Heavy Metal: United Tai Chi digest 9/25/13

• Autumn. Soon a time of crunchy multicolored leaves underfoot.  This past Saturday afternoon ushered in a change of season, a change of temperament.  In the Five Elements of Chinese medicine, autumn is associated with METAL.  It signifies the ascendance of yin and inward movement, introversion. The afternoon of the day, grief, middle age of the human life cycle.  Organs paired with Autumn/Metal are the lungs (regulation of qi and defenders against invasion of illness) and the large intestine (elimination of impurities). And just as in the other elements or seasons, Metal imbalances have emotional impact. A deficiency may manifest as fatigue, inability to complete projects, repeating the same destructive patterns of behavior, perfectionism, fear of being harshly judged. An excess could highlight rigidity, neatness, precision, persistent grief or being overly judgmental of others. Gail Reichstein writes in Wood Becomes Water: Chinese Medicine in Everyday Life, “A balanced metal element allows us to move beyond the situations that disappoint us, cutting through pain and grief to isolate the wisdom each experience holds. We recognize that loss is a part of life and do not cling to what is no longer within our grasp. Healthy metal keeps us present in the moment.”  I can’t decide if I err more on the side of metal in excess or deficiency, as I can see evidences of both. Perhaps someone from the outside looking in could spot it better than myself (ah, but please don’t judge me harshly).  What is it that you still cling to or haven’t moved beyond? Or, perhaps, you are present in the moment with a healthy metal balance.  In a feng shui sense, bright copper kettles can balance you (but alas, no mention of raindrops on roses or whiskers on kittens).  Add some root vegetables and some Qi Gong and Bob’s your uncle.

 

• Wrap-up of the past week’s classes:  Took an in-depth look at the combination posture Grasp the Sparrows Tail (ward off, neutralize, press, wipe off, push).  John C, I’m not sure if he said “a fish distance” or not, but it gave me a chuckle.  Fran our long time yoga practitioner reminded us of the breaths per minute cycle. The yin versus yang components of several postures. Looked at the earth hand palm transitions in Brush Knee. Thirteen postures. Started some drills on the Eight Powers.  Looked at weight shifts and hip positions in Split/Ward-off and also the Parry Re-direct. Eight pieces of brocade.  Repeat drills on individual postures (my right thigh just developed an allergy to cranes). And speaking of upper respiratory health, blessings to all of our snifflers and coughers this week.

 

• Shares/Finds:  From to book Iron and Silk (Mark Saltzman); this kind of reminds us of learning Tai Chi, no?  “In Chinese calligraphy, a single dot requires as many as five distinct motions of the wrist and shoulder to be formed properly, and that same dot will be formed differently depending on which of the several tens of established styles you are studying. Once you are able to brush the dots, lines, hooks and circles, you must learn how to put them together into aesthetically balanced characters. After that, you learn to write the separate characters as if an invisible, unbroken line existed between them, to give them continuity and life.”   

 

• Student News and Upcoming Events:  Join us for another Qi Gong workshop at Kerr Park in Downingtown, Saturday September 28, 2pm, $25 (bring a mat and a water bottle). DVD night coming soon.   Welcome new student Mary, welcome back Jaclyn, safe travels Cosmo, and we’ll be keeping Ron & Joy’s family in our good intentions this week.  Nice start to the fall session with Chester County Night School this week. Some years back, Saturday Night Live  had a sketch called “Deep Thoughts, With Jack Handy”.  Well I want to thank those of you who have responded with your own ‘deep thoughts’ in response to last week’s newsletter on spirituality in internal arts. It is tremendously gratifying, both as a Tai Chi student and a writer, to get that kind of feedback and to see a seed that you planted germinate into a larger dialogue (thanks Deborah, Claudia and Christian).  Welcome new WordPress follower lukescott313 – you may want to visit his site at  http://derekcheyyim.wordpress.com    one of the videos on there is a lovely Tai Chi 24 form. 

 

• Weekly Schedule:

MORNINGS	Lionville YMCA  … 100 Devon Drive  Exton PA	M / W / F	7:30 AM
AFTERNOON	Eagleview YMCA …699 Rice Blvd  Exton PA	Tues/ Thr	4:45 PM
EVENING	Lionville Natural Pharmacy    309 Gordon Dr Exton [90   minute, small class attention, separate   fees apply]	Thursday	7:00 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 Rice  unitedtaichi@gmail.com    

Spirituality in Internal Arts: United Tai Chi digest 9/18/13

• Spirituality.  A loaded word, a hot button topic, as spirituality means so many different things to different people.  Tai Chi and the internal arts leave a door open for spiritual pathways and often cultivate a greater appreciation for the divine.  Several books have touched on this topic.  Tai Chi: Health for Life (Bruce Frantzis): “Spirituality involves the process of exploring, finding and remaining in a divine or spiritually open state all the time—often referred to as enlightenment. The capacity to concentrate deeply is one major essential ingredient needed to become enlightened. In this regard, tai chi helps you develop extremely subtle concentration abilities.”  The Harvard Medical School Guide to Tai Chi (Peter Wayne) lists one of the eight active ingredients as Embodied Spirituality – “Tai chi creates a practical framework for practicing living with more holistic Eastern philosophy that integrates body, mind and spirit. It can also be a powerful vehicle to add spiritual dimension to your life. Also the ritualistic practices of Tai Chi may help amplify and sustain its therapeutic benefits.”  The Wandering Taoist (Deng Ming-Dao) talks about the humility/selflessness component of spirituality; “Use your knowledge in the service of others, but expect nothing in return. Never seek a reward for your labors, for that is a sin.”  Likewise the naturalism bent (communion with the outdoors and studying the meditative and self-healing nature of animals) inherent in Tai Chi lends itself to the devine. Chang Tao-Ling and Lau Tzu speak of the energies of heaven, earth and man as The Three Pure Ones and “by receiving these spirits into the microcosm of the body, one becomes a child of the Tao” (Mantak Chia, Awaken Healing Light).  The Taoist view of spirit, or Shen, is related to one’s attitude or emotional energy.  How have your internal arts practices impacted your exploration of spirituality?

 

• Shares/Finds:  A request last night for the Beijing 2008 Olympics tai chi segment of the opening ceremony –practice video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yzupK459ftM   And, for Janet, some Chuck Norris love in a flashback classic, showing Eva Gabor some martial arts moves  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zndl8pznghs    Fall events or classes with Lionville Holistic Health Center in Exton   http://lionvillehealth.com/schedule-of-events/

 

• Wrap-up of the past week’s classes:  Several opportunities to expand the depth of your practice these past few days. Discussing heaven’s bridge and the unbroken circle. Finding answers to a posture in the martial application of it. Stories about the Phoenix and how each of us in the warm-up circle represents a feather that has been dropped by the mother-figure; then we in turn drop feathers of new students we bring.  Reasons to augment your Tai Chi practice with complementary arts like Bagua and Hsing-I.   Of course, topped off by our on-going Tai Chi studies including how to find room for your tuna sandwich under your armpit by turning the elbows out (armpit = the kwah of the shoulder). Growing like a tree Qi Gong.  Eight Pieces of Brocade. Relaxing the knee of your weighted leg for balance.  Ten breaths discussion/tips/movement explanations. Harmonies –e.g., the elbows and kidneys are “cousins who are good friends.”  Kidney breath. Dragon tongue kick. 
•  Student News and Upcoming Events:  Welcome new students Wanda, Gloria and Alma; and welcome back Ellen and Jay.  John C saw his son off into matrimony this weekend. Christian’s next Qi Gong workshop is Saturday September 28, 2pm –invite friends, all levels welcome  (Kerr Park, $25, or $5 discount if wearing our United Tai Chi shirt).  If you bought course # 13FFH710 through Chester County Night School, Christian starts those Monday night sessions on 9/23.  Internal arts DVD Night –coming soon. TaoistHealingEnergetics.org in Berkeley is a new Twitter follower, try and check out their site if you are curious about Chi Nei Tsang.  Some people don’t like a birthday acknowledgement, so an early Feliz Cumpleanos to one who’s name rhymes with “Ron”. Likewise a happy belated to Deb, and an (early) Bonne Fete or Joyeaux Anniversaire to Chris S!  Glad to hear there is renewed interest in the night class at the natural pharmacy via email inquiries and current afternoon students—excited to share that with those looking to augment and broaden their study. Ray thanks for the LinkedIn endorsement.  And hey, I got a reminder on this auto health tip this weekend –car batteries don’t last forever.  Martina, Liz and Claudia: thanks for the advice, praise and/or social engagement these past few days.
• Etcetera:  Let me know which of you would like that Lyme disease treatment report from local chiropractor Dr. Ned Culbertson. I will get an E-distribution-list together and spot send to just those interested.

 

• Weekly Schedule:

MORNINGS	Lionville YMCA  … 100 Devon Drive  Exton PA	Mon, Weds, Fri	7:30 AM
AFTERNOONS	Eagleview YMCA …699 Rice Blvd  Exton PA	Tues, Thurs	4:45 PM
EVENING	Lionville Natural Pharmacy    309 Gordon Dr Exton [90 minute, small   class attention, *separate fees apply]	Thursday	7:00 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 Rice       unitedtaichi@gmail.com     

Continuing Education: United Tai Chi 8/23/13 Newsletter

• Back to school.  This week you may have noticed the buses on your morning travel route, or kids waiting on the sidewalk set to begin another academic year, as many schools in this local area had opening day on Monday.  As practitioners of internal arts know, learning doesn’t stop once the cap and gown are gone. The curious are always on a quest. I talked about collaboration last week on one of our social media feeds, and an unexpected part of my journey with Tai Chi has been a room full of teachers in one way or another, inside and outside the classroom. What is it that ball players say –the bench is deep.  We all have something to teach, to share; and something to learn.  Education comes in many forms, and though some of us may have different triggers that facilitate our learning, or different speeds of ascension, eventually we all end up at the same point in the circle. The same path from the heart. Don’t hang up your backpacks and your slide rule just yet, the ride’s not over.

 

•  Shares/Finds:  Just in time for the season, Tai Chi benefits for college students http://www.dahnyogataichi.com/2013/08/14/tai-chi-exercises-can-benefit-college-students/     Nice blog on the topic of Qi energy from Sifu Anthony K of Flowing Zen http://flowingzen.com/9460/i-dont-believe-in-energy/

 

• Wrap-up of the past week’s classes:  Five colored clouds surrounding the mountain. Folding. Coiling. Standing ten. Navel –umbilical cord and fountain of youth; coil your fist up through your navel for ‘serve the fruit’ exercise.  Opening bow practice and filling up our bucket from our root, diagnosing internal maladies in the spaces where our shoulders pop up.  Reviewing the tan tiens of our arms in the Pull Down/Ward Off transition in 13 postures.  Finding your center. Thumb and spine connections. Transitions between Press, Elbow and Shoulder in 13 postures. Travelling an internal path from bone to ligament, muscle, skin and back again. Growing like a tree Qi Gong. Detailed breakdowns of opening bow, scoop the water, and ward off left. Hand and foot connections in the Slant Fly posture. 

 

• Student News and Upcoming Events:  We’re holding another Qi Gong workshop on Saturday August 31  at 2pm in Kerr Park,  $25, or a $5 discount if you are wearing our United Tai Chi shirt. Bring a water bottle and a mat. RSVP on our Facebook page or to unitedtaichi@gmail.com  Welcome back Martina.  Thanks @Silverwolfma in the UK for re-tweeting my 8/21 newsletter link to your bevy of followers.  Safe journeys to travelers Jane, Jaclyn and Christine H.  Rather large attendance at Tuesday’s class, sorry I missed it but glad to see everyone at the desk.  Reminder there is no class on Monday September 2 (holiday hours at YMCA).  If you missed out on our spring/summer T-shirts, fret not as fall ones are in the offing.  Dot thanks for the supermarket chat.  Mario good luck in Miami. Pat, the Red Cross thanks you. A huge welcome and thank you to our international readers who have found at least one or more of our newsletters on WordPress (Canada, Italy, Mexico, Australia and the UK)!   G’Day, Buenos dias and Buon giorno. And no, spell-check, I am not trying to type Bon Jovi (though perhaps Richie Sambora could use some Qi Gong right about now).   Sorry Canadians, I am not sure how you greet each other at the local Tim Hortons. 

 

• Etcetera:  With football season approaching, those of you who read my reviews and/or discussion in June about Mark Saltveit’s book The Tao of Chip Kelly, you can follow his Twitter feed @taoish, and tell him Kathleen from United Tai Chi sent you; I know he’d appreciate it.  

 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

See or share this newsletter from our WordPress URL  http://www.unitedtaichi.wordpress.com

 Have a great week, and may all your armpits have tuna sandwiches.

Kathleen Rice      unitedtaichi@gmail.com    

Mapquest: United Tai Chi 7/17/13 newsletter

• Maps. I’ve been working on a mapping project the top of this week for another one of the job hats I wear. Where do you dwell, what is your location, in what township or neighborhood is your domicile, where do you ‘hang your hat’ so to speak. We also find maps in acupuncture meridians and Chinese medicine. In feng shui. The five elements. The eight trigrams. Breathing orbits. Chi energy flow.  Maps abound in internal arts and related disciplines. Here is hoping that the internal map that you are following leads you to a healthy place –but just remember, there is no shame in stopping to ask for directions along the way.
• Shares/Finds:  A great find on Pinterest that I shared on FB–“30 benefits of Qi Gong” http://on.fb.me/13ShfY1     Also the National Qi Gong Association is having their annual conference in King of Prussia from July 26-28, more info here http://nqa.org/2013/01/the-2013-nqa-conference/
• Wrap-up of the past week’s classes:  Ten breaths and revisiting our hip folding and fingertip connections. Thirteen postures and breaking down the transitions from Split to Pull Down to Ward Off.  Golden Lotus Qi Gong. Continued further drill work on postures and transitions in the middle of Part I Yang 108. Student demonstrations. Body bites and uprooting the opponent. Different speeds practice for Part I.  Repulse monkey and it’s “cousin” brush knee. Eyeball workouts for your ‘eyecepts’.  Listening to what your bones are telling you. Balance tips. More work on Dragon Tongue Kick. Don’t forget the previous posture sets up the next move.
• Student News and Upcoming Events: The photo here is one shot from Ray’s vacation (view from the train, Barcelona to Madrid).  Christian’s Qi Gong healing workshop is on Saturday August 3^rd, 8am in Kerr Park Downingtown: $25 for around  90-minutes-to-2-hours (please bring a mat or blanket for some ground work).  RSVP on our Facebook page or to unitedtaichi@gmail.com.   Christian will be sharing  some Tai Chi and Qi Gong with Hopi Indians out west on his summer travels. Linda shared with us her “rooting” story while practicing Tai Chi on the beach during a recent trip.  Boot Road Park folks, class is still on the 22^nd weather permitting (fun awesome substitute, not like those hard-noses you had back in school).  Wayward travelers back to class this week –Janet and Annette.  Welcome to our new Facebook and Pinterest followers this week. One of our connections is Will Brown who teaches in Ontario at The Tai Chi Players –where I sometimes find interesting Pinterest or Twitter items. 
• Et cetera:  Anyone needing a virtual massage, check out Claudia’s July 11 blog http://bit.ly/12qse9H Also, Bill Douglas’s video promoting his Tai Chi health and recovery benefits for medical conditions at Turning Point Center for Hope and Healing at the University of Kansas has got me itching to shoot another short cell-phone video Testimonial of one of our own students again (like Ray C did this spring) –let me know if one of you wants to try it, thanks. 
• 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   https://www.facebook.com/pages/United-Tai-Chi/392555767502788  

 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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