When Resources aren’t Enough A delve into the Tai Chi learning process, looking at the ebb and flow of training a life-long art. When learning Tai Chi, there are several highs and lows along the way. Sometimes students will say “The resources aren’t enough”. As an instructor and student, I would like to share my…
Tai Chi Qigong Fall Prevention “Falls among elderly cost NHS £2.3bn a year” Reported by the Independent Newspaper in 2017. “Falls among elderly people may be costing the NHS in England up to £4.6m a day.” Reported by the BBC in 2010. “Pensioners can cut the risk of falls by a fifth by practicising…
What is your Goal? Tai Chi, Qigong and Meditation Training Being your natural self Maybe it’s easiest to start with my goal, or rather my journey. I am striving to be myself, it is as simple as that. So my goal in my Tai Chi, Qigong and meditation training, practice and play is to travel…
Taoist Teaching and Mid Life Assistance www.personaltao.com Taoism as a practice helps people live balanced and graceful lives. In China there is a saying: “You retire as a Taoist.” This is a reflection of the fact that Taoism as a teaching is deeply geared to help people come into their life. In the first third…
Tai Chi for All Abilities Our aim at Earth Balance Tai Chi is to create classes that are accessible across the whole community. We provide Tai Chi and Qigong for all abilities, meaning seated and chair based for those with restricted movement / mobility whether through disability, age, disease, injury or for rehabilitation. Find out…
Compassionate Tai Chi Developing Life Skills with Tai Chi Taoist philosophy trickles down into our Tai Chi and Qigong practice, teaching us how to navigate daily life. Tai Chi and Qigong help us become more compassionate with ourselves and others, which helps us balance our heart-mind. Regular practice of the Classical Chinese arts helps bring…
Music for your Practice Tai Chi and Qigong It’s always difficult to find good quality new music for your Tai Chi and Qigong practice. Composer Nick from www.aroshanti.com has created a series of relaxation albums that are first-rate. Aroshanti remains one of my favourite musicians for practising Tai Chi. His music is a great accompaniment…
Chen Taiji Cloud Hands The Chen style Tai Chi movement “Wave Hands like Clouds” (Yun Shou) can be performed as a standing silk reeling drill known as ‘double palm front silk reeling’ where both arms follow a positive/yang circle, or in the form the same movement is coordinated with a side stepping motion. The hands…
Knee Alignment Tai Chi Improving Posture in your Tai Chi Practice In Tai Chi and Qigong practice, correct knee alignment is often neglected which can lead to pain, injury and long-term damage. As the largest and most complex joint in the body the knee is more likely to get damaged than other joints. The knee…
Organ Health in Taiji Qigong There are over 70 organs in the human body which work together to keep us alive. The core of our health and longevity stems from how well our internal organs function. Poor lifestyle can reduce the effectiveness of our organs leading to ill-health and reduced wellbeing. In the practices of…
Importance of Silk Reeling Silk reeling is at the centre of Chen style Tai Chi training, helping the student to develop strength, co-ordination, body awareness, unity in movement, relaxation and grounding. Also known as Chan Si Gong; Chan (pulling), Si (silk) and Gong (skill achieved through applied effort). Chan Si Jin = A spiralling and…
Peng Lu Ji An Chen Tai Chi – Silk Reeling Practice This foundation drill of Chen style Tai Chi covers the four primary martial movements of Peng (ward-off), Lu (rollback), Ji (squeeze press), An (push down). Read more on the Eight Basic Movements of Chen Style Tai Chi and the Development of Chen Tai Chi. …
Chen 18 Form Resources For my Chen Tai Chi students, here are a variety of Chen style 18 form videos from YouTube to help you practice at home between classes. The Chen 18 form was created by Grand Master Chen Zhenglei and is a condensed version of the Chen 74 form, known as the old…
Rooting in Tai Chi One of the main principles in Chen Tai Chi training is rooting / grounding / sinking / balancing. This principle combines three concepts: Chen (pronounced chuen) which means rooting and sinking Qi to Dantian Zhongding which means central equilibrium, stable and balanced. Song which means applied relaxation. Without a root there…
Struggle is Opportunity I would like to share this article ‘Struggle for Smarts’ written by Alix Spiegel with you all. The content of this article relates well to how we learn Tai Chi and Qigong. The main focus is that in the modern Western world, we tend to see struggle in the learning process as…