APRIL 2020 Greetings to all who participated in the Winter T’ai Chi class offered through Stillwater Area Schools Community Education. Although we only made it halfway through our scheduled 8 classes, I want to provide you with some information to support your understanding of what you learned in the classes that we were able to complete. |
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Developing a T'ai Chi Ch'uan practice makes good sense. The physical health benefits of T'ai Chi are well known and documented, as well as T'ai Chi's effects on our mental and emotional states. I am a practitioner, student and teacher of what is regarded as Traditional or Classic T’ai Chi Ch’uan. This is based on traditional teachings passed down from teacher to student through a rich and established T’ai Chi lineage. This is not your typically advertised T’ai Chi, where just moving your body into various sequences is considered T’ai Chi. As we talked about in class, moving your body properly provides the correct message to your body and mind and input, and thus you receive the good output and benefits of T’ai Chi. Tai Chi benefits both our physical body as well as our mind. As our breathing calms and slows, our body relaxes, and our increased oxygen levels improve the function of our tissues and organs. The way T'ai Chi effects the body at a cellular level was well known to ancient T'ai Chi masters and practitioners. To learn more about how this past wisdom is being explored today, keep reading! |
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Exploring the Science Behind Tai Chi The ancient Chinese T'ai Chi Masters explored and refined a practice that they called the "internal workings" of health and well-being. Our modern science applies new names to old ways. Metarobics is a term based upon the research of Dr. Tony Gryffin. It investigates why forms of exercise such as Tai Chi and Qigong benefit overall wellbeing, as well as chronic health conditions such as chronic pain, arthritis, heart, lung and kidney disease, and cancer. Dr. Gryffin's research works to understand the process behind the positive benefits of Tai Chi and Qigong in order to better promote and understand the exercises practiced. Learn more at www.metarobics.org. |
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Not able to go to a studio for lessons due to social distancing? Pactice at home! |
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Not Sure Where to Start? Do As we Did in Class with Warmups! |
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Why Warm Up? Loosen Ligaments Limber Up Joints Strengthen Muscle Memory Relax Body and Mind Warm Up video complements Sifu Ray Hayward at Mindful Motion Tai Chi Academy, located in Minneapolis, Minnesota. | | |
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Sifu Ray Hayward is my T'ai Chi Ch'aun teacher, and I study with him at his main studio, Mindful Motion Tai Chi Academy, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Sifu Ray is nationally recognized for his expertise in Classic Yang Style T’ai Chi Ch’uan, his expertise in numerous other internal martial styles, and for his published books and national seminars. I am grateful for his teachings and for the opportunity and responsibility that I have to pass his teachings on to others. |
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About John Feely John Feely has been studying and teaching various forms of Eastern martial arts for the past 25 years. He is an inner-door student and a personal disciple (To-Di) of Sifu Ray Hayward. John is a 7th-Generation lineage holder in Yang Style T'ai Chi Ch'uan, which is the T’ai Chi Ch’uan style that is most widely practiced in the world today. In addition to T'ai Chi Ch'uan, Pushing-Hands, San-Shou, and multiple weapon forms, John is studying Luk Hop Bat Fat, 5 Elements of Hsing-Yi, and Pa-Kua. | | |
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I will be sending out more updates from time to time that will offer ideas about how you can keep your T'ai Chi practice strong. I look forward to when we can gather together in a park this summer to continue our classes. Don't forget to check my website for more info and videos. |
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