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Ma Wang Dui__Health qigong

 I'm jumping into the middle of my stories from a recent trip to China.   My plans of posting here daily or thereabouts were dashed for some reason.   Maybe it was seeing and experiencing so much that was new, or traveling in a large group -- meeting new people in our long bus rides.   Or maybe it was getting up often at 6 for breakfast  on  "command"    Late in the afternoon the day before, someone -- usually our logistical leader, Lili -- would bellow at the head of the bus,  '  7 am in the lobby and we'll find a place for Qigong/t'ai chi!'  Or      'Breakfast at 6:30.   Be ready to board the bus at 7!'      It was a whirlwind trip of fantastic sights and encounters that I'm still processing.  And it was high energy, early mornings, late nights and activity and walking throughout the day.  

But I feel responsible for notating the outstanding things relating to t'ai chi and so here goes

By the last half of the trip, which was a little over two weeks, we had settled on a long qigong form called Ma Wang Dui, which we we watched and learned at a new and impressive college devoted to Martial Arts of China -- College of Sport. [pictures to follow]   We visited the school on our last stop, Shanghai.     It's a large, spacious and modern campus with a terrific exhibit of the history of Wu Chi (or martial arts)  After a meandering tour of the museum we walked across the street to a practice gym of sorts, where  we took our shoes off  and followed a very patient teacher -- Laoshi Lei -- as she brought us step by step through the form.  

So,  the place I"ve chosen to begin, with the memory of that very sweet morning in that large practice room, with a padded bright green floor.   Imagine a gym devoted to qigong.   Young supple athletes would demonstrate the moves for us; we'd follow -- all 50 of us -- as best we could.  

So by way of introducing my journey to China,  let me post Tary performing the form, useful for anyone who's stopping by here to watch and maybe to try out one of the things I learned.   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tKv60Q_QpUs

FYI, we'll be studying this form in my classes this winter.  Come join us -- or teach yourself with this video!

Jing, 

Susan






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