june 21, 2011 11:51am

Tai Chi and Chi Kung for Teaching staff and Students

As mentioned in previous blogs Tai Chi can help all ages to relieve stresses and strains.
In universities and colleges there are so many pressures these days. I have observed my daughter who is currently sitting A levels and the stress of trying to achieve results can so often bring about changes in body posture and alter how ones health and well being feels. It would be so good to be able to incorporate Tai Chi into the daily curriculum of schools and colleges and although it does exist in a few those are in the minority. Although Tai Chi is currently getting a good press in newspapers and magazines unfortunately it is still not viewed as being very "main-stream". My wish is to work towards changing this image. As a friend (a very experienced Tai Chi teacher) mentioned the other day so many people see Tai Chi as being something that is "new age" (whatever that is!) but Tai Chi has been practiced on a daily basis for centuries. Sure it has an eastern philosophy and background but that makes no difference; it has been adopted and incorporated into western society for many, many years and is easy to understand and, if diligent in ones practice, to learn. It is a wonderful tool to assist in the acquisition of strength and vitality and peace. Therefore I suggest that it would really benefit all schools, colleges and universities to be able to offer this wonderful art.

Here are a few of the advantages of teaching Tai Chi and Chi Kung in colleges, schools and universities.

Overcomes stress and tensions
Overcomes exam nerves
Manages anxieties
Remaining motivated and calm
Not succumbing to procrastination
Meeting deadlines
Relaxing techniques
More productive
Staying confident
Ability to communicate in meetings
Keeping focused and calm

There are many very experienced teachers of Tai Chi and Chi Kung and there will be one near you. To find out more send an e-mail or phone 07967890969

Posted By: sandie

may 26, 2011 05:10pm

REMINDER!! Just three weeks to go for the workshop with Master Jason Chan

If you have not already booked but are thinking about doing so now is the time! You are promised an inspiring day or weekend workshop in the North York Moors with Master Jason Chan, founder of Infinite Tai Chi and Chi Kung. Learn how Tai Chi and Chi Kung can assist you to live radiantly, abundantly and joyfully through the challenges of daily life. Time to 'switch off' from the stresses and strains of everyday life, relax have fun, learn a new way of being and a new skill, share with others, make new friends; the list is endless. Most of all come along to experience the art of Infinite Tai Chi and Chi Kung in a beautiful situation close to everything that nature can offer. Local accommodation available at reasonable prices if necessary. For further information and booking contact Sandie Day on 07967890969 or e-mail sandie.day@chi-therapies.co.uk

Posted By: sandie

may 26, 2011 04:43pm

Questions and experiences from students

Each week at the end of each class session I offer students the opportunity to ask any questions or to share experiences of the class that day. Here are a few I will share with you and will enter more as they arise each week.

Question:- "I feel a bit tired about two hours after a class and have to go for a lie down. Do you think Tai Chi and Chi Kung is for me, should I stop doing it?"

Answer:- No definitely not, this can be taken as a positive sign! Allow your body - and mind - to experience this and do not fight it! As we unblock built up tensions and stresses within the body and mind which have probably accumulated over years, we can experience a sense of release. This in turn can attribute to a feeling of "letting go" which can naturally cause a sense of sleepiness. It is the body's way of saying we should rest and assimulate our experiences. Obviously if this occurs without reason at other times then it is best to check things out with your chosen health practitioner. However, generally my advice is to go with the feeling, embrace it and eventually we will practice Tai Chi and Chi Kung with a heightened sense of energy. This energy will not feel the same as the energy we experience if, for instance, we were out chopping wood or any other strenuous activity. We experience a feeling of chi (energy) running through the body whilst at the same time feeling the quality of calmness and stillness.

Question:- "I feel dreamy and on a cloud..." (student of a few weeks)

Answer:- As we bring increased attention and focus to any new situation or learning process we have to concentrate and engage the mind. As we concentrate we often automatically 'hold' our breath in the chest region. This may be through our anxiety of learning something new and getting it 'right'. Through the practice of Tai Chi and Chi Kung under the guidance of any experienced practitioner we learn to breathe correctly and naturally. We often have to relearn how to breathe. Learning to breathe like a healthy new born baby. If we observe a baby or small child we will notice that as they take a breath the abdomen rises and as they release the abdomen falls. In and out a natural rhythm - breathing in and breathing out - expansion and contraction. So try breathing in from the dantien - navel point - bringing the whole breath up and back down to the dantien. When we practice the movements we breathe out and up with the movements as we rise upwards and breathing in as we lower the movements.

Question:- "My hands feel hot and tingling..." This is natural and do not feel alarmed if this happens when practicing. As the Chi (energy - life force - life energy) begins to flow then we can experience the chi in this way. Eventually after some time of consistent practice you will feel the chi flowing throughout the body. For some students this may take months or even years - it all depends on the individual; you cannot force it and it is necessary to practice, the more you practice the more the chi is going to flow.

Question:- "I find it difficult to raise my arms..."

Answer:- We will work with visualisation. There is no gain in forcing and tensing the muscles in the body; it is counter productive. Just relax and bring your arms to a comfortable position for you and visualise the arms raising higher if you like. As we practice we become more supple and able to move with increased ease. Listen to your body at all times, we are all different and can feel very different at each class so just go with how you are feeling on the day and with practice the body and mind will begin to strengten and feel more at peace and at ease.

Due to the nature of this blog I have not given an extensive answer here as I would in class but if you ask your Tai Chi teacher I am sure she/he will be moe than happy to pass on any advice.

Posted By: sandie

may 02, 2011 12:40pm

The Image of Spaciousness

As we practice and deepen into Infinite Tai Chi what will eventually happen if we allow ourselves to "let go" of day to day worries, concerns and clutter is a feeling of spaciousness. When we bring in our focus and intention with the Tai Chi form we can observe a kind of emptiness within the body and mind which we are able to fill with the energy or chi which is being harnessed and cultivated. However, this is not a wishy washy kind of concept or feeling it is borne about through the energy which supports us. To activate the chi flow we need to stand firmly on the earth, align our spines and gracefully move with the flow of the Tai Chi form. Each movement flows into the next, no hesitation, no thought processes to check if we are doing it 'right'. There is no right or wrong, once we have learnt the techniques of the form the chi will begin to flow; you can leave all the day to day life behind for a while. This is what forms the image of spaciousness. It strengthens our minds and bodies to "switch off" for a while, is energising and invigorating and rewards with a sense of peace and joy.
This can be achieved by joining a weekly class or attending some workshops. Check out your local area for these or why not take a mini break. Jason Chan, founder of Infintie Tai Chi holds retreats and workshops in many parts of the UK and Europe. A great workshop for beginners and more advanced will be held in the middle of the North York Moors in June. Cheap accommodation available. If interested check out the web site or visit Jason's web-site www.lightfoundation.com

Posted By: sandie

march 30, 2011 11:54am

Music for Tai Chi

There is so much music available to play while doing our Tai Chi practice. However, whenever I play certain CD's in a class there are always comments on how beautiful it is so I thought I would list the favourite here. It is readily available via Amazon and is as follows:

The Fairy Ring Suite by Mike Rowland

There are many others by Mike Rowland and I play those in class but the preference is for the above mentioned.

Another that I favour is Buddist Chants and Peace Music - Music for reflection and Relaxation from the Far East

I also discovered some beautiful music recently via the Jan de Vries website
Yaatri In the company of angels

However one of my favourites is Una Mattina by Ludovico Einaudi

Despite all the beautiful and inspirational music available and it is very much a question of personal preference the best sounds, of course, come from nature. This morning I woke to the sound of bird song and who needs anything else when there is such a chorus of wonderful notes just outside in nature. Practising by water, listening to the wind in the trees, hearing the rustle of small animals and birds in the bushes all serve to lift ones spirit and connects us to nature. Infinite Tai Chi holds all the elements within the stages 1-5 and we bring them into the form. If you are inspired to know more then look to one of the new classes.

Next new class starts in York on 7th April at 11 am (see the classes page on the website for further details)
Or join one of the existing classes. Please phone or e-mail to book.

Posted By: sandie

march 14, 2011 11:00am

Infinite Tai Chi and Chi Kung can support all areas of your life

HOW?

Because of the quality and stillness it embues a sense of clarity and peace and brings with it the ability to focus and to be more mindful of ones words, actions and intentions.

Therefore it assists with decision making and it is then possible to bring this into all areas of your life. It can help with your work or career or day to day living so that the work that you do becomes more of a part of your life as you go about it more mindfully. It can help you to make changes if you are feeling 'stuck'. It helps with your relationships with family, friends, partners, children. I could make an endless list but you get the picture!

To begin with this is accomplished by learning how to direct the breath so that you are taking in the energy/chi/life forces which surround you. Learning to breathe as a tiny baby does in a natural way gives a feeling of calmness. We do this when we are aware of our breath and breathing into the dantien,hara,navel point (names are not relevant) so that our breath is no longer shallow. Infinite Tai Chi and Chi Kung teaches us to utilise the breath. So many people have shallow breathing especially at times of stress and this comes about because of built up traumas within the body, often those which are long forgotten and which have created dis-ease within the body. Infinite Tai Chi cannot necessarily get rid of these but it begins to make us more aware so that we are able to take control and to work with difficulties within. Basically to learn to get to know yourself.

This is the first step to learning the richness and beauty and grace of Infinite Tai Chi.

Secondly our attention can then be brought to our stance, our posture and how we support ourselves so that the practice of this art assist in a 'groundedness'. By this I mean that it connects us to the earth and to what is around us. We begin to bring the mind and body together. Mindfulness and Awareness are the key.

As we learn about directing the breath into our movements and supporting ourselves by connecting to the earth we are ready to learn the Infinite Tai Chi form. We then begin to move from the waist and hip region. To begin with we can visualise or imagine the earth's energies flowing into the feet, drawing it upwards into the meridians or channels in the legs to the dantien, getting in touch with the breath then as we harness this energy/chi we can bring it into the arms so that the whole sequence of the form becomes one flowing motion. After many months of practice we will really notice a difference in our well being and begin to understand how this moving meditation can be so helpful and supportive in our lives.

Once this has been achieved we can then turn it into a lifetime habit, deepening into it, drawing in our senses as we practice to create a feeling of space and clamness inside.

So....to get back to my oringinal question as to how infinite Tai Chi and the Chi Kung exercise can help us in our lives?

I will briefly provide some examples:-

I was contacted recently by someone who had heard that I have held workshops for those practising natural horsemanship. It helsp with posture, creating balance and harmony and connecting with the horses.

A family member, a keen golfer, knows that it helps golfers as it helps with relaxation, relieves tension and assists with the drawing up of the chi/energy through the legs to the waist and our into the swing of the golf club.

An artist friend says it helps her creativity to flow and her paintings are wonderful to behold.

A student and friend who runs a farm says it helps alleviate aches and pains from carrying heavy loads around the farm.

Basically it can help all areas of our lives.

For me I wonder why more people don't practice it but then I am biased. I know how it has changed my life and continue to be a support in my life.

There are many Infinite Tai Chi teachers throughout the Uk and in other parts of the world and many workshops and retreats availbale. So if you feel inspired to change your life this spring and give your body and mind a spring clean then seek out a teacher and get started! Once it becomes part of your daily life it will be with you always whenever you need it.

Posted By: sandie

march 03, 2011 10:10am

Jason Chan Workshop Radiant Warrior - The Way of Miracles

We are pleased to inform you that The Radiant Warrior - Way of Miracles Workshop with Master Jason Chan will now take place for two days in Fryup Dale, Danby, Whitby, North Yorkshire.

For those of you who attended the workshop in this venue last year you will remember the peace and tranquillity. For those of you who will be coming along for the first time you have a treat in store! With a truly inspirational and world re-nown teacher and founder of Infinite Tai Chi and Chi Kung it is a great opportunity to either gain insight into these healing arts or to deepen into your personal practice.

Beginners and more advanced students are welcome.

There is ample parking available and lifts can be arranged from a local train station. The natural surroundings and views where the hall is situated are magnificent and overlooks moors and hills. Very reasonably priced accommodation is available locally in farms and bed and breakfasts and also in local country pubs. Vegetarian lunch is shared (or bring your own if you prefer) and provides an opportunity to meet up with old friends, meet new people and extend your network of like minded friends.

Bookings are being taken now:- to reserve your place a deposit of £25 is required. For further information on how to book or simply for more details contact Sandie at Chi therapies either by e-mail
sandie.day@chi-therapies.co.uk
or phone Mob. 07967890969

Look forward to seeing you there!

Posted By: sandie

february 24, 2011 11:37am

The joys of Spring are approaching

Today the sun is shining, it feels warmer, the birds are singing and life feels good as we soon cast the winter coats. Winter is great, it offers us the time to rest, to contemplate, to hibernate and is all part of the rich tapestry of life. It is a time of rest. And although winter is not yet past spring is making itself heard. In my garden the beauty of the white snowdrops and the gold and purple crocus resemble a richly covered carpet and is a wonder to behold. The daffodils here in the north are beginning to show their yellow buds and have emerged as if by magic. It won't be long before we see them in their full splendour. The nature spirits have been busy!

With the spring advancing many of us turn our minds to spring cleaning, sorting the garden, clearing out our homes, a natural state of shedding our cloaks. This need to change once again with the seasons applies not just to the physical space of ones surroundings and environment but also to ones whole being and our inner being.

Recently, I have been drawn towards drinking carrot juice as part of my morning ritual. Mindfully done it is a pleasure to wash the carrots, juice them and enjoy the benefits of delicious, brightly orange coloured nectar. Carrots not only provide us with lots of Vitamin A and minerals but certainly provide an energising boost at the start of the day.

But what to do with the pulp...there is a limit to how many carrot cakes one can bake and soup to make and my dog is certainly going to be very fit and have excellent eye sight; hope she keeps on enjoying the carrots!

Fresh salads, with lots of leaves are also really beneficial now as we experience the need to lighten up and prepare ourselves for the changing season.

We can also do this by the practice of Infinite Tai Chi and Chi Kung which is not only grounding but also lifts the energy (chi) drawing it through the body to open up and rid ourselves of any negative energy. To learn how to harness this energy (chi) and use it to support our whole beings look for a local class and a qualified Infinite Tai Chi teacher; you will find there are teachers trained in this wonderful healing art throughout the UK. Or come along to one of the workshops of which there are many to choose from.

With the food we mindfully select and prepare and eat and the peace we gain from our daily practice of Tai Chi we can learn to listen to our hearts and bring mind and body and spirit together and share this with our family and friends and neighbours.

Posted By: sandie

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