Pete,
I have often wondered about this but I have a pretty bad curvature of the spine. It does not cause any pain and my body has apparently adapted to it. I was wondering, however, if this will hamper the energy in the back moving up and down and cause blocks?

Yes.

One goal of Tai Chi or Qigong is to have the spine totally straight.

I understand that the goal is to have a totally straight spine. But my question is what if physically the spine is not straight. It other words, in it's natural state there is a curve in it. What would Master Lin say about the energy in that situation?

Ok, So looking at the post again maybe this will help explain what I am asking. I should of not used the work "problem" but instead concern. If you look at the trees, some have straight trunks and some are crooked. There is nothing wrong with them, they just are made that way by nature. So does it have an impact on the way the energy flows through them? Maybe I just answered my own question, because I would think the answer is "no, since it is a part of nature."

Nature certainly has it's impact, but so does nurture.

Working on straightening your spine structurally isn't too easy, but you can also straighten it energetically.

A doctor could probably tell you if there was something really causing your spine to 'naturally' stay out of line. But your spine is capable of a lot more than you may know. With work you can expand and contract the space between vertebrae, your spine can move more fluidly like a ferret. When your spine starts getting this mobile, you'll see for sure how straight your spine should naturally be.

Well, I understand what you are saying but I don't know if I buy it. First, I have been told that I was born with the curve in my spine and other family members also have it. But as for having any impact on my life, it doesn't. I attend a weekly yoga class and everyone is amazed at how flexible I am and how easily I can go into all of the poses. I am the most flexible person in the group and I don't think anyone even knows of the curvature. I have often wondered if maybe that is the reason that I am so proficient at yoga. I have also attempted to use affirmations in the past to straighten it, to no avail. So, after years and years of having it bother me, it is now my friend. I have just always wondered about the energy thing.

With few exceptions, no matter how your body is built, you will benefit from practicing Qigong.

Don't give flexibility too many props. It's good to be flexible, but don't sacrifice power for it. A contortionist can put his/her body in a million positions because of his 'flexibility', but that doesn't mean he has 'strength' in those positions, or that he is connected.

The best example I can give is the way most people stretch: they bend at a joint and stretch the muscle around that joint. If you were to expand from both sides of that joint, you could get a much fuller stretch and without damaging the side of the joint being compressed when improperly stretched.

You say you were born with it, that it's natural; well here's a good analogy for you:
When any car is built at a factory, it has been drastically tuned down, to decrease it's performance. By removing certain things, or modifying certain parts, you can return the vehicle to it's 'natural' state of efficiency and power. The level that it was designed to be capable of, but not necessarily built at.

Gee, this how exchange is getting to be silly Are you the chiropractor on the board. Ok, so here are some additional points:

1. I do strength training from 3 to 5 days a week.

2. I have attended Pilates classes with a top notch teacher so I know what you are saying about stretching.

3. I see a chiropractor on a regular basis. He does not actually crack but rather works on trigger points. He is constanly amazed at what good shape I am in and is not at all concerned with the curve. (As well as the medical doctors)

4. The curve is actually an "s" shape which means my center of gravity is not affected at all.

5. If I knew how to get rid of it, believe me I would because the only thing it has every bothered is my self-esteem. (At least in my younger days, when such things mattered) Always though others knew about it which is not true.

6. So, what else do you want me to do?? Any suggestions about how to get rid of it, short of surgery will be looked at with an open mind.

Maybe it's my spelling I should be working on!! lol

Even if your spine is supposed to be curved, it's like Pete said, "you will benefit from practicing Qigong."

You can still make your spine more energetically straight, more powerful, mobile.

Claire,

Having worked on a number of people with scoliosis I am constantly amazed at how well the body adapts to changes that either come on gradually or that we were born with. It sounds to me like you are doing all the right things to keep your spine strong and supple. Energetically, what I have noticed when working on people with scoliosis is that they sometimes get energy blocks at two key areas: 1) where the curve starts and ends and 2) at the apex of the curve of the scoliosis. Here's what I would suggest to see if you have the blocks: When doing the sitting meditation where you are circulating the Chi around the micro-cosmic orbit (up the back and down the front) get a sense of whether your energy flows freely through your curve. If it does - super you're doing well. If you get a stuck, blocked or twingy feeling then the area is being restricted energetically. Breath into the area and spend extra time focusing energy into it while breathing in and out of it when breathing out - you may notice some heat in the area or some discomfort or tingling - those are all signs that the energy is opening up.

You also mentioned that your curvature was a source of self-consciousness when you were younger - if there is an energy blockage in your spine and it frees tself up you may notice that there is an emotional component to it that may reactivate some of these old feelings you had when you were younger. As I'm sure you're aware that's super as it means that you are healing at a very deep level. Just thank your body for the emotions and the release, experience the feeling and then let it go with sincere appreciation and love for the gift that it presented to you.

Hope this helps,

Peter D

PS Thanks for the kind words about Chiropractors!

Peter
Thank you so much for taking the time to post that information. It certainly does help.

I have only done the sitting exercise once and did not really feel the energy in my torso. I feel a very powerful feeling in my hands and they become very red when I do Gigong. It feels like a very sacred practice tome and I do believe it works. I actually when to my Chiropractor yesterday nd he said "keep doing what you have been doing." The only problem I have with QiGong is that I also do Holosync and it is really hard to devote the time to both practices. Both I am going to really try to someway implement it into my life. Again, thanks for you input.

Elaine