Monday Practice

What it looked like when I got down to the beach around 10 ish. I did notice a lot of color (reds/pinks/purples) around 7:10 this morning, just before sunrise. I was moving too slow to make it down to photograph it.

The Details:

It's 57 at the house. The sunrise was at 7:19. The high tide was at 8:10.

The Practice:

I started inside reading a poem from Evidence.

After I QW to the beach I started with a full round of The 10+ focused on consistency and willpower.

Next I did a Round (right side) focused on Function, Feeling and Forgetting (observing the principles without consciously thinking about them.) Deliberately not (over) thinking.

I finished with a SPT and Healing Qigong before returning to the house. The coffee that I drank this morning was calling me....Oy!

 

Sunday Practice

 

The Details:

It's a cool 44 at the house. It's forecast to be cooler again today. Oy! The sunrise was at 7:19. The high tide was at 7:19. I slept in this morning so I'm going to wait until it warms up a little to down to the beach to practice.

The Practice:

I started inside with a reading from Evidence.

Around 10 I QW down to the beach. I chose a shady spot on the north side of the seawall for the Ocean Sands Beach Club at the end of our street. 

I started with a full round of The 10+ focused on consistency. 

Next I did a Round (right side) focused on maintaining a observing (meditation) state of mind. Observing from a third party state of mind. I also tuned into Longevity Breathing throughout the form. 

Next I did SPT and Healing Qigong.

Next I did a round of Anyo Tatlo focused on light body, applications and health.

Next I did a round of Seiunchin Kata focused on Relaxed Balance and consistency.

I finished with Healing Qigong as I walked back to the house.

Note: I stopped and talked to Dave on the way to the beach and again on the way home. He was working on the palm trees in his yard.

 

Saturday Practice

 

Yet another cloudy, grey washout of a sunrise! Oy!!

The Details:

It's 59 at the house. The sunrise was at 7:19. The high tide was at 6:36. It's warmer but cloudy and grey this morning. 

The Practice:

I started inside with a reading from Mary Oliver's book of poems "Evidence"

Next I QW to the beach and did a full round of The 10+ tuned into health, consistency and willpower. 

Next I did a Round (left side) reciting the Taiji Classics during Part II. I focused on the internal alignment of Pelvic Floor, Diaphragm and Head as well as Counterbalancing throughout the form. 

I've noticed this season that single leg balancing on the beach is more challenging; between the 'quicksand'  near the water line and the diminishing feeling on the bottoms of my feet as I age; I've read that at 80 years old it takes 75% more weight to get the same feeling from the proprioceptive cells on the bottoms of my feet. Oy!

Next I did Standing Post Training (SPT) and Healing Qigong, emptying myself of ANY expectations. 

Next I did a round of Anyo Dalawa tuned into the quality of my basics, flow and applications.

Next I did a round of Seisan Kata tuned into the timing of stance and strike using quality kicks and punches.

I finished with Healing Qigong as I was returning to the house.

Friday Practice

 The Details:

It's 44 at the house. Brrr! Another cold morning. I'll be dressing appropriately for the beach. The sunrise was at 7:19. The high tide was at 5:31. It's Friday so I have an 8-9 am video meeting with Jeff. 

The Practice:

I started with a brief warm up using the first few of The 10.

Next I did a Round (right side) after I started I realized that i should be doing the left side, but I decided to stay on the right side. I recited the Taiji Classics during Part I and tuned into maintaining relaxed balance and contemplating the Three Bowls for internal alignment and the Three external alignments of: Hand/Foot, Elbow/Knee, Shoulders/Hips.

I ran out of time so I did a Healing Qigong as I was returning to the house for my meeting with Jeff.

Willpower - Anterior midcingulate cortex

 

Willpower

Thursday Practice

 

The Details:

It's 41 at the house. The coldest morning yet this season. Oy! The sunrise was at 7:19. The high tide was at 4:34. I'm not rushing out to the beach this morning. I haven't decided where or when I'll practice this morning. It was a little too cold to practice on the beach yesterday,

The Practice:

I went out to the backyard once it warmed up a bit. Oy!

I started with a full round of The 10+ focused on consistency and employing a fair amount of Willpower to get going. I was truly trying to 'warm up' Oy! I did a full round of Yin Fu 8 Palms when I got to #9.

Next I did a round of Taiji Double Broadsword focused on shoulder health and agility.

Next I did a Round (right side) focused on "No Mind" just feeling Song (Released and Relaxed) everywhere as well as expanding and contracting throughout the Round. I had one instance where I somehow slipped into the left side. Once I recognized the error I easily went back to the right side. 

Next I did a round of Anyo Isa focused on light body during the Progressive Step and snap and focus on the punches and kicks.

Next I did a round of Naihanchi Kata tuned in to the changes that I'm making to that form. The changes are coming along nicely.

I ended with Healing Qigong 

Longevity Breathing

 Longevity Breathing

Wednesday Practice

 

                          Just after sunrise this morning Wednesday January 8, 2024

The Details:

It's 44 at the house. Brrr! The sunrise was at 7:19. The low tide was at 10:01. It's cold and I'm waiting for it to warm up a little before I go down to the beach to practice. I've got an 11 am online guitar lesson.

The Practice:

It was cold this morning with a stiff N wind...Brrrr!

I started with a full round of The 10+ focused on 'warming up'. I felt a little stiff from the cold and resistance training on Monday. I was gentle with my 72 year old self, working on accepting my current age and physical condition. The 10+ helped but still.....

Next I did a Round (left side) reciting the Taiji Classics at the start. I tuned in to:

 "Whole Body Is One Unit" 

"When One Part Moves, All Parts Move, When One Part Stops, All Parts Stop."

I also tuned into consistency and a profound connection to the horizon and the Atlantic Ocean.

It was too cold to continue so I ended with Healing Qigong as I was returning to the house.

The best ways to change your mood

 The best way to change your mood

Kintsukuroi

                                                            Kintsukuroi 

Tuesday Practice

 

           It was very cold this morning, with a stiff N N/W breeze....Brrrr! Total wash out, grey sunrise.

The Details:

It's 45 at the house. Brrr! The sunrise was at 7:19. The low tide was at 8:55. There was a brisk N N/W breeze. I was dressed in layers but I still had to move up the beach towards the dunes attempting to get out of the wind. Brrrr!

The Practice:

I started with a full round of The 10+ focused on health and consistency. I turned my back to the wind whenever possible. Stretching in the cold in your 70's is challenging. I did the best I could!

Next I did a Round (right side) reciting the Taiji Classics while doing Part I. I tuned into "In every movement my entire body is light, agile and spirited." I also tuned into the internal alignment of 'The Three Bowls' and the external alignments of Hand-Foot, Elbow-Knee, Shoulder-Hip.

Next I did a brief Standing Post Training (SPT)

Next I did a round of Anyo Walo tuned into 'warming up' with faster and more external basics in an attempt to keep my fingers from freezing! It sort of worked!

Next I did a round of Sanchin Kata focused on breathing and connecting my Tan T'ien (Hara) with my punches and hand techniques. I also tuned in to having strength in all directions with all my hand techniques.

I finished with Healing Qigong while walking back to the house.

Note: It's the coldest morning yet, forecast to be even colder tomorrow! Oy!!

Monday Practice

 

The Details:

It's 55 at the house. The sunrise was at 7:19. The low tide was 7:51. It's warmer this morning. Yay!

The Practice:

I started with a full round of The 10+ focused on overall health and consistency. I've been feeling a bit tight and stiff lately. I did loosen up as I did The 10+. 

Next I did a Round (right side) reciting the Taiji Classics during Part I & II tuned into being in the moment and observing with a meditative mindset. 

Next I did a round of Anyo Pito tuned into the correct sequence; #7 Anyo is Pito and #7 Kata is Sunsu. I've been confusing the sequence lately. But I think I'm on track now.

Next I did a round of Sunsu Kata focused on a smooth flow of postures. The end of this Kata is really coming along. 

I finished with STP and Healing Qigong as I was returning to the house. 

Lymph

Lymph

 

Sunday Practice

 

                                      Sunrise Sunday 1.5.25 shot with my phone camera

The Details:

It's a chilly 47 at the house. The sunrise was at 7:19. The low tide was at 6:48.

The Practice:

I've decided to stop bringing a designated camera and tripod to the beach but to use my phone camera to shoot one or two photos of the sunrise as soon as I get down there. I felt pulled between my practice and photography. Each task takes full attention. Initially I used photography as a technique to get me down to the beach on time for sunrise so that I could practice during sunrise. I did that for the last two seasons in NSB. I do not practice at sunrise in Leyden. At this point I don't feel as though I need that technique to get me down to the beach on time. It's actually better (for me) to just go down at sunrise to practice without the distraction of photography.  I feel that I got a little too deep into the habit of posting sunrise photos to social media. I've decided to just take a simple photo of the sunrise to post to this blog as part of my practice.

I started with a full round of The 10+ tuned into health, mobility and agility. 

Next I did a Round (right side) reciting the Taiji Classics during Parts I & II. I tuned into a relaxed balance while standing on one leg. The quicksand close to the water line makes single leg balancing a challenge.

Next I did a round of Anyo Pito tuned into the sequence of postures.

Next I did a round of Kusanku Kata focused on mobility and agility.