Question :

"If the body is balanced and full in the right foot and I am ready to step, I have noticed a sticking sensation in the left foot and visa versa.. is this normal, it sometimes feel very difficult to raise the empty foot."

It is possible that this is the ch'i of the foot which is linking in with the ch'i of the ground. But my guess is that any difficulty of emptying one leg completely is due to not sinking enough and not bringing lightness to the upper body and practising 'light spirit.'

There are many techniques which relate to stepping. First, the body should be centrally aligned over the fixed foot. Then, when relaxing downwards the sinking force increases. Gradually the other leg will empty and then can be moved with the waist. At this time the sinking is constantly increasing during the act of stepping. The body then can function as a whole without breaks. The body actually behaves like a balance. When the substantial goes down on one side there is a corresponding upward force on the other. This is created in the beginning with the mind although it is, in fact, natural. It is not at first an easy matter to get the body light, responsive and behaving as a unified whole. It is the ch'i and mind together that connects all the parts of the body and then using the principles of t'ai chi movement the unity of feeling can be maintained whilst stepping.

It can help to apply the principle that the body is suspended from the crown as if by a thread.
Bristol 28.07.09