In my classes I like to introduce the many Qigong sequences I've learned, mostly from a fascinating teacher I studied with for a few years, up in Stone Ridge, NY -- Hawkes, he calls himself. A powerful student of the internal arts, Qigong, t'aiji as well as Shamanism. Over the years I learned one after the other, and we would then alternate, a few months with one, then on to the next, in cycles -- the Eight Taoist Moves, the Ten Daoists, and to one of the most beautiful, and most well known of these, Eight Pieces of Brocade I've since found a version that was very moving, demonstrated by Laoshi Faye Yip, now teaching in London I believe. While I haven't incorporated all of her style and form, I've adopted, and now teach Laoshi Fay'sopening, the last move, as well as a flower-like 6th move, a punch with amazing spiraling of the wrist at the end. This is a video of Laoshi Faye showing us her beautiful, centered rendition of Eight Pieces...
This is a blog about t'ai chi, specifically how we can apply the teachings of this ancient practice to our contemporary lives. How do we navigate an icy sidewalk? What is the best posture for that dreaded job interview? There are the eternal problems, of course, of back pain and creaky knees. My intention is to have a place to share ideas about t'ai chi methods of caring for our spirits and bodies in today's complicated world.