Tai Chi for health & wellbeing
Here are my top 5 Tai Chi books that I often refer to for research purposes.
1. Wu Style Tai Chi Chuan – Wu Ying-hua and Ma Yueh-linag
2. Wutan Tai Chi Chuan – Cheng Tin Hung and D.J. Dockerty
3. Wu Style Taijiquan – Wang Peishing and Zeng Weiqi
4. The Inner Structure of Tai Chi – Mantak Chia and Juan Li
5. Advanced Yang Style Tai Chi Chuan Vol 1 – Dr. Yang Jwing-Ming
I will write up a review of each book in future posts.
What are your top 5 Tai Chi books?
I will never forget February, 2008.
I delivered 60 workshops in 26 days.
The workshops were our ‘Pozitive Kidz are Happy Kidz’ schools program which focuses on building self esteem from a Tai Chi perspective.
The students age range from 5-12 years old.
At that stage, each workshop ran for 30 minutes – four per morning – two before the break and two after the break.
These were high energy workshops which included props , games and humour to engage the children for the full session. A traditional approach would have been boring and not work as well.
By the time the third and fourth session kicked in during the morning I had to stay centred and make sure I was not repeating or forgetting to include an activity.
Because when I deliver a workshop I leave some flexibilty so I can react to what is happening in the moment, besides covering the core skills.
I now know what it feels like to be out on the road covering several gigs a day over an extended period.
It may not be rock n roll but it’s great fun and exhausting.
Why put my self through this ‘ordeal’?
I’ve got no choice.
I’m passionate about what I do.
The inner smile is an effective way of reducing tension in the body and the face.
I use a simplified version of the ‘inner smile’ technique as part of my training.
It can be done either sitting or standing.
Here’s how to to do it;
The benefits of the inner smile are;
So don’t forget, put a smile on your dial with your inner smile!
Source: Tai Chi tip #9
Compassion – leads to courage
Moderation – leads to generosity
Humility – leads to leadership
Forms: Before starting, stabilise yourself by breathing slow and deep for at least 30 seconds.