“Single Whip” at Grand Canyon
- Empty or full? One of the principles we find in internal arts is the notion of empty versus full. Don’t move a leg that bears weight, infrequent is the moment of 50-50 or double weighted stance, always be ready to change positions on your bubbling well spring when one leg is more grounded than the other, fill up your bucket from your root, empty your chi ball at the push, etcetera. We can take this principle into other parts of our life and explore it as we are want to do with many a Tai Chi touch point. We may think we are “full” after a 4-course promo special at Red Lobster, or “empty” after watching more than one episode of “Franklin & Bash” on a cable repeat weekend. But most of us would agree those are not the only definitions of empty and full. Then there is the operational definition, where a glass with no beverage, in the literal sense, is empty. Or the spiritual definitions of a life well lived and purposeful , versus idle moments spent chasing less noble pursuits. Have you gone to your pantry one day only to wonder where all your cans, boxes and bags went? The hole you dug for a tree is it now full, or are you waiting for the right weather conditions and soil additives? Ah but empty doesn’t necessarily have to be a negative construct. It is sometimes in the empty spaces where we can find the truth. What part of your week was “full” and where did you experience emptiness?
- Shares/Finds: Comedian and actor Eddie Izzard on “How to Chose a Martial Art” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2uJqW9O6aW0 A tweet from @bunnybuddhism: “Sometimes choosing not to hop is more powerful than hopping”.
- Wrap-up of the past week’s classes: Eight pieces of brocade. Abdominal breathing. Studied the transition from Repulse Monkey to Slant Fly. Thirteen postures. Serve the fruit. Tail bone reminders. Thank you to all of our student leaders/substitute teachers (John C, Sun, Kathleen). Revisiting brush knee and it’s intricacies. Thirteen postures. History lessons. Relax your cheeks and mandible. Dragon tongue kick. Finding your center—a phrase not just for the physical, but emotional/mental as well. “Weasle in a box”. Our Boot Road Park class grew this week (join us on Monday nights). Thanks Ray C for getting my Jack Jones reference last week.
- Student News and Upcoming Events: Welcomed two new students this week. Jaclyn attended an interesting session at the National Qi Gong Association convention in King of Prussia this past weekend. Lesson from “The Wolverine”, the red haired chick is the feisty fighter. Don’t forget Christian’s Qi Gong workshop this Saturday August 3rd, 8am at Kerr Park ($25 / 90 minutes; or $5 discount if you’re wearing our group T-shirt). And please if you are going, take a few pictures for me to post, as I will be out of town this weekend. And speaking of travel, a big thanks to St. Christopher (or whomever your culture deems a protector of travelers), grace, heart and karma for the safe return of dear friends in the midst of some trying moments.
- Weekly Schedule
|
MORNINGS |
Lionville YMCA … 100 Devon Drive |
Mon, Weds, Fri |
7:30 AM |
|
AFTERNOONS |
Eagleview YMCA …699 Rice Blvd |
Tues, Thurs |
4:45 PM |
|
EVENING |
Lionville Natural Pharmacy 309 Gordon Dr [90 minute, small class attention, *separate fees apply] |
Thursday |
7:00 PM |
|
Spring/Summer Evening |
Beginners at Boot Road Park (weather permitting) 110 W. Boot Rd $10 drop in rate. |
Monday |
6:00 PM |
- Follow these links to our social media presence on the web:
FACEBOOK http://www.facebook.com/UnitedTaiChi.chesco
TWITTER http://www.twitter.com/unitedtaichi PINTEREST http://www.pinterest.com/unitedtaichi
Have a great week, and may all your armpits have tuna sandwiches.
Kathleen unitedtaichi@gmail.com
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United Tai Chi 