Neck & Shoulder Awareness

Neck & Shoulder Awareness

Relaxing the neck and shoulders: In the past when I have been told to “relax” I never liked it. For the most part I found it annoying and it had the exact opposite effect on me. Through Tai Chi I learned a completely different mindset about tension and relaxation. The...
Tai Chi Thoughts

Tai Chi Thoughts

Tai Chi has taught me how to learn. I say this often. When I was young I was not a very good student. My mind was very active and it was often difficult to concentrate. I started studying Tai Chi at 19 not knowing what I was embarking on. When I was young, I used to...
Daily Tai Chi Reminder

Daily Tai Chi Reminder

“And suddenly your know: It’s time to start something new and trust the magic of beginnings”. This is a wonderful quote by Eckhart Tolle. This is how I felt when I was first introduced to Tai Chi in 1973. I had injured my back and went to see an acupuncturist....
Daily Tai Chi Reminder

Daily Tai Chi Reminder

Slo-Mo is the way to go!!! Tai Chi is meant to be savored, like allowing an incredibly delicious piece of chocolate to slowly melt in your mouth. Sometimes during practice I find myself in a place of timelessness, a place where I feel so incredibly good, a place that...
Daily Tai Chi Reminder

Daily Tai Chi Reminder

 Recognizing the Kwa: When talking about the Kwa we are generally speaking of the inguinal groove that connects the leg to the torso. Often Tai Chi is an optical illusion. Tai Chi movements can be difficult to “see” for beginners and non-practitioners. For example, in...
Happy Lunar New Year!!

Happy Lunar New Year!!

Happy Lunar New Year. As my friend Dale says, “May your spoons be overflowing with your favorite dumplings”. 2021 is a “metal” year. In Traditional Chinese Medicine metal rules the lungs. How appropriate is that… given that we are in the...
Daily Tai Chi Reminder

Daily Tai Chi Reminder

A common problem for beginners in Tai Chi is over-extending. It is easy to over-extend your head,  arms, legs and energy. This results in losing your arcs and circles. Losing arcs and circles contributes to locked joints and tense muscles. When your joints are locked...
Daily Tai Chi Reminder

Daily Tai Chi Reminder

Keep energy in your hands while practicing. Doing an entire form while focusing attention on the hands is an interesting exercise. It takes intention to maintain an expansive energy in the hands without tensing or collapsing them. A small amount of water could be held...
Daily Tai Chi Reminder

Daily Tai Chi Reminder

What does it mean to relax in Tai Chi? It isn’t only about releasing physical “tension”. It is also about not “tensing” the mind. In Tai Chi we call this state of relaxation “Song”. Tai Chi trains our bodies and minds to move...
DAILY TAI CHI REMINDER

DAILY TAI CHI REMINDER

Tai Chi is the expression of Yin & Yang. Yin & Yang cannot exist without each other. Light does not exist without dark. Yang rises and Yin sinks. Study the form. Feel the dynamic interaction of Yin & Yang in every movement. Happy Training!!!   You...