Gaia: The Taoist Temple - The Physical

Re: Body Work

http://dolphin77.gaia.com — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 22:26:20 GMT

Hi everyone,

I practice the taoist martial art ot Ba Gua - the sister art to tai chi. Before this I practiced karate. I find that Ba Gua is a very deep and extremely demanding martial art.

In all honesty I expect many more years of basic practice before the art starts to flow within me, although the circle walking is very energetic and I can get a sense of it's power and grace.

There are also various qi gong moves (none static) that seem to torture me with their twisting and stretching postures. On the occasions that I focus correctly they are again very powerful and can be very invigorating, totally different to static qi gong postures.

In ba gua alot of work is required in order to prepare the body to move chi to where it is needed to defend yourself. The chinese masters have figured out lots of elaborate ways to find new muscles to twist!

Re: Body Work

http://daojones.gaia.com — Thu, 27 Dec 2007 02:08:15 GMT

Hi Samme, I practice Wu Ji Jing Gong Tai Chi. It 's a form I've learned at Silver Tiger studio nearby. Here is a link to the school: http://silvertigertaichi.com/ . I've been studying for about 3 years. I am limited by time and money but practice what I have already learned daily. I have learned the first section of three and some applications. I have also learned the set of qigong exercises related to this form.

Re: Body Work

http://sundovt.gaia.com — Sun, 25 Nov 2007 17:13:48 GMT

I started out learning Tai ji when I was living on Okinawa. My teacher put a lot of emphasis on it being a "martial art", albeit softer than karate, for instance. I soon discovered Qigong as a result of raised energy consciousness, and now prefer it to Tai ji. Currently, I practice a form called White Crane, which has 128 movements, divided into 5 sets.

Unfortunately, qigong instructors are rare here in the US, so if anyone has any tips, or techniques to share, I'd love to hear them.

Re: Body Work

http://laughinggirl.gaia.com — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 06:47:52 GMT

I love TaiJi, I believe what I have been taught is Chen style. My instructor is spending the Boar year living in Yosemite, so if anyone in Tucson, AZ knows of any free/very low cost classes, please let me know :-)

In the meantime, I practice in my home with a video or on my own.

Taoist Yoga Teacher Training with master Paulie Zink

http://damonomad.gaia.com — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 14:11:25 GMT

Hey all, I am bringing my teacher to NYC and wanted to shout out to you all about it! we at the temple have put him up at zaadz as well, http://pauliezink.zaadz.com/ so you can visit, and say hey! if you go to the profile or the web site you can get the contents of the seminar, thanks, in service, Damon Taoist Yoga NYC in partnership with City WingTsun and Temple of the Monkey announces the first NYC Taoist yoga seminar with Taoist Master Paulie Zink. All levels are welcome, workshop hours can be applied towards teacher certification by request. Date: November 3 & 4, 2007 Location: Battery Dance School 380 Broadway 5th flr New York, NY Register at: Temple of the Monkey Contact: Damon Honeycutt 860.729.0561 info@Templeofthemonkey.org http://www.templeofthemonkey.org/events.html

Re: Body Work

Fri, 20 Jul 2007 15:57:34 GMT

I've been practicing the Guang Ping style (which is a Yang family variant) for over 20 years. I started and continue to practice through an local adult education program which has made Tai Chi available to the community for free all that time. I have become one of the class' instructors by social promotion, but I simply consider myself to be the hardest working student in the class.

I also teach Tai Chi to guests at a local destination spa. Teaching Tai Chi in this environment has unsual demands. What meaningful things can you say to a spa guest in an hour's time that might possibly stay with them for a lifetime?

Here is a video clip of me demonstrating the "spa form," and another of my rendition of a 32 posture sword form.

Re: Body Work

Sat, 25 Nov 2006 11:13:54 GMT

Your grandmaster must be amazing. Tai ji is good.

I gain my strength from karate. It strengthen my body, mind and spirit. It consists of basics, katas and kumite. It requires, disipline, focuse and teaches coordination, balance, concentration, confidence and much more.

World Tai Chi & Qigong Day Newsletter

http://princesamwise.gaia.com — Sat, 25 Nov 2006 10:03:10 GMT

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~World Tai Chi & Qigong Day Newsletter Holidays Approaching !! November 2006 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ in this issue -- Tai Chi & Cardiac Rehabilitation -- Tai Chi & High Blood Pressure -- Tai Chi & Menopause / Bone Loss -- HOLIDAY SHOPPING "the FAIR TRADE WAY" !! -- FREE Meditation Gift from World Tai Chi & Qigong Day

World Tai Chi & Qigong Day Supporters

As the holidays approach and the year draws to a close, it is a good time to reflect AND TO GIVE YOU AND YOUR LOVED ONES A "FREE SITTING CHI KUNG MEDITATION GIFT" !!

Find this FREE "Online Audio Relaxation Therapy" exercise at:
http://www.worldtaichiday.org/LESSONQigong.html
[BE SURE to remove any blank spaces in the above url, when pasting it in your internet browser window]

You can share the above link to the free "online chi kung energy meditation" with all your loved ones, to help them manage the inevitable holiday stress.

Share the gift of Tai Chi & Qigong knowledge. Below are Tai Chi articles you can share with those you love, or others who suffer from these health challenges.

BEFORE YOU DO YOUR HOLIDAY SHOPPING. Consider Fair Trade shopping as "a global healing way" of finding those unique meaningful gifts. World Tai Chi & Qigong Day supports Fair Trade Distributors. Learn more about Fair Trade, and how you can help the world and help support our efforts this holiday, while surprising those you love with unique gifts.

Tai Chi & Cardiac Rehabilitation ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Cardiac Rehabilitation & TAI CHI THERAPY

Great news for those rehabilitating from Cardiac related illness! And for everyone else! The BBC reported on a US study of 30 patients which found regular Tai Chi classes gave patients better movement and reduced BNP levels, a measure of heart failure. The British Heart Foundation said the study was "excellent news" and Tai Chi could be adopted into treatment programmes in the UK in the future. In fact, another study in The Harvard Women's Health Watch, reported, "studies support Tai Chi [use] for heart-attack and cardiac-bypass patients, to improve cardio-respiratory function and reduce blood pressure."

. . . read entire article at:

http://www.worldtaichiday.org/LIBRARYArticles/LIBRA RYTaiChiCARDIAC.html [when pasting above URL or others into your browser, remove any blank spaces, before hitting "go"]

Read on...

Tai Chi & High Blood Pressure ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~High Blood Pressure and Tai Chi Therapy

Way back in 2003, the Journal of Alternative and Complimentary Medicine's Oct. 9th issue reported a study finding that Tai Chi "could decrease blood pressure and results in favorable lipid profile changes and improve subjects' anxiety status. Therefore, Tai Chi could be used as an alternative modality in treating patients with mild hypertension, with a promising economic effect." This study laid out a way to save our society, perhaps billions of dollars annually, and possibly save some patients with mild chronic hypertension the potential negative side effects of chronic lifelong medication. However, this largely hasn't occurred.

. . . read entire article at:

http://www.worldtaichiday.org/LIBRARYArticles/LIBRA RYTaiChiHIGHBLOODPRESSURE.html

[when pasting above URL or others into your browser, remove any blank spaces, before hitting "go"]

Read on...

Tai Chi & Menopause / Bone Loss ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Bone Loss, Osteoporosis, Depression, Menopause and Tai Chi Therapy

Emerging medical research indicates that an ancient health therapy may be the prescription for the future. Increasingly the menopausal problems of hormonal imbalance, often resulting in bone loss, are also affected by depression and stress. Change is stressful for all of us, even good changes, like changes of life. Maturity is a good thing, yet the stress of major life changes can result in stress and depression, which according to emerging research may further aggravate the uncomfortable symptoms of menopause. Is there any escape from this catch- 22? Yes, although this may seem overwhelming in its scope, there may be great news. An ancient Chinese natural health therapy, known as Tai Chi, may help alleviate many of the aggravating symptoms of menopause in profoundly healthful ways.

. . . read entire article at:

[when pasting below url into your browser, remove any blank spaces, before hitting "go"

http://www.worldtaichiday.org/LIBRARYArticles/LIBRA RYTaiChiBoneLossMenopause.html

Read on...

HOLIDAY SHOPPING "the FAIR TRADE WAY" !! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~"Fair Trade" distributors are those who buy directly from artisans and craftsmen and women in developing nations, and pay them a fair trade price for their work, enabling them to live decent lives.

World Tai Chi & Qigong Day supports Fair Traders, and participates in several Fair Trade affiliate programs.

So, when you purchase holiday gifts from our Fair Trade partners, a portion of those sales goes to also support World Tai Chi & Qigong Day's global healing efforts.

As you may know, World Tai Chi & Qigong Day is a free public service, charging no dues, and supplying health education and other support materials to groups and teachers worldwide. Our Marketplace is a fun and affordable way you can have a positive impact on the world, and support our efforts.

GIFTS WITH HUMANITY:
http://taichi.giftswithhumanity.com/
[when pasting above, or any url, into your browser, be sure to remove any blank spaces before hitting "go."

http://www.worldtaichiday.org/FairTradeHOME.html

Other Shopping Options from WTCQD affiliates who help support World Tai Chi & Qigong Day's global health & healing work:

TAI CHI LIFESTYLE ITEMS:
http://www.worldtaichiday.org/TaiChiLifeStyle.html
[when pasting above, or any url, into your browser, be sure to remove any blank spaces before hitting "go."

ORGANIC COFFEE - ORGANIC BEAUTY ITEMS:
http://www.worldtaichiday.org/ORGANICProducts.html

CHINESE CALLIGRAPHY (Personalized):
http://www.smartaichi.com/WTCQDARTIST.html

GONGS & CHIMES:
http://www.smartaichi.com/WTCQDGongsChimes.html

ZEN ALARM CLOCKS - TAI CHI FANS - HEALTH BALLS
http://www.smartaichi.com/WTCQDaccessories.html
[when pasting above, or any url, into your browser, be sure to remove any blank spaces before hitting "go."

THANKS FOR SUPPORTING OUR EFFORTS TO HELP CREATE A HEALTHIER, MORE COMPASSIONATE WORLD !!

Read on...

FREE Meditation Gift from World Tai Chi & Qigong Day ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~This 17 minute Sitting Qigong Meditation is a free gift from World Tai Chi & Qigong Day, we provide to thousands of people worldwide, FREE online, as part of our ongoing effort to foster global calm, clarity, and healing.

Go to the below link and, from the drop down menu select, "FREE Online Audio Relaxation Therapy."

Enjoy this daily yourself, it'll change your life. Also, tell friends about this free journey into health and stress management.

[NOTE: always remove any blank spaces after pasting below url into your browser window.]
http://www.worldtaichiday.org/LESSONQigong.html

Read on...

Contact Information ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ email: http://us.f529.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Compose?To=billdouglas@worldtaichiday.org web: http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=g8mn6zbab.0.bcs9fubab.gve4eubab.3945&ts=S0211&p=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.worldtaichiday.org ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Body Work

http://princesamwise.gaia.com — Sun, 19 Nov 2006 13:13:38 GMT

Do you do tai ji? What style? What sort of exercise do you do to strengthen your body? Feel free to post anything as taoism, chi and energy are all inclusive and does not discriminate. We will all learn from each other here so don't be shy to post any thoughts you may have.
For me, I do the Yi Style tai chi chuan. Our grandmaster is Yi Da Kuen from Taiwan. He is 93 years old and can still gracefully do all the tai chi routines that his ancestors have developed. You have to be patient and committed in order to learn tai chi.
Qigong on the other hand is easier to learn and can generate energetic chi within your body quicker than tai chi and can be as potent as tai chi. Maybe one day I can have digital video podcast of qigong routines and tai chi routines for everybody to follow while on their computer. Maybe somebody right now can do so, please feel free to do that.
Please do not get intimadated if you do not do any of this. Taoism is only a word. Just like Buddhism, Buddha did not used the word or invented the word "buddhism". But even though you do not put a label to it, you may be a "taoist" more than you think you are. It is a frame of mind.
Let us all support each other in our journey together. Thank you!
Samme

Re: The Fair Maiden Finally Works The Shuttles!

Sun, 02 Jul 2006 05:11:55 GMT

...and thank you for joining, MeanderingWatercourse... um, sorry, Ramblin'! :>)

How very true - right, wrong, same...

When asked the other day to defend that very viewpoint in a discussion on another board, I simply said, "No, need to defend - you can have that view" ...

Re: The Fair Maiden Finally Works The Shuttles!

http://RamblinH2O.gaia.com — Sun, 02 Jul 2006 03:44:55 GMT

It could be said that there is no 'right' or 'wrong' that Tao just is. the way is so clear when we just let go. thank you for starting this group.

The Fair Maiden Finally Works The Shuttles!

Sat, 01 Jul 2006 22:55:08 GMT

I was privileged earlier this week to see an enlightenment of sorts.

I was teaching one of our Brothers here in the Temple, and we were practicing a taiji movement called "Fair Maiden Works The Shuttles". We had been working this movement for several sessions, and he was getting frustrated, trying harder and harder to understand the application of this slow-motion movement.

We repeated the move dozens of times, in slow-motion and fast, but the goal still seemed to elude him.

Then, without warning, as we performed it yet again, he "got" it.

He got IT.

The look on his face was worth a treasure. The spring in his step was pronounced, and he left the Temple in a joyous mood.

What had he done differently that last time? He had stopped "trying".

He just didn't care anymore - didn't want to invest his ego in the move any longer, didn't care if it was "right" or "wrong".

In thinking this way, he relaxed - physically, mentally, and spiritually. That's when he "got" It.

Maybe we should do this type of thing more often...