HEALING AND MARTIAL ARTS BLOG

We invite everyone interested in healing, exercise and the martial arts to our annual summer party taking place at the Long Island School of Tai-chi-Chuan – 87 Tyler Avenue, Sound Beach N. Y. 11789 (corner of 8th Street). Saturday, August 22nd 12pm to 6pm. You will see demonstrations of Tai-chi forms, chi-gung and push hands, and meet others with similar interests in relaxing, natural surroundings. Refreshments will be provided. For more information call 631 744-5999 or send an email to info@movementsofmagic.com

We explored how the plane of motion changes in the form and how to make smooth transitions into the new plane of motion within each joint. We also practiced how the hips rock in a figure “8” motion with weight shifts in the legs, as if the hips were a piece of wood floating in the ocean. This requires mobility in the low spine, especially in the sacrum.

Then we practiced how the motions in the hips result in waves of motion up the spine, stretching and turning it. The spine then moves in a spiraling motion, both in its stretching and relaxing, where the wave of motion returns to the hips and root.

Next we explored how to keep the attention balanced through the movements by concentrating attention in the opposite direction of movement. This makes sure that we don’t bunch up (condense) our attention in only one direction and we maintain a spherical balance of attention. This balance is also maintained between the area above the ground and in an equal area in the root.

March’s workshop will be on the 30th (Sunday) 10:15am to 12:15pm. We will begin Saturday classes in Yang form in April (10:15am to 11:15am).

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We had a wonderful weekend at the Tai-chi Park (successor to the Tai-chi Farm). There were many workshops on Chi-gung, forms and push hands. This is a 30 years old plus tradition started by Master Jou, Tsung, Hwa. The present incarnation is a 23 acre park in the woods with a beautiful stream running through the property, in Northern New Jersey.

It’s like a Tai-chi family reunion. Many teachers only meet each other once a year on this weekend. We are hoping to start our own traditions on Long Island with Tai-chi in local parks and the first annual Tai-chi workshop at our school (the Long Island School of Tai-chi-Chuan in Sound Beach) on Sat. Sept. 22nd. Maybe we can develop a closer Tai-chi community here.

I am also making plans to give workshops at other teachers schools. Hopefully the teachers can all visit each others schools and bring fresh ideas to our students. If you have similar Tai-chi get togethers in your area, please let me know (631 744-5999).

The new “Push Hands – the Game of Life” dvd is now complete – both volumes 1 and 2. This program is a workshop about how to make your life more powerful using Taoist principles. It uses the Tai-chi two person exercise of Push Hands to visually illustrate these principles.

It explains the physical dynamics of the human body and the mechanics of the mind (attention) in great detail and how, by gaining skill of these mechanics, we can influence the course of our lives. What we think of as great obstacles, can easily be dissolved using the skills we gain in push hands practice. We can even neutralize the aggression of other people, whether emotional, mental or physical.

Most importantly, Push Hands – the Game of Life, teaches strategies to deal with everyday life to make your life more healthy and successful. Even if you do not practice push hands, you will easily understand the principles and be able to apply them.

LINK TO VOLUME 1

LINK TO VOLUME 2

We just got finished taping the new push hands video of the push hands workshop I have been giving.  It’s a lot of fun with great information.  A couple of the students almost got pushed into the goldfish pond during the taping.  We had to compete with the sounds of lawnmowers, dogs and the Mr. Softee truck.

I am hoping that people will see how easy it is to apply push hands principles to everyday life and make your life more effective and powerful.  Finished product should be available in a few months.

Our newest dvd includes the zookinesis exercises, “Crane Greets the Sun” and “Waking Eagle”.  They are designed for people involved in martial arts, dance, sports and as a great general exercise.  Each is based on the stretching and warming up movements of these birds after waking up in the morning.

They combine toning, flexibility, fine motor coordination, mild aerobic movements and stress reduction and they are fun to do.  ($19.95 – 55 minutes).  Available from our online store (link on the right side of this blog).

New classes are being organized for the fall to winter seasonat the Long Island School of Tai-chi-Chuan with Bob Klein.  The subjects are: Tai-chi Yang short form for beginners, Chen style Tai-chi for beginners, Zookinesis (chi-gung) exercise for beginners, Kung-fu exercise classes, and beginners self defense course.

Please let us know which classes you would be interested in and whether mornings, evenings or weekends.  Remember that we also provide “Tai-chi Massage” and private classes at days and times convenient for you.

Contact: info@movementsofmagic.com  or  631 744-5999

Our books, “Movements of Magic – the Spirit of Tai-chi-Chuan”, “Movements of Power – Ancient Secrets of Unleashing Instinctual Vitality” and the adventure novel, “The Doubting Snake” are now available for downloading from the Amazon Kindle service.  This is a new generation of technology in which you can download and store books on your kindle or other similar device.  You can go to www.amazon.com and click onto the”Kindle” link.  Then type in the name of the book you want to download into their search engine.  Then click onto the book to begin the download process.  And then please let us know if you enjoyed the books.