T'ai Chi at the Allen Center - 2010 Day 188

Three gathered in the inner sanctum of the HEC today for a 22 minute called set. After the set, we worked on part one of the staff.

There was a question regarding the transition between Wave Hands Like Clouds and Single Whip and also a question about Fair Lady Works at Shuttles.

T'ai Chi at the Allen Center - 2010 Day 187

Six gathered for a very pleasant 27 minute called set this morning. We had two new students try it for the first time today. Both seemed to be able to grasp it fairly well. I hope to see more of them soon.

After the set, there was one question on Turn and Sweep Lotus, primarily the foot work.

T'ai Chi at the Allen Center - 2010 Day 186

Four gathered for a 32 minute called set today. I found it very enjoyable. There were questions after the set about stance, width and depth, about the transition from Fair Ladies into Ward Off Left, about balance, and about general relaxation throughout the set.

T'ai Chi at the Allen Center - 2010 Day 185

My Maserati does 185....but my called Wednesday morning T'ai Chi (quick) set was done in 8 minutes with three attending today. And no, I don't have a Maserati. I'd have to charge a LOT more for my practice sessions to afford one of those. ;-)

T'ai Chi at the Allen Center - 2010 Day 184

Four gathered for a 30 minute called set today. It felt good today, better than it has for a while. After the set, there were questions on the bent quality of the lead leg in empty solid stance and the frame of Bend Bow, Shoot Tiger.

T'ai Chi at the Allen Center - 2010 Day 183

Three gathered this morning for a 28 minute called set. Before the set, one of the practitioners asked if I thought it would be beneficial to retake the classes. I indicated that I thought it would because each time through a class, a student is likely to acquire a deeper understanding of the material.

T'ai Chi at the Allen Center - 2010 Day 182

Three gathered in HEC 110 for another 26 minute called set today. Following the set, we worked on and finished part 1 of the staff form. I then executed a demonstration of the whole of the staff form and we called it morning.

T'ai Chi at the Allen Center - 2010 Day 181

Four gathered for a called 26 minute set in the HEC today. Following the set, I worked with the others on the beginning of the staff form. We made it up through the second block and strike. Following that, Dawn gave a brief demonstration of the T'ai Chi form she's been studying elsewhere. This is the same form I started with some 14 odd years ago. It was nice to see it again and remark the definite similarities to and differences from the Yang Large Frame which I currently practice. It's all good stuff.

T'ai Chi at the Allen Center - 2010 Day 180

Five gathered in the Allen Center for a very nice 28 minute called set. A completely new person (for the group anyway) joined us, Paul. I have no idea if he'll return but he indicated that he liked it at the time. He seemed to do fairly well and I think with a little instruction could become pretty good. :-)

T'ai Chi at the Allen Center - 2010 Day 179

Five (the same five) gathered for a very pleasant 32 minute set. My body and limbs felt heavy today, though not leaden or otherwise unpleasant. It was easy to move slowly and relatively precisely. The set actually felt longer than it was, but that may be from the 11 minute set we did yesterday.

I may be having a new visitor or two tomorrow to the group. We'll see.

T'ai Chi at the Allen Center - 2010 Day 178

Five gathered for a complete but quick 11 minute set this morning. After, a question regarding the sinking of the hips was raised. Charlie and I spoke briefly on Universal Post and Holding the Tree. I think I rather like the latter a bit better. After that, a few comments were exchanged on the alignment of knees and toes and how important that is while practicing, at least for the longevity of the knees.

T'ai Chi at the Allen Center - 2010 Day 177

Four gathered again today (though at least one was different than yesterday) for a pleasant and fairly accurately called 28 minute set. I couldn't seem to get my tongue around Golden Cock Stands on One Leg Right. *sigh* I'll leave the amusing comments to someone else.

One of my students is also practicing T'ai Chi Easy (tm) which, according to her, appears to be primarily Qi Gong. Alas, for the time I would like to have.

T'ai Chi at the Allen Center - 2010 Day 176

Four gathered this morning in the Allen Center for a very pleasant 32 minute set. I admit, it was good to be "home" again. I don't recall any questions of consequence.

T'ai Chi at the Allen Center - 2010 Day 175

Saturday: No data on the group.

I practiced at about 4:00 AM in a wayside in Ohio. It wasn't bad though I only made it through Wave Hands Like Clouds in part 2.

No group practice tomorrow.

T'ai Chi in New Hampshire. (Friday) (174)

I started a little later today and didn't get out to the vacant lot until about 5:40 AM. By then, the traffic had really started to pick up both on the street and on the nearby freeway. It was more difficult to concentrate on the form today with all the vehicles going by, people gawking, waving, occasionally honking. What? Have you never seen someone exercising before? *shrug* Oh well. Perhaps next time I'm here, I'll practice on a ridge somewhere. :-)

(No data for the group.)

T'ai Chi in New Hampshire. (173)

I found a lovely vacant lot this morning just down the road from the hotel. It had a few long-parked buses there but more than enough room to accommodate 20+ people practicing. I'm not sure how long the set ran, 25 minutes or so. It felt good. I didn't focus on remembering the order or sequence and just let it flow. To my knowledge, the completed the form accurately enough.

The energy is subtly different here. I assume it may have to do with the culture or the mountains. Either way, it was still nice.

(No data for the group.)

T'ai Chi at the Allen Center - 2010 Day 172

Wednesday: Two showed though I'm uncertain of the length of the form, possibly 8 minutes. It was raining in New Hampshire so after a brief Qi Gong set, I got breakfast and got to work.

T'ai Chi at the Allen Center - 2010 Day 171

Tuesday: No specific data for the group. - I practiced briefly in the parking lot of a Pilot gas station in New York until the cashier yelled my name over the PA and told me to come back inside. I left my credit card on the counter. Mmm. Sleep deprivation. ;-)

T'ai Chi at the Allen Center - 2010 Day 170

Four gathered for a 28 minute set inside facing true south for a change. I like changing the facing in the room from time to time. It helps me see what I need to work on.

T'ai Chi at the Allen Center - 2010 Day 169

Three (including Sarah, again) flowed through a 25 minute set this morning. There was one question on punching after the form after which Charlie and I again executed a couple sets of staff.

T'ai Chi at the Allen Center - 2010 Day 168

Four gathered for a 31 minute set this morning. Sarah was in attendance which was quite a pleasant surprise. After the set, Charlie and I went through the staff form a couple times. We called it early on account of work.

T'ai Chi at the Allen Center - 2010 Day 167

Four gathered on the south west front lawn of the Allen Center this morning for a 24 minute called set. The cool air with just a hint of a breeze was almost perfect for the practice. After the set, there was a question on Strike Tigers and by that time, the sun was warm enough to encourage moisture from my pores. Charlie wasn't there today which is worth noting only because it almost never happens.

There is more interest in the Wednesday evening grouping, though 6:30 is looking to be a better time than 6:00. We'll see.

T'ai Chi at the Allen Center - 2010 Day 166

Five gathered this morning for a very pleasant 35 minute set this morning. Daniel joined us for the first time in many months and inquired about afternoon sessions. It looks like I may want to ramp up the potential for Wednesday evening gatherings.

T'ai Chi at the Allen Center - 2010 Day 165

Five gathered for a 10 minute set this morning. The flow of the set was quite enjoyable though the accuracy wasn't all it could have been, for myself, anyway. After the set, there was a question on the transition into Ward Off Left after Fair Lady Works at Shuttles.

I talked with Charlie today and he plans to be here next week. This will be helpful as I'm not sure I will be able to attend all the sessions.

T'ai Chi at the Allen Center - 2010 Day 164

Six gathered out of the rain for a pleasantly called 27 minute set this morning. After the set, we revisited Fair Lady Works at Shuttles a couple of times along with the start of Strike Tiger Left and Turn and Chop. All in all, it was certainly an educational day.

T'ai Chi at the Allen Center - 2010 Day 163

Five gathered in the HEC for a pleasant 32 minute set followed by a few questions, and a few staff sets. Overall, it was a very pleasant way to start the day.

No formal practice tomorrow or Monday.

T'ai Chi at the Allen Center - 2010 Day 162

Four gathered on the south west lawn of the Allen Center for a very pleasant 28 minute called set. Charlie wasn't there for the first time in a while, but he called before. There was a question on Step Forward to Seven Stars before we broke for the day.

T'ai Chi at the Allen Center - 2010 Day 161

Six gathered on the lawn south of the volley ball courts. We faced west again to keep the sun mostly out of our eyes. The set lasted a solid 34 minutes and the early-morning sun along with the higher humidity made the set a little more like gong fu (hard work).

There was one question regarding hand placement in Crossed Hands. The easy answer is that right is on the outside. What I should tell her is that in other parts of the form, the left hand is on the outside based on which leg is forward. Left=left. Right=right.