After a 9-year absence it was an absolute joy to meet my master again. I believe his new title is Great Grandmaster Chen Xiaowang. Having returned to China, he has become a Taiji superstar teaching to thousands in the new stadium in Chen Jiagou (Chen Village). However, I was fortunate enough to have a private lesson in London last June, …
Over Christmas I read an article outlining 22 two-minute tension relievers. A taiji teacher gave the example of turning the body. This basic warm-up exercise is taught by most Taiji teachers, including Master Chen. Below is a video for you to follow and a link to the article. However, with our attention being eroded by the myriad …
A fond farewell to Master Milou, my taiji companion who found his resting place among these bamboos. My dear cat Milou was a frequent feature in the daily online Moving Qi-gong classes during lockdown. His brother Moritz prefers sofa yoga and performs the Cat Pose with prowess.
“Three parts medicine, seven parts nurturing health. Skill in treating is not as good as skill in nurturing health.” Chinese saying Lifestyle is the buzzword in Western medicine. From Dr Michael Mosley’s Just One Thing Radio 4 series on how to improve your health to Tim Spector’s revolutionary Zoe app, an individualised approach to nutrition. The …
Try Tai Chi This week Dr Michael Mosley’s great 15-minute program looks at the ‘science’ or research on Taiji and proves just how good Taiji is for the body and mind as it helps to: reduce stress & hypertension build stamina increase vitality enhance the immune system improve cardiovascular, respiratory, lymphatic and …
Yi = intention (engaged awareness) Taijiquan = supreme ultimate fist Toyohari = East Asian needling technique Two seemingly contractory aspects are involved in practicing Taiji forms and needling in Toyohari Japanese Acupuncture, Sung or relaxation and Yi or engaged awareness. How to be aware and relaxed simultaneously? I started learning Taiji with James Drewe in 1994 and in the introductory class we did an exercise called ‘Unbendable …
Respect for the Heart According to the Chinese classics of internal medicine, Summer relates to: Phase: Fire (huo) Direction: South Colour: red Yin organ: Heart Spiritual faculty: spirit (shen) Tissue: vessels Positive emotion: respect Negative emotion: hysteria Sound: laughing Injurious activity: excessive talking Of the 5 emotions in Chinese medicine (anger, joy, worry, sadness, fear), …
Spring marks a time for coming out from our enforced hibernation, the change from Kidney-Water phase of winter to the more dynamic Liver-Wood phase of spring. If the Kidneys have not been sufficiently replenished then you may be finding it difficult to spring into the Liver phase and feel in need of some acupuncture and taiji or qigong to help you …
The past year was undeniably challenging for most of us, yet what emerged from the confines of lockdown was the a sense of community and resilience. Back in March 2020 the weather was glorious and I started teaching daily zoom Qigong classes from my back garden. At the peak there were around 60 people joining …