When it comes to T-Tapp, remember it all starts here

There's a solid, undeniable thread that runs all the way through the T-Tapp Wellness Workout.

One from which you launch any – and all – of the standing T-Tapp moves, or sequences.  Or sets within sequences.

And that is the basic T-Tapp stance.

This is not news to those who are familiar with the T-Tapp Workout.  Practice of proper exercise form is paramount. Yet as a T-Tapp Trainer, I note how common it is for students to slip in this one seemingly minor detail that is actually core to the T-Tapp Workout itself.

Which is why I've devised a strategy you can use to keep the powerful aspect of the basic stance more cleanly cemented into your T-Tapp Workouts.

T-Tapp Basic Stance

A quick review of the T-Tapp Basic stance is in order.

It's simple, yet not always easy to achieve, especially to beginners. Yet it is approximation of this basic stance position that is the key to success and building a stronger, balanced body with this physical therapy approach to fitness.

With the T-Tapp Basic Stance, which is the groundwork for all the moves that unfold throughout the workout, you place the body in solid position:

1. feet in parallel, directly below hip joints.  This means right foot under right hip, left under left, your feet dead ahead as if you are on skiis.  You know what happens when skiing if the skiis are slightly turned out or in, don't you?  Keep that in mind as you stay cemented to parallel.  The number of moves in the T-Tapp Workout that deviate from this stance are few and far between, the exception rather than the rule.
2. bend knees so that the kneecaps are stacked directly on top of the ends of the toes without going past.  This is surprisingly difficult to maintain through your workout, as the immediately workload placed on the muscles builds as you go.  Beginners or those with knee issues can go more shallow at first
3. lift the ribs vertical from the hips
4. tuck the tail under
5. open the chest with shoulders back and stack the shoulders directly over the hips
6. gently press the knees away from the midline of the body in the direction of the little toe.

There you have it.  In a nutshell:

• bend
  
• tuck
  
• lift
  
• open
  
• press

This virtually launches every other move in the workout sequence

Second in the T-Tapp Workout sequence is plies.  Guess what?  It's built on the same lineup as described above.  As a matter of fact, I often have students get into basic stance to launch their plie sequence, then simply move the feet apart to the wider plie stance, and GO.

Same with T-Tapp Twist, Oilwells, Balance….and so on.  They all build upon this basic position.

Next time you T-Tapp, try this trick:

Build every single sequence from the basic stance as described above.  Actually put your body into position.  Connect with the kinesthetic awareness of it.  Then vary the foot position as needed for the next move.

And watch your exercise form throughout step up the intensity and effectiveness of your whole exercise session.

It's the #1 secret to magnifying your results.

© Lani Muelrath 2009 All Rights Reserved