As we transition into a new season, we’re happy to welcome those who are just joining the Rooted Alchemy community🌱🌻 Whether you’re completely new or continuing your path, this is a space to move at your own pace, grow steadily, and reconnect with your body in a supportive environment. Feel free to say hello! ✨ For our existing members — let’s welcome spring together! Here are a few fun questions to spark connection: - What does “renewal” in your practice look like this season? I’ll start first... this season, I’d like to approach renewal a little differently than I have before (usually change/evolve something). Instead of pushing forward or adding more, I want to return to a beginner’s mind... to see the practice with fresh eyes, as if I’m learning it for the first time again😌 @Elaine DeMasi @Sharon Palinsky @Eva Michaela @Elizabeth Wangmo @Kristan Lopes @T Laird @Lewis Klason @Nancy Reich @Wes MacDurmon @Axel Müller @Ximena Dussan-Aya Pearson @Verena Ellerkamp @Valeria Agustoni @Linda Tapscott @Robert McDunn @Orshi Hunyady @Jee Dax @Paul Custer @David Shipley @Agnieszka Kałużyńska @Adele Dupuis-Miller @Danial Fitzgerald @Terry Ann Sturm @Alan Hubble @Ana Maria Jelescu @Lori Morgan

We’re excited to open a new space in our community: Posture Lab — a focused area for refining your form and deepening your understanding of movement. 🔎 What is Posture Lab? Posture Lab is a space where you can share a photo or video of your Tai Chi or Qigong practice if you’d like more intentional guidance from Sonny. Because we practice online and can’t always adjust you in person, this space helps bridge that gap. Small adjustments can often create profound changes in how the body feels and moves. It’s designed to help you: - Refine alignment - Improve structure and balance - Understand principles more deeply - Connect posture to internal concepts like Song (松, relaxation), rooting, and center ✔️ How to Use It & Maximize Your Practice To get the most out of Posture Lab: - Upload a clear photo or short video (side view, front view, or both — even better!). - You can focus on one movement or posture at a time, or share a full sequence like the Beijing 24 Form. It’s completely up to you — the goal is to support your practice and study. - Share what you’re experiencing or unsure about. After receiving guidance: - Revisit the movement slowly. - Apply one adjustment at a time. - Notice how it changes your sensation, balance, and breathing. 💡 Example You might post a short clip of your Horse Stance and say: “I feel centered, but my thighs burn quickly and my shoulders feel tight.” Feedback might explore: - Knee tracking over the toes - Pelvic position - Shoulder relaxation (Song) - Weight distribution through the feet Often, one small structural shift can reduce strain or discomfort significantly. Posture Lab is a supportive space where you can study your own practice with curiosity and thoughtful exploration. Sharing your practice supports not only your own growth but also helps others learn through observation. This is an intentional space where you can deepen your study of Tai Chi and Qigong online and build a stronger relationship with your body and the way you practice.

Any pointers on feet, direction, posture, or anything else would be very helpful.

Are there some guiding principles around which form or technique to use when doing grounding circles? Sometimes the instruction is to fold at the elbows at the top, which means the elbows are pointed out as they lower. Sometimes, the instruction is to lower the elbows, keeping them close to the body. And sometimes, the students behind Sonny are doing them differently. :O I may be overthinking, but the two approaches feel so different.

🌿 February Qi Gong Check-In Welcome to February’s Qi Gong Check-in . This is a supportive space to show up for your practice, build consistency, and move together as a community. Whether you joined a live session, practiced along with YouTube inside the community, or completed a self-paced course, it all counts. What matters most is that you showed up. This thread will stay pinned for daily check-ins, connection, and encouragement. ⸻ ✅ How to Check In Each Day After you finish your practice, post a short check-in using these four steps: 1️⃣ Intention What did you want to focus on or cultivate today? 2️⃣ Practice What practice did you do today? Live session, YouTube, or self-paced are all welcome. 3️⃣ After How do you feel after completing your practice? One short sentence is perfect. 4️⃣ Visual Share a photo or short video of your practice, your screen, or your setup. ⸻ ✨ Sample Check-In Intention: To slow down and reconnect with my breath Practice: Live Session 12-21-2025 After: Feeling grounded, calm, and present Photo or video attached ⸻ There’s no right or wrong way to participate here. Show up in a way that feels good to you, support others when you can, and enjoy the process. One day. One breath. One practice.