Aligning the Spine & Releasing the Neck

How to bring the spine into alignment using 'releasing' as opposed to 'stretching' to allow its lengthening.
It has to be done using un-doing or not-doing, otherwise you end up with tension.
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James Drewe teaches Tai Chi and Qigong in both London and in Kent and online, and there are a number of free videos available as well as 'subscription classes'.
Details of weekly classes both live and online can be found on the website, and there are classes for 2-person Tai Chi on one Saturday a month.
BLOGS: There is more tai chi and qigong information at: jamesdrewetaichi.wordpress.com
CONTACT:
www.taiji.co.uk
www.qigonghealth.co.uk
Email: [e-mail]
Phone: [phone]
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[@dementeduncle]

Helpful descriptive postural guidance. Thanks for your efforts. This is useful.

[@taichiqong]

Thanks for the comment...

[@harveyburns3500]

Thanks James. When you say "release the lower back" do you mean into its curve/lordoisis - or the reverse (more flat) ?

[@taichiqong]

Good question! Most people tense in the lower back and don't realise that they are doing so. When they are even slightly tense, they increase the natural curvature of the back, and the pelvis rises very slightly at the back (I give this the 'charming' name of 'duck-bum' because it's a bit like you try to lift the tail feathers at the back, sticking the buttocks backwards). When you feel that tension (and the key is to 'feel' it), you are able to let go of it.
However, flattening the back (by tucking the pelvis under deliberately) is also problematic. You might stop doing 'duck-bum', but you haven't actually released the back to allow it to sink naturally; when you force the pelvis to tuck under, it's usually happened because the abdominal muscles have tightened and are causing the lower back muscles to stretch - which is different to 'releasing' them.
So the answer is that the back might flatten out slightly, and the lordosis therefore will slightly 'undo' (meaning that the buttocks will drop a little at the back), but the entire process needs to be achieve by stopping holding on in the lumbar region, and not by MAKING it happen. This is very difficult for people who don't even realise that they are tense in the lumbar area - which is the vast majority of people... You know how it is... we all get used to our discomfort and it becomes the norm.

[@harveyburns3500]

@@taichiqong Thanks James for taking the time for this comprehensive answer. So, letting go into the natural lumbar curve must be the way to go.
My personal experience is that letting go into the curve also involves letting go of the front of the spine that is perhaps also pulling the lumbars flat. Would you agree?

[@taichiqong]

@@harveyburns3500 Yes, I agree. When you let go at the back, the front appears to straighten the spine slightly, you might even feel the abdomen or front of the body (even up to the chest) rising a little without your doing anything to make it happen.
The key to the entire thing is to let it go at the back rather than forcing it, but I reckon from what you've said that you've got that concept.
Incidentally, I write a blog once a month, and this kind of thing comes up on it regularly. You'll find the blog address in the video 'description'.

[@harveyburns3500]

@@taichiqong Will take a look. Thanks again. H