The origin of laziness?

It is believed that laziness is a biological trait. A survival tool. In itself laziness is not necessarily a bad thing. People often see/hear the word 'lazy' as being a stigma and get defensive.

Imagine that you're a primitive human living in a valley 10000 years ago... The valley has all that you need. It is safe. It is free of hostile predators or rival tribes.

There would be no sense in going elsewhere. This is laziness. A desire to maintain the status quo. Not to change.

Lazy?

Not changing is fine if your circumstances are constant. But are they ever constant? Our bodies slowly deteriorate day-by-day. We could lose our job. Our partners could leave us. We might get ill.

Change is inevitable. Even if you stand still, life won't.

Yin/yang is about exchange. To get something, you have to give something. You have to do something.

 

Indoor exercise/fitness/dance classes remain illegal

Sadly, the Government have today announced that Newcastle is "tier #3" and specifically said that indoor exercise/fitness/dance classes remain illegal.

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/local-restriction-tiers-what-you-need-to-know#very-high-alert

So, unfortunately, Newcastle Tai Chi is still in lockdown, and will not be teaching Monday night induction classes in December after all.

There's tremendous pressure to bring the region back into tier #2, but this won't happen in December. Fingers-crossed for January... I'll keep you updated.

Take care,

Rachel 

 

 This was written 2500 years ago:

Now when strange things begin to happen,
laws and regulations become stricter;
Then stricter laws and regulations
mean more criminals and fugitives.

Soon everyone
is either a criminal or a fugitive,

And no one can untangle the mess.

(Tao Te Ching - verse 57)

 Tai chi is often described as "meditation in motion," but it might well be called "medication in motion." There is growing evidence that this mind-body practice, which originated in China as a martial art, has value in treating or preventing many health problems. And you can get started even if you aren't in top shape or the best of health. 

 

 Tai chi differs from other types of exercise in several respects. The movements are usually circular and never forced, the muscles are relaxed rather than tensed, the joints are not fully extended or bent, and connective tissues are not stretched. Tai chi addresses the key components of fitness — muscle strength, flexibility, balance, and, to a lesser degree, aerobic conditioning.

 

 (Harvard Medical School’s Harvard Health Publication, May 2009)

The perfect exercise?

University of California medical research discovered that tai chi can significantly boost the body's immune system response to virus infection.

Dr Bradley Willcox, Dr Craig Willcox and Dr Makoto Suzuki wrote a 25 year medical study (The Okinawa Program). They maintain that tai chi - with its ancient origins and incredible health benefits - is the ideal form of exercise for modern people. 

Feedback

Last night I was chatting with a young doctor who has been attending our tai chi school for a few years now.

He has been working in the intensive care unit throughout the pandemic.

The doctor was talking about how good PPE works and also about training with our school has improved his own health.

The doctor said that he used to get flu etc, basically whatever was doing the rounds that year.

However, since attending our classes and training at home, he's not taken 1 day off work sick.

He felt that the training has significantly affected his immune system.

 The Chinese exercise practice of tai chi can significantly boost the body's immune system response to virus infection.

 

 (ABC Science, regarding a University of California study)

Induction course - Monday 12th October

The next induction course starts Monday 12th October. Places must be booked on-line in advance (Covid-19 guidelines).

There are a limited number of places available. If you want to book a place, please send us an e-mail.

sifuwaller@outlook.com 

Covid-19 & induction course

Whilst social distancing measures remain in place, physical contact will not be permitted unless you bring somebody who is from your own household or in your 'social bubble'.

If you bring a permissible practice partner, you can undertake the standard induction course and (should you join the school) explore our complete syllabus with your partner.

Inducton course - Monday 12th October

The next induction course starts Monday 12th October. Places must be booked on-line in advance (Covid-19 guidelines).

There are a limited number of places available. If you want to book a place, please send us an e-mail.

sifuwaller@outlook.com

Induction course Monday 14th September

The next induction course starts Monday 14th September. Places must be booked on-line in advance (Covid-19 guidelines).

There are a limited number of places available. If you want to book a place, please send us an e-mail.

sifuwaller@outlook.com

TAI CHI - 3-week induction course - Monday 14th September

We have received the go-ahead to resume tai chi classes at St Andrew's Church hall in September. 

The induction course will start @ 6:45 PM on 14th September.

Under the new Covid-19 guidelines, registration must take place on-line prior to the induction course. 

If you are interested and want to attend, please let me know and I will send you a registration form.

sifuwaller@outlook.com

Clutter

How you live is a reflection of how you think.
If your house is littered with junk, messy and cluttered, then ask yourself what inspired this.
If your home is a showcase for metal, glass, plastic and gadgetry, then it will be most evident to other people.
You cannot hide who you are.

Being empty

In Western culture, emptiness is considered to be something negative.
It has the connotation of absence.
When a person claims to 'feel empty', they are usually expressing displeasure and seek to find what they lack.
People look outside of themselves in a desperate search to fill this inner void.
In Taoism, it is different.

The training is friendly and relaxed yet still effective. There is no pressure put upon the individual. You train at your own pace and progress as you wish. Everyone in the class is treated the same, there are no favourites or cliques.
(Paul B)

Tai chi is often described as "meditation in motion," but it might well be called "medication in motion." There is growing evidence that this mind-body practice, which originated in China as a martial art, has value in treating or preventing many health problems. And you can get started even if you aren't in top shape or the best of health.

Tai chi differs from other types of exercise in several respects. The movements are usually circular and never forced, the muscles are relaxed rather than tensed, the joints are not fully extended or bent, and connective tissues are not stretched. Tai chi addresses the key components of fitness — muscle strength, flexibility, balance, and, to a lesser degree, aerobic conditioning.
(Harvard Medical School’s Harvard Health Publication, May 2009)

Fix yourself up

Instead of accepting inevitable deterioration, why not aim to slow it down?Medical research has proven that a small daily commitment to tai chi practice can produce tremendous results over time. The training is concerned with re-energising the body.
Tai chi is all about finding balance between action & inaction, activity & rest, doing & not doing, mobility & stability, work & play, self & other.

Tai chi is the one exercise that can universally help solve our growing health crisis. It has stood the test of thousands of years. We have a generation of baby boomers with increasing health problems; old people who are sick, in pain, fearful, and cranky; a middle class that is increasingly incapable of affording most of the drugs that are prescribed for their ailments; children that are flaccid, diabetic and asthmatic. People of all ages are addicted to drugs, alcohol, sugar, cigarettes, and caffeine. Stress follows almost everyone like a shadow.
(Bruce Frantzis)

Long-term exercise

According to the book The Blue Zones it is important to think of exercise in terms of what you can reasonably do long-term.
The ideal form of exercise is moderate enough that you can do it for the rest of your life. It needs to be joint-friendly, provide a gentle workout and be sustainable.
This sounds rather like tai chi, doesn't it?
 

5 excellences

Historically, tai chi was considered to be highly refined; alongside painting, classical literature, calligraphy and medicine.

Antioxidant

These teas are the highest in antioxidants:

https://www.theteamakers.co.uk/fujian-maofeng.html

https://www.theteamakers.co.uk/supreme-dragon-well.html

The wise speak when
they have something to say,
fools speak when
they have to say something.

(Confucius)

Classes are closed due to coronavirus

TAI CHI - is it safe to come to class?

Hi,

A lot of people are panicking about the Corona Virus and many events are being cancelled. Some people are even hoarding toilet paper.

You may be wondering whether or not it is safe to come to tai chi class...

Well, let's compare it to the supermarket.

The supermarket gives you a realistic cross section of your local populace. Most of the people that you see are far from healthy. Be honest here?

Are the supermarket trolleys, scanners, payment machine buttons etc being sanitised after every use?

No.
At present, the supermarkets are often packed with strangers in close proximity.

By contrast, the tai chi class is attended by people who are committed to being healthy.

We will endeavour to wipe surfaces down before class.

If you want to train solo - rather than partnered - you can request this.

If you partner with people and wish to wash your hands afterwards, no one will be offended.

Remember: staying strong (physically, mentally and emotionally) is crucial. We can help you with that.

Take care,

Rachel

A lifelong martial artist (Graham Hill) once came to our school in 2012 wanting to see how good Sifu Waller was.

This is what Graham had to say:

"After some months of questioning and reflecting on the true nature of internal martial arts I was recently, along with a number of Sifu Waller’s students, given an energetic and skilful introduction to the world of baguazhang. My first reaction was it’s everything I thought it would be, and clearly so much more.

To be on the receiving end of an application of baguazhang from Sifu Waller is to be permanently cured of any lingering doubts as to its effectiveness as a profound martial skill. I certainly harboured those doubts coming as I do from a background of predominantly external martial arts. (Where’s the flamboyant stances, where’s the crack of the gi as you snap out a gyakuzuki???) But as I gingerly picked myself up off the floor after a particularly enlightening application from Sifu Waller those doubts have died away like the echo of a scream from someone on the receiving end of ‘cavity press.’

As a general rule when Sifu Waller's remarks ‘Hey, this will make you laugh!’ I have come to understand a particularly vigorous application is approaching! It is in these applications that I am beginning to recognise firstly the skill and depth of Sifu Waller's learning, and secondly how my own learning skills and experience are woefully inadequate to the task of learning baguazhang and taijiquan.

It’s certainly sobering when after all those years of training, facing Sifu Waller I feel about as effective as an old lady throwing marshmallows.

Sifu Waller is constantly stressing relaxation. As I was reflecting on this it occurred to me that watching Sifu Waller perform baguazhang is for me like trying to read a book without my reading glasses. Once I learn to relax everything will become a little clearer.

I feel very grateful to Sifu Waller for an introduction to a form of martial arts that as I understand it is not that widely available to western students in its authentic form. I feel he has generously presented us with a wonderful opportunity.

It is also I suspect in my own case something of a double-edged sword. As part of the Mc generation I am as guilty as anyone of wanting everything now, and being very demanding in terms of my own needs, of looking straight to the highest teaching and grasping after it. It’s interesting to reflect after the introduction that this is clearly the opposite approach that is required by a martial art like baguazhang, and then it follows that an introduction to baguazhang at this time may simply be utterly beyond our capabilities. As Adam Hsu says in his book, The Sword Polishers Record, ‘kung fu literally means time and hard work, there are no shortcuts.’

Certainly baguazhang cannot be seen, as perhaps it could be argued some other aspects of martial arts are, as simply another medal to pin on the chest of ego.

For those of us who’ve been involved in martial arts for some time, and have some experience of Chinese arts and teachers, I feel we can be confident that with Sifu Waller we have stumbled upon a treasure trove of authentic Chinese martial arts. It’s tremendously exciting as the lineage and history is abundantly clear in his approach. It struck me, the first time I saw Sifu Waller demonstrate it, that 5000 years of Chinese culture and history is somehow woven into the lethal beauty of baguazhang."

(Graham)

Taijiquan was created more than 1000 years ago.

(Yang Jwing-Ming)

Chinese New Year 2020

True beauty could only be discovered by one who mentally completed the incomplete. The virility of life and art lay in its possibilities for growth.
(Kakuzo Okakura) 

Total disclosure

Modern times are awash with information revealing the most intimate details about total strangers. The internet and lifestyle magazines gossip endlessly about people's private lives.

There are countless TV programs dedicated to exploring personal tragedy and humiliation... Honesty is fine. But not everything that could be said needs to be said.

It can be advantageous to cultivate a little mystique, and have some privacy.

Martial arts

In a martial arts class, there is usually a syllabus and a grading structure in place. Students are led through the curriculum, accumulating insights and skills as they progress.

Periodically, their knowledge, competence and understanding is tested.

As they climb up the syllabus, more information is revealed and the student makes connections and associations without the need for as much explicit tuition.

The material feels more significant and the student eventually begins to glimpse the true nature of the art. They cultivate a comprehension that no new starter could share.

"You are under an illusion," said the master after a while, "If you imagine that even a rough understanding of these dark connections would help you. These are processes which are beyond the reach of understanding. Do not forget that even in nature there are correspondences which cannot be understood, and yet are so real that we have grown accustomed to them, just as if they could not be any different."
(Eugen Herrigel)