Pivoting at Day 28: What Standing Still Taught Me About Moving Forward

Twenty-eight days ago, I started this project full of the usual high hopes that come with a fresh beginning. I had the whole plan mapped out: I’ll just do this, then I’ll do that, and then I’ll do this.

Well, it didn’t quite work out that way.

About eight days in, I realized the system and workout I had chosen were actually causing some problems. Honestly, catching that early was a blessing. I had to stop and ask myself: What do I actually need to do right now?

Several answers jumped out at me. I went back over some videos and transcriptions from Paul Read back in November about how to actually start Tai Chi. The core of his answer came down to one fundamental thing: the method in which we stand before we do anything else.

Looking for confirmation, I bought another course—Five Animals Play by Tom Bisio—and found it said the exact same thing. My Dragon and Tiger course mirrored it, too. It all pointed toward standing meditations, and I wanted to explore whether this practice held a deeper power beyond just being a "standing exercise." And of course it does. I may have been knocking around these arts for some time but that doesn't mean I can't learn something new or even re-access forgotten knowledge.

Here is what Google has to say:

Qigong standing practice, known as Zhan Zhuang (standing like a tree), is a foundational method that blends static posture with deep, diaphragmatic breathing. It calms the nervous system, builds structural alignment, and cultivates internal energy (Qi) by relaxing the body and mind in stillness. [1, 2, 3]The Core Posture: Wuji Stance Before starting, begin by letting go of tension. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, toes pointing straight ahead. Adopt this posture: [1, 2]

  • The Head: Imagine your head is suspended from above by a gentle string. Keep your chin tucked slightly to align your spine.
  • The Spine: Soften your lower back and tailbone as though sitting on a high stool.
  • The Arms: Hang your arms loosely by your sides with space under the armpits, or bring them up in front of your chest as if "hugging a tree".
  • The Legs: Unlock your knees, allowing them to rest in a soft, slightly bent position. Never let your knees extend past your toes. [1, 2, 3]

The Three Golden RulesTo get the most out of your practice, follow these principles: [1]

  1. Don't Worry: Allow yourself to be present.
  2. Don't Intellectualize: Let the body feel rather than overthink the positions.
  3. Enjoy Your Practice: Keep a light, relaxed, and receptive mindset. [1, 2]

Breathing & Mental FocusWhile holding the posture, inhale quietly through your nose into your abdomen—letting your belly expand. Exhale slowly, allowing your ribs and abdomen to gently relax. Focus on bringing awareness to the Dantien an energy center a few inches below your navel). You can mentally scan your body from head to toe, intentionally releasing tension in the scalp, shoulders, hips, and ankles as you exhale. [1, 2, 3]How to Get Started

  • Duration: Begin with short sessions of 5 minutes daily. As your body adjusts, gradually increase this to 10, 15, and eventually 20 minutes.
  • Tracking Time: Use a stopwatch instead of a timer to avoid the distraction of counting down. [1, 2]

Wuji as my Diagnostic Tool

For the past 28 days, I have been practicing Wuji every single day. What it has developed into is nothing short of a profound diagnostic tool. I've even been using it extensively alongside Claude and DeepSeek to analyze the feedback from my body and crowdsource suggestions on how to begin recovering.

It might sound a bit pedantic, but it’s practical. The next phase of this project involves getting out onto the hill. To do that safely, I have to address some ongoing difficulties I've been experiencing with my gait—and all of that starts with posture.

Standing in this particular way has already taught me an immense amount. As the days have progressed, I’ve also deepened the practice by moving into Mabu (the wide horse stance). Instead of the usual shoulder-width stance, your feet are much wider apart, and you just sit into it.

The real challenge has been maintaining correct alignment. When I first started, 15 seconds was the absolute maximum I could manage. But it didn't take long to progress; from day to day, my endurance grew quite rapidly. 7 minutes is where I am at right now. It is not just about endurance

Uncovering the Imbalances

This practice is teaching me an awful lot about how out of balance my body currently is, and I’ve been doing a lot of deep thinking about it. I plan to publish some specific data here and go into much greater depth over on Here Be Dragons soon.

Ultimately, these first 28 days of the project have been entirely about learning. I’ve been discovering the foundational pieces required to prepare myself for what lies ahead. My goal is to ensure I don't hurt myself, don't put others in danger, and actually achieve what I set out to do.

It’s a complicated process with a lot of moving parts, so I’ll likely break the next few updates down into smaller, bite-sized posts. Stay tuned!