We are constantly told to “close and lock our kua” in our classes – what does this mean?

In layman’s terms: straighten the curve of your lower back and tuck your pelvis in, like when you are about to sit down on a stool.

More specifically, we are straightening the lumbar lordosis to achieve a neutral position of the spine. A neutral spine means the lower back is relaxed and the tailbone is lengthened and down. This is controlled by the Iliacus and Psoas muscles, part of the Iliopsoas muscle group which connects the spine to the lower limbs. 

Unfortunately in our current age of working in front of our computers we are usually seated and therefore our psoas muscles are spent in a shortened position most of the time. So as modern practitioners of tai chi, many of us find closing and locking our kua much more difficult to do.

But why must we do it?

Flexibility and strength

Closing the kua joins together the upper and lower parts of the body. Locking the kua in this way allows you to move as one, or “whole body movement” as we say in tai chi. As the psoas muscle is the major muscle that connects the lower spine to your legs, a healthy and flexible psoas is ideal.

The psoas muscle is at the core of our functioning bodies, creating flexibility but also providing deep stabilization. It controls the function and movement of the hip-joint, the hip flexor and our ability to squat.

It assists in creating the very important neutral pelvis alignment, supports the organs in the pelvic and abdominal cavities (kidney, ureters, colon) and is involved when we take in a full, deep breath (via the diaphragm).

Shortening of the psoas manifests itself in lower back pain and excessive curve of the lower spine (lumbar hyperlordosis). Stretching the psoas muscles progressively leads to a more correct and more stable posture.

From a reflexology viewpoint, the arch of the foot is associated with the psoas muscle, and the state of the foot can determine the health of your psoas muscle. Not only is it hugely important in supporting and maintaining posture and gait, but for example: a collapsed arch of the foot could indicate an overstretched psoas muscle; or, a tight foot arch could equate to a tight psoas.

Deepening of your breath

Correct breathing affects our entire body and our health. In tai chi we practice circular or microcosmic orbit breathing (small and large circles).The psoas muscle (via tendons and fascia), has a direct connection to our diaphragm and therefore affects our breathing and vice versa. 

The psoas muscle has many names, sometimes referred to as the “muscle of the soul” or the “emotional muscle”. When we are stressed or angry, either chronically or for long periods of time, our breathing changes which causes the psoas to become contracted, shortened, and tense. The result is a decrease in lung capacity, poor alignment, shallow breathing, and reduced oxygen levels. In addition, this can lead to low back pain, general malaise, and possibly digestive issues. This can also cause anxiety, stress and fearfulness. The unfortunate result will be a poorly functioning body and body systems.

In tai chi the dantian, being at the body centre, is our energy centre. At an advanced level, especially practising tai chi as a martial art, all movements are generated by the dantian.

From a Qi perspective, by closing and locking your kua, you are opening your ‘Mingmen’, or ‘Gate of Life’. This is a point in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) that is considered the origin of life processes and the storage place for innate Qi. By keeping it open during your practice, you allow generated Qi to accumulate more easily as your dantian is drawn closer to your Mingmen when you open it. As mentioned in a previous article, Qi is blood, so by opening your Mingmen you are improving the circulation of your blood around your body.

Building your Qi is when you breathe effectively. When you optimise your body alignment, you maximise your Qi building.

Reduce stress

Stress and tension causes the psoas to contract. With constant contraction the muscle can progressively shorten, causing injury and pain to the back, hips and knees. At the same time, the tightening of the diaphragm and shortening of breath can create an anxious state, causing a vicious, constantly reinforcing cycle.

Interestingly, in Ayurveda, the three lower chakras corresponding to the dantien in taiji and TCM, are believed to govern your instinctive and emotional behaviour. For anxiety relief, abdominal breathing is recommended which is used to relax and calm the root and the sacral chakras (first and second chakras) by easing the pelvic diaphragm. The third chakra, solar plexus, is also referred to as the body’s energy house.

By lengthening the psoas muscle we bring the body out of its instinctive curl of stress. The freedom of movement, structural stability and deeper breath brought about by a healthy psoas muscle can both reflect and influence the state of mind, aiding both physical and psychological well-being.

So when we hear in class, “close and lock your kua”, we now know why we are asked to do this – and how important it is.