fields of
knowledge to also enhance the process.
For instance, within the foot you have 26 bones and 33 joints – WOW! Chiropractors have a great tool called an activator that can help align
these bones properly. Reflexology is a type of foot massage or bodywork that helps relieve stress, tension and other mental, emotional and
physical stressors trapped in the feet – if you get a chance to have one foot worked on, get up, walk around and feel how huge a difference a
little bit of bodywork can make on your feet and I guarantee you will get the other one done. (you can also work on your own feet) “Cultivating the
root” is an opening taichi exercise that stretches and compresses the Achilles tendon helping to not only enhance awareness of rootedness but
to also increase range of motion and improve balance.
Rolfing is another great bodywork modality to help align or realign the feet as needed. Any rolfer will tell you that if the feet are off
(misaligned) then the knees are off, the hips are off and the misalignment continues up through the back, neck and head promoting sprains,
tears and other joint injuries along with other related health issues. I have used all these modalities and they work synchronistically. (I also
happen to be a certified reflexologist)
The important lesson here is that without cultivating a strong flexible root in your feet, then instead of spiraling energy up through your spine
and out into your actions and words creating what you will, you may find yourself tripping into a web of defeat. But as Lao Tzu says (here comes
another famous phrase) “To fall seven times, to rise eight times. Life starts now.”
So be a bit more mindful, aware and grateful for the amazing things your feet allow you to do and where they allow you to go. Taking care of da
feet helps prevent defeat!
By Peter Hill, Copyright 2004
www.getittogether.net
www.worldtaichi.com
Warrior Week Home >>