Are there good ways to relax the waist in Tai Chi? (4)

Hi Every Shifu, are there good ways to relax the waist in practicing Tai Chi? My waist seems stuck. Waist must be relaxed, right?

Ray Pawlett • I use “The Ten Essences” of Tai Chi a lot. In the system taught to me, relax the waist is the fourth essence following (1) lift the head, (2) lower the shoulders/elbows, (3) round the back to soften the chest.

If you get the first three essences into place then the centre of gravity drops to the Tantien and the waist loosens.

Try looking at the upper body if the waist is tight.
Hope that helps
Ray
R Chen • Too little is talked on breathing.

When breathing out, try to blow it gently to the chest area. No mouth breathing. Also it is not the natural oxygen breathing that matters, it is the internal breathing (like blowing the Chi to the chest area) that matters. The natural breathing is merely a stimulator that brings up the internal “chi” breathing.

That should “empty” the chest after a while, which creates a feeling that your waist is relaxed. May times, the “tight” feelings actually is from the blockage of the internal channels.