Stages of Awareness Beginner Chen Tai Chi Students When starting out as a beginner Tai Chi student, as you learn the movements and copy the instructor you begin to develop different levels of awareness. This article looks at common progression to expect when learning Tai Chi. The duration of time spent in one stage is…
Earth Balance Tai Chi Patreon Changes are coming! My Patreon community page is expanding to bring together all of my students and our Tai Chi Qigong community group into one place. This means all livestream and private students will join the Hibernating Bear students over on Patreon. I made the decision to remove advertising from this website,…
Two Plates in Tai Chi Pelvic Floor & Diaphragm The pelvic floor and diaphragm connection are important to consider in your Tai Chi practice. They are called the two plates and are coordinated in movement and breath work. Spending time practising the connection will help develop your form and improve your posture. The principles that…
Self Sabotage in Tai Chi When starting a new hobby, like Tai Chi or Qigong, our minds can be our own worst enemy and will try to put all sorts of barriers in the way to stop us from leaving our comfort zone. This is a form of self sabotage. As humans, we like to…
Beginners Chen Tai Chi Learn the beginners Chen Tai Chi form via video on demand. The Chen Tai Chi 5 elements and 4 corners form consists of 6 movements to start your Tai Chi journey. Learn the signature movements in Chen Tai Chi, from silk reeling energy, to the body method and principles of alignment….
Qi Gong Principles What Are The Key Concepts in Training Qi Gong is a term from the 1960s, historically known as Dao Yin, and is an ancient Chinese health preservation system dated 4-6000 years ago. Active Qi Gong is the widely known physical exercise system that is typically performed standing up or seated. Passive Qi…
Zhan Zhuang Video Course A Free Programme for Beginner Students Standing like a tree – Standing Pole Zhan Zhuang is a stillness meditation which is a unique and powerful method to awaken the body in stillness. It is an ancient internal Taoist practice to cultivate mind and body. Learn to re-wire your habitual posture, integrate…
Attending Group Tai Chi Classes Blending to Green One of my teachers passed on this method to me in my earlier days of teaching group Tai Chi and Qigong classes. This message is so important when working in any group environment, to consider and become aware of how you hold yourself. One aspect of Tai…
Fixed vs Growth Mindset What kind of Tai Chi student are you? If you were to divide the population down into two types of learning styles, you could use the fixed vs growth mindset approach. Read through the characteristics of each, which mindset do you feel you are most like? In reality, it is not…
Deception Training Body Language and the Mind Body Connection This article looks at deception training and the relationship between how you hold yourself, the stress and relaxation state, and how Tai Chi and Qigong movements can help. The Stress Response What does the fear, stress, anxiety, scared, afraid, discomfort or nervous response look like in…
Tai Chi Does Not Heal The ‘ask the teacher’ question this month is from an email I received which said that Tai Chi: “healed my childhood knee problems and bad tendonitis in my arm, neither to return again, despite not continuing Tai Chi” “Can it repair and strengthen ligaments that were injured or are weak…
Fang Song in Tai Chi One of the most important Tai Chi principles is fang song = applied relaxation. To use the least amount of muscular contraction to perform a movement. Which means to release inappropriate muscle contraction, to loosen the joints and to reduce physical tension. I describe it to my students as the…
Tai Chi Hurt My Knees There are many barriers to starting something new, whether a hobby, new job or leisure activity. We are our worst enemy sometimes and our minds will throw up all sorts of reasons why not to do something. When we start something new, our minds will also try and dissuade us…
Self Managing Chronic Pain For those living with chronic pain who would like to be active in their self care management, read over my collection of resources that aim to naturally and holistically support you. Explore gentle and powerful methods for both mind and body to change your pain experience. I understand personally the impact…
Challenges in Tai Chi Training As a student, you can expect many challenges to come up during your training in a group class and your practice at home. Try to hold a positive approach, seeing challenge as opportunity. Tai Chi and Qigong are life-long practices, there will be times you are enthusiastic and highly motivated…