T'ai Chi at the Allen Center - 2010 Day 46

Out first Sunday of the semester but a small turnout with only three of us. Still, we made up for that with the length of form. Forty eight minutes today. I believe that is a new record for our little band. Twelve more minutes is my eventual, foreseeable goal. After that, we'll see. As with most things in T'ai Chi, the foreseeable goal, once attained, becomes quickly lost in all the other goals. There's always something more, always a better way, always searching for that next piece of knowledge, that next level of understanding. It is, if pursued, a life-long endeavor.

T'ai Chi at the Allen Center - 2010 Day 45

Five found their way to flow in a fine 35 minute set this morning. No one stayed after the form, so I called it at 9:00 AM.

T'ai Chi at the Allen Center - 2010 Day 44

Ten gathered this morning for a very pleasant 36 minute set. We had the (now) standard five plus two from my beginning class and one from the advanced class plus another two who sometimes make it and sometimes don't. It was really nice to see that many people there. Now we'll see how many come back regularly. :-)

T'ai Chi at the Allen Center - 2010 Day 43

Six gathered for a somewhat briefer but still nice 37 minute set this morning. I had a mild amount of difficulty staying sunk into my hips this morning, but was able to rectify it each time I noticed.

T'ai Chi at the Allen Center - 2010 Day 42

Five gathered for a moderately-paced 40 minute set. If I hadn't needed to leave by 7:30, I'm sure it would have been a 45+ minute set, but I intentionally sped up the third part of the form.

A student posed another question on the transition between Strike Tigers, but I think that one is resolved now.

T'ai Chi at the Allen Center - 2010 Day 41

Six gathered for some interesting T'ai Chi this morning. We do one full set lasting about 9.5 (nine and a half) minutes (truly allegro) and then a second set of part 1 and part 2 only lasting about 18 minutes. I received some positive comments on the fast set. Some of the group had never tried anything like that before. I still say it definitely promotes a sense of flow. It may also increase the ability to concentrate on the form as one tends to move so quickly that the mind doesn't have time to think of anything else. We will certainly try that again at some point in the future.

T'ai Chi at the Allen Center - 2010 Day 40

Seven gathered this morning for a pleasant 37 minute set. It felt faster than that to both Charlie and me, but others found the pace "just right." I won't complain. Almost any time is good for T'ai Chi and I'm nothing but happy about the turn-out.

T'ai Chi at the Allen Center - 2010 Day 39

Six (even without Charlie) gathered today for a 34 minute set. After, we chatted for about 20 minutes on various applications and theories including some demonstrations. At the very end, Peter and I did some push-hands and it seems that knowledge was gained.

T'ai Chi at the Allen Center - 2010 Day 38

Six stumbled in to participate in a very pleasant 39 minute set this morning. One of the six was a new-comer to the practice sessions but an old hand at the form back from when my instructor still taught here. It was nice to see him at practice. I hope he can come often.

In other news, Friday evenings have been approved starting now as have Sunday mornings starting on February 28, 2010.

T'ai Chi at the Allen Center - 2010 Day 37

Five gathered for a very pleasant 40 minute set this morning. On Tuesday and again today, I started to add a second brush-right knee in the first part of the form. It fits, obviously, but it still confuses me why I would want to do that instead of the Step Forward, Deflect Downward, Parry, and Punch. *shrug* This too shall pass.

T'ai Chi at the Allen Center - 2010 Day 36

Six gathered for a luxurious 43 minute form this morning. The more slow, intentional breathing I do, the easier it becomes. Even the breath-work after the kicks has become easier.

T'ai Chi at the Allen Center - 2010 Day 35

Five gathered for a "brief" (but not abbreviated) 32 minute set this morning. I intentionally decreased the slowness of the form in an attempt to preserve my knees for the rest of the day.

T'ai Chi at the Allen Center - 2010 Day 34

Six gathered this morning for a very pleasant 42 minute set. We're going to have to start earlier or shorten the warm-ups if we want to get done by 7:30. Dave is back, though no Nancy this morning.

T'ai Chi at the Allen Center - 2010 Day 33

Five gathered for a nicely relaxing 45 minute form after which everyone went off save Charlie and myself who stayed for a bit of pushing-hands. We both enjoyed it immensely. More on Monday.

T'ai Chi at the Allen Center - 2010 Day 32

Five gathered for a relaxing 41 minute set. The crew included myself, Charlie, Colleen, Mary, and Nancy for the first time in well over a month. :-)  - My mental energy was a little distracted for a while, but I was able to focus with very positive results with the form. More tomorrow.

T'ai Chi at the Allen Center - 2010 Day 31

Four gathered for a pleasant 38 minute set. I can tell at least one of the participants was getting bored with the set but hopefully that was just due to the length and lack of practice. This too shall pass, one way or the other. :-)

Breathing today was very good. My lungs seem to be back on track.

T'ai Chi at the Allen Center - 2010 Day 30

Four gathered for a 35 minute set. Both Charlie and I thought it was much faster, and of course it was faster than yesterday. I seem a bit off mood-wise today. The Universe seemed to be poking the bear this morning, though I made it to practice, so I guess that's what matters at the moment. Hopefully the mood will pass shortly.

T'ai Chi at the Allen Center - 2010 Day 29

Five gathered for a 42 minute three part form. I normally don't extend Tuesday mornings, but it felt so good to have my lungs back in good working order that I just kept breathing slowly. We'll have to see how the knees are by this evening.

T'ai Chi at the Allen Center - 2010 Day 28

Five gathered for a 38 minute set this morning. I started the set feeling a little nauseous, but by the end, I felt great. My focus was to convert anything in my body that could be damaging my body to inert material. :-)

T'ai Chi at the Allen Center - 2010 Day 27

Four gathered this flurried morning for a pleasant 37 minute form and then lots of questions, most of which I felt like I could answer. It took me a while to remember the exact degrees of the feet for part the wild horses mane, but it did return. I kept thinking it was 22.5 degrees, but that's the half way mark. The feet are at 25 less than west for the back foot and 20 more than west for the front. This allows for the 5 degree change in the front foot which becomes the back for the next instance of the position. There were also questions on turn and chop (angling of the fist) and the breathing of diagonal flying. It got a little nit-picky in places, but that's okay. It helps make sure I know what I'm talking about. ;-)

T'ai Chi at the Allen Center - 2010 Day 26

Five gathered for a 36 minute three part form. Right about the start of part three, I caught a whiff of what smelled like some kind of incense. It brought back a very pleasant memory from a couple years ago. Oddly enough, even though I wasn't thinking about the form, I found myself slowing down and when I came back to the form, we had progressed appropriately. I wonder if there is a specific image one could hold in their mind throughout the entire form that would increase the meditative benefits.

T'ai Chi at the Allen Center - 2010 Day 25

Five gathered for a three part form lasting almost 38 minutes. Ben seems to be making this a going concern and if Nancy comes back and Mary continues coming, we should have close to 7 many days. That reminds me. I need to see what I can do about Saturday and Sunday.

T'ai Chi at the Allen Center - 2010 Day 24

Four found the way to practice this morning for a short 30 minute form. I intentionally shortened it as we started late and I needed to leave early. The flow was still nice though and I might be getting used to the new pants. We'll see.

T'ai Chi at the Allen Center - 2010 Day 23

Five journeyed across the snow covered ice to play a 35 minute form this morning. Both Charlie and I agreed that it felt much faster than 35 minutes, but the clock doesn't usually lie.

I tried a different pair of pants today. They have the room and flexibility required, but they are mostly polyester and seem to be designed to make my legs sweat. Other than the sweating, though, they seem fine.

T'ai Chi at the Allen Center - 2010 Day 22

Six gathered for a very pleasant 37 minute set. Right at the start during the warm-ups, it felt a little strange after not doing much with it for two days, but as soon as I said, "Ready Position" it started feeling really good again.