Taichi Tips

FIND YOUR SPIRIT

Written by Peter Robinson 

Your mind will fail you.  At some point it will cry out demanding for failure.

Your body will fail you.  At some point, it will cry out demanding for release. 

When mind and body fail you, there is only one thing which can make you persevere:  your spirit.   The spirit will hold you up when all else fails.  And so the wise man welcomes adversity, for in adversity, there is the opportunity to identify and recognize the spirit. 

Adversity is the great mill, the crucible, that which separates.  When the mind and body are gone, look to what is left.  And you will find your greatest of treasures. 

HARMONY AND BALANCE

Written by Peter Robinson

Harmony and Balance are two different things.

Balance is created when two things of equal and opposite weight exist at opposite ends of an equally long lever.  Balance is an artificial state, because it implies stasis.  Nothing can remain in balance for long, because the world is constantly shifting.  As the Buddha said “All things are impermanent.”  In other words, all things change.

Why Push Hands?

Written by Nisha Rodrigo

This month, Shakti’s Elements will be holding the second Push Hands Workshop in a series of five. Lately, many of you are questioning whether to take on one more workshop? I know you are asking yourself, “Should I add one more piece to my practice? And if so…why push hands?” Good Question.

One part class, two parts practice

Written by Peter Robinson

Stephen Bosco once told me his formula for success: one part class, two parts practice.  That is to say, Stephen explained that for every time he comes to class, he spends at least two times on his own, practicing what he's learned in class. 

As he explained, class is where you learn, but practice is where you Get It.  If you only come to class once or twice a week, that's probably not enough to fully absorb what you've learned.  Practice, practice, practice.  Make it your own.

What's that formula again?  One part class, two parts practice.

The Danger of Knowledge

Written by Peter Robinson

It may seem intrinsically wrong to say that knowledge can be dangerous, after all, isn't our study and path about the accumulation of knowledge? And yet, and I say this with a deep personal understanding, as this is one of my own particular flaws, in a way knowledge can be a real distraction from our growth.

I know, I know, it just seems wrong to say it, but bear with me for a moment.

The Application of Wisdom

Written by Peter Robinson

There is a process to what we do in class:

First, our teacher demonstrates. He sets a standard, something for us to aspire to.

Then, we imitate. At first, our imitation is flawed, rough, clumsy, almost a parody of what we have seen. But with a few corrections and adjustments, we find a semblance of the form.

Then we drill. We repeat the form over and over again, cleaning our movements up, making them richer, fuller, and learning to work with energy, and not with muscle. As the drill starts to make the moves become real.

Discovering Discovery

Written by Peter Robinson

Discovery is the first thing we learn in Tai Chi, and, in our haste to learn more, and newer things, it’s often the first thing we let go of.  Sometimes, we simply don’t do it, and other times, we don’t do it properly, rushing through it.

A good discovery can easily take a full hour, but even a fraction of that, done right, is never wasted, as discovery gives back exactly what you put into it. It is one of the most powerful tools and techniques we learn, and within it is the basis of all the work we will do.

Now, here are a few tips to help you get more out of your discovery:

SLOW AND FAST

Written by Peter Gamble Robinson

There are many different tools we can use to help us work on our Tai Chi, but today I want to focus on just two: moving very slowly or very quickly through the sets - two tools which are extremely valuable in helping us to diagnose weaknesses in our form.

Qi Gong

Written by Peter Robinson


If you really want to deepen the spiritual and energetic side of your Tai Chi practice, simplify. Before there was Tai Chi, there was Qi Gong (pronounced Chi Gung). Where Tai Chi is a series of intricate movements, which are mirrored by an intricate flow of energy through the body, Qi Gong repeats the same simple movements over and over, focusing on breath control and on the movement of energy through one specific meridian or chakra at a time. By narrowing one's focus, it can become much easier to identify your energetic body, and work with moving that chi with your intent. This is a particularly good time to practice your Qi Gong, as Master Zi has a new class in it on Sundays from 10:35-11:35am. And remember, sometimes, doing less is doing more.

Tai Qi outside of the Classroom

Written by Antony Bartlett

Tai Qi outside of the Classroom
written by: Antony Bartlett

One of the common questions asked in promotions is: 'Tell me about how you have applied Tai Qi in your life'. The responses range from the trivial to the gut-wrenchingly profound. In every case the answer inspires and illustrates the broad spectrum of practical applications the work provides the student. The classroom and our daily practice give us form and technique, taking us along our personalized, yet inexorable path towards a healthy mind and body.

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