Mistakes? Great!!!

Have you ever wanted to do something, but were afraid of being shown up or making a mistake? Let me share my experience with this.

A friend came to me and told me that one of my students had been "humiliated" at a Tai Chi seminar.

My student had been selected by the teacher for practical applications (self defense) demonstrations, and had been thrown about quite roughly. The other students found this most amusing, and treated it like entertainment. Whenever the teacher asked for a volunteer, my student stepped up for more. The rest of the class found this hilarious.

I was very happy with this outcome. I used to do the same thing with Master Liming Yue. Whenever he wanted to demonstrate techniques, I was always the first to volunteer. Sometimes, the other students would laugh. But knew I was getting better.

Martial Arts are about making mistakes. For only by making mistakes, can we eliminate errors and get better and better. As we get better, the opportunity to make these mistakes (lessons) gets smaller and smaller. It is those who can safely put themselves into situations where they can learn from their mistakes who will achieve the greatest. 

As for the student - he went on to become British Open Kung Fu Champion later that year.

Start of the New Academic Year

It's a new academic year, and to me this means starting new Tai Chi classes at Congleton, Macclesfield and Sandbach.

At this time, I often wonder what kind of students will arrive. Following the Beijing olympics, I expect there to be quite high numbers this year. But you never know. 

So here's some FAQ's that I often get from new students.

That looks difficult. Is Tai Chi hard work?

Tai Chi is as easy or as hard as you want it to be. Simply by adjusting the depth of posture. you can have a gentle relaxing session, or a really tough workout. It's up to you.

I'll never remember all those moves.

Yes you will. Some people take more time than others. I don't expect you to be perfect. Classes are where you make your mistakes, so I can correct them. 

Tai Chi is Buddhist, isn't it? Do I have to give up alcohol or meat?

Tai Chi is not Buddhist. It takes it's influences from the Yijing, traditional chinese medicine and other martial arts. No buddhism was used or required. Also, you do not have to give up anything.

Where do the meditation and health aspects come into it?

It's true that Tai Chi was developed for self-defence purposes. Meditational state is achieved by the concentration on the movements to the exclusion of everything else. Health is gained by pressing the tongue against the roof of the mouth, bending the knees, correcting the posture and turning at the waist.

See you at the class!!!

Stressed - Advice

It's not as bad as you think. Dr. Topher Morrison has a great way of looking at it. 

Be happy.

5 Secret Ways to Relax

1. Huff and Puff. 

Inhale abruptly — sigh out-loud. You’ve probably done this before when you were exasperated or fed-up or exhausted. Try it again with some attitude. A sarcastic whatever attitude could flush out the tensions; a disgusted what-an-idiot projection might release stress. Huffing and puffing helps us relax naturally, even if bitterly. It’s easy and it’s free.

2. Shake “No” 

Gently shake your head. Nose pointing from one corner of the room to the other, to the other, to the other, back and forth, shake your head. A small, soft shake will do. Mesmerize yourself. You can even employ the bitterness from the Huff-and-Puff. It is important, however, to pull your head in so that your head balances atop your shoulders. Each ear lines up over each shoulder. Shake no, and feel the back of your head, those muscles, the ones gripping your skull in position, feel them relax.

3. Smile Inside. 

It’s the physical act that matters: this one happens deep in your throat, behind your tongue. Smile. You don’t have to show it. Smile inside. Grin inside about anything: use revenge, secret knowledge, long-term spite to lift the edges of an inner smile. Of course, love and friendship and contentment make smiling inside easy.

4. Pound Something. 

Beat it. Wreck it. Pull it down from the top shelf. Push it off the counter with fantastic fury or fabulous delight. Hit it. Kick it. Smash it.Whatever you do: work. Physical work releases loads of stress and when it’s done, it’s satisfying and primal.  Sometimes we need to see problems and obstacles broken in bits. Do this one well and, as best you can, carefully. I pound cushions, not just with my fists, but also swinging and striking with my elbows. It's great!!!

5. Wave Hands Like Clouds. 

Tai-chi proper brings great results. The more intimate your knowledge of your body, the deeper this kind of movement instills stillness. Wave your hands like they are clouds. Get it. Try it. Emulate cirrus, strato-cumulus, or cumulonimbus clouds. Wave hands through clouds. Stand in a park, on a mountain, in a field, on a roof, in a stream, on a tree, or in your room (right now) and, while looking through your top hand, watch your hands wave through those far away clouds. Relax: even if you’re waving them through piling storm clouds, it feels great.

Aaaaahhhhh.... relax.

Good news!

It gives me great pleasure  to announce that I am going to be a Dad again. All the relevant relatives have now been told, so it's safe to announce on my blog.

Child number two is set to arrive around the 23rd March 2009. 

Can't wait!

:-)

Rest

It is a fundamental concept of yin and yang.  In this instance, yang is activity and yin is rest.

Yang, by it's very nature, will eventually expend itself. That goes for people, too. We need to rest. And if we are yang for too long, we eventually become exhausted and collapse (yin). 

The best yin is deep and restful sleep. This essential part of life is often ignored as our modern lifestyle encourages us to work and play hard. There's so much to distract us, when everything is available 24-hours a day. 

Power napping can really help to top up your batteries. If you do not think you have the discipline, you could try other methods. There is a product I have used for many years to help this - Recharge (I'm not on commission). This teaches you a simple method to quickly recharge your batteries. It is not a substitute for sleep, but can help you if you feel burned out.

Get plenty of rest..... and be happy.

Rich

Last Lecture

Randy Pausch was an American University lecturer. He was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer (which is inoperable), and this was his last lecture, entitled "Achieving your childhood dreams.". It's over an hour and sixteen minutes long, so make sure you have time to watch.

Be happy,

Rich