The correct “Zhan zhuang” posture is when your back stays close to a wall, your hand can’t be inserted? (2)

Hi Every Shifu; The correct “Zhan zhuang” posture is when your back stays close to a wall, your hand can’t be inserted, is that correct?
I finally understand Zhan Zhuang is a fundamental part of Tai Chi training. I can do it up to 20 mins which strengthen my root and balance, and focus on Tai Chi training. I also enjoy when I am walking with completely relaxed, is that called “walking meditation”? hehe

Raven Cohan • Hi Cathy! Yes. Keep your five lumbar vertebrae aligned as well as you can as if they are against a wall. There was a good video about this that shows the way I teach it that someone brought in to the Tai Chi Connection demo in the last week or so. Like me, they don’t use the words ‘tuck or tilt the pelvis,’ in order to accomplish an elongated lumbar. One must relax the sternum, lift up the occiptal and crown, drop the chin but keep eyes level. Sit through relaxed quadriceps and hamstrings in bow or horse stances. If you tilt your pelvis or even your sacrum, you will tighten up and have a tilted structure as if the bottom floor of a three story house tilts! Keep up your good play!

Richard Ellis • Well said (actually, well written!), Raven. I would add one detail to your excellent technical description: everyone is built differently and depending on the size of your buttocks, it may not be possible for you to actually get your back against or even near enough to the wall to prevent your hand from slipping in. What you are looking for is the result that comes from following Raven’s instructions while maintaining a state of Song (non-tension), whether or not it ends up putting your lower back flush with a wall.

Raven Cohan • It’s so easy to get stuck in our old, ‘sacred’ cows of languaging that were interpreted by Chinese teachers’ students into English before the students realized how much tension the wrong wording could bring. Yes! Butt sizes make a huge, (sorry no pun intended…) difference. Relaxing doesn’t come over-night for most, yet continual play leads the way. Thanks Richard and good slow transformation to Cathy.