Wednesday Practice

 

The Details:

It's a balmy 62 at the house. It's forecast to start raining at 11. The sunrise was at 5:35.

Note:

No music this afternoon. Shubal's cat is sick. Maybe next Wednesday?

I picked up my sports coat at the dry cleaners (swift) yesterday.

The Practice:

I started inside with a full round of The 10. I added the Three Swings and Song Gong to #10. I was mainly focused on being consistent and overall health.

Next I went on The Deck and did a Round (right side) reciting the Taiji Classics during Parts I and II.

I remained focused on 

"Muscle Down, Bone Up" 

Throughout the Round. 

Next I did a full session of Standing Meditation (all 8 Postures) and Healing Qigong....

It started to rain so I came inside to eat lunch and journal today's practices.

Tuesday Practice

 

The Details:

It's 55 at the house and it's forecast to be in the 80's this afternoon. Finally! Although yesterday was beautiful. The sunrise was at 5:37.

Note:

I emailed Shubal and Bobby V. this morning about playing music this week. I've heard back from Bob that he can make it a little after 2.

The Practice:

I started on The Deck with a full round of The 10 focused on consistency and overall health.

Next I did a Round (right side) focused on timing (pace)  and fully concluding each movement.

Next I did a round of Anyo Dalawa focused on Basics.

Next I did a round of Seisan Kata focused on fully extending all my punches and kicks.

 

Monday Practice

 

The Details:

It's 44 at the house. The sunrise was at 5:38.

Note:

I'm going to Northampton later this morning with Ginnie to buy some pants for the our upcoming trip to Italy.

I've got to reach out to Jared Smith about the lawn tractor battery and the weed whacker motor.

The Practice:

I practiced on The Deck this morning.

I started out with a brief Warm Up focused on Soong and moving Lymph.

Next I did a Rond (left side) to The Music with Master Liang Counting. I was able to stick with the count again. I'm finiding it easier and easier as I consitently practice with The Music.

Sunday Practice

 

The Details:

It's 44 at the house. The sunrise was at 5:39.

Note:
I've got a 10-1 meeting with Jeff this morning. 

I ordered the wrong thing at Gianni Fig last night. Oy!

The Practice:

Jeff and I talked and drank tea for the first hour or so. We talked about many things including WTCD and the characteristics of 'internal practice'.

Next we went out on The Deck and did a full round of The 10+ I explained some of the details as we were doing them. I focused on the principle of "one part moves while another part remains motionless." I use The Dragons Back as the primary exercise to develop this principle.

After much discussion we did a Round (right side) to The Music with Master Liang Counting. The music keeps you honest.

We ran out of time. A round of The Dance, Tapi Tapi and 13 Spear routine the next time.

Saturday Practice

 

The Details:

It's 47 at the house. It rained last night and it's still drizzling. The sunrise was at 5:40.

Notes:

I'm trying to remember what day I skipped writing about my practice that day. My best guess is Thursday.

I lost a day this week. I thought that it was Friday today! I don't think I took notes on my practices on Thursday this week. Oy Vey!!

We've got dinner reservations at Gianni Fig in South Deerfield for Gerri's birthday today.

The Practice:

I practiced in The Loft this morning.

I started with a full round of The 10 adding to #7, 8, 9 and 10. At #8 I added dumbbell training and a set of Sit Ups on the big blue ball as well as a session on my wooden balance board. With a focus on 'functional exercise' to stay mobile as I age. I should be doing this set like this daily!

Next I did a Round (left side) to The Music with Master Liang Counting. I started and stopped a couple of times (to make tea) and was able to get back on The Beat (because of where I stopped - it was planned - just before a 2 or 6 count) I was able to make it all the way through to the end on The Count.

Next I did a round of Yin Style Baguazhang 8 Palms Changes 5-8 (both sides) reciting the names of the Postures throughout. I'm remembering the names slowly but surely. I'm determined to memorize these.

Thursday Practice

 

The Details:

I'm not sure but I think the details are similar to Friday's this week. 

Notes:

I lost a day this week and I think it was Thursday morning when I had a call scheduled with Phil at 8:30. I practiced up in the loft after the call....I think!

The Practice:

Again I think that what I did on Friday this week I thought was Thursday....Oy Vey!

Friday Practice - Day 9,070 -

 

The Details:

It's 44 at the house and it's drizzling. The sunrise was at 5:42.

Notes:

I've got a 9:30 Breakfast with Shubal at the Freedom Cafe (the old corner cupboard). I had a very nice visit. He helped me to get back to what's important in life. He has a very good attitude about aging and life itself. Inspirational! Must in The Barn next Wed. afternoon.

I they went to the co-op for soup. They had Chicken Stew...Yum!

Then I went to Swift Cleaners to drop off my sport coat for the upcoming Italy trip.

The Practice:

When I got back from town the power was out. It was a planned outage from 11-noon today. 

I ate some soup since it was already warm.

Then went out to The Deck to practice.

I started with a brief Warm Up.

Next I did a Round (right side) to a metronome set at 60 BPM with 2 tones (downbeat and upbeat) I had a few glitches but it was very easy to correct and get back to The Sequence.

Next I did a round of Yin Style Baguazhang 8 Palms Changes 1-8 (both sides) reciting the names of the postures where I could (1-5) and intermmitently for changes 6-8.

Wednesday Practice

 

The Details:

It's 46 at the house. The sunrise was at 5:45

Notes:

My right knee is acting up. It started last evening and is slightly better this morning but I'm still going to adjust for it. I think maybe it was the Reverse Zen Dashi that I added yesterday? I don't know for sure but that's my current thinking. The other thing I've added this week is the second Round to the music which I did again this morning. 

The Practice:

I practiced on The Deck and started with a brief Warm Up using the first few of The 10.

Next I did a Round (left side) to the Music with Master Liang counting out the beats. I had a couple of glitches. Oy!!

Next I did a second Round (right side) again to the Music with Master Liang counting, this is the first time this week that I got all the way through without a glitch, although I had to pee really bad by the end of Part III.

Tuesday Practice

 

The Details:

It's 44 at the house. The sunrise was at 5:48.

Notes:

The Ponton's are coming from 10-11 and Bostley's coming to pump out the septic system; they came about 11:15ish and were gone by 11:45 ish.

The Practice:

I started on the Patio in front of The Barn with a full round of The 10 focused on leg strength, Soong and Breathing.

Next I did a round of Cheng Style Baguazhang 8 Animal Palms Changed 5-8 focused on using the correct Sequence in the correct spot on the circle.

Next I did a Round (left side) to The Music with Master Liang Counting out the beats. I focused on staying with the beat. I still went off a couple of times. I remained equanimous and simply got back on track. I had a major glitch at the end of Part II and the beginning of Part III. Very frustrating!

Next I did a second Round (right side) again to The Music with Master Liang Counting, focused on staying with the count. I again had several glitches but I thought it was better than the first Round.

Next I did a round of Anyo Apat focused on quality Basics.

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

Spring!!

Monday Practice

 

The Details:

It's 41 at the house. The sunrise was at 5:47.

Notes:

I'm still working on using The Music to check the timing of my solo Taiji Form. Yesterday I got off timing in Part III. I did better today! I stayed equanimous when I noticed that I was off the beat of the Music.

I'm thinking that a trip down to MensWearhouse in West Springfield.

The Practice: 

I started on The Deck with a round of Taiji Dao and Pa-Kua Knife using a wooden broadsword. I focused on watching the sword tip, using my waist and The Sequence.

Next I did a brief Warm up using the first few of The 10

Next I did a Round (left side) to The Music with Master Liang counting. I focused on staying on The Count and the speed at which I was going.

Next I did another Round (right side) to just The Music. 

I did much better than yesterday. The music keeps me honest with the correct number of Repulse Monkeys and Wave Hands. I'm finding that the majority of glitches are from too few Repulse Monkeys especially in Part III

Next I did a round of Anyo Apat focused on Basics and the correct Sequence.

Next I did a round of Wansu Kata tuned in fully extending Kicks and Punches. 

Next I did a round of Cheng Style Bagua Zhang 8 Animal Palms Changes 1-4/ Tuned into the correct Sequence in the correct placement on the circle and the overall quality and stretch of the Postures. 

Sunday Practice

 The Details:

It's 44 at the house. The sunrise was at 5:49.

Notes:

I went to the World T'ai Chi Day event at Phil's work yesterday morning. 

I made Cookies yesterday afternoon.

The Practice:

It's Spring....Can you warm it up a little?

I practiced on The Deck this morning. 

I started with a brief Warm Up using the first few of The 10 focused on moving lymph and the two major stretches (forward and backward #1 and side to side #2)

Next I did a Round (right side) with the music and Master Liang counting. I went out of sync right at the end of Part III....Oy!

Next I did another Round (right side) to just the music and found I was on The Beat at the beginning of Part III but off again at the end of Part III.....I'm going to keep at it until I've got the sequence to the beat accurate.

Next I did a round of Yin Style Bagua Zhang 8 Palms Changes 5-8 (both sides) reciting the names of the postures where I could. I still need work on #6, 7 and 8.

Saturday Practice - World Tai Chi and Qigong Day

 

The Details:

It's 34 at the house. The sunrise was at 5:50.

Notes:

I'll be going into Greenfield for World T'ai Chi Day with Phil and Luke. It'll be good to do a Round with others.

The Practice:

Luke led through a Warm Up using some of Sifu Ray's Warm Up Set.

Next he led through a Standing Meditation and added 'Pulling The Qi' from Master Xie Qigong Set.

Next Robin led through a Round (right side). He was going too fast for me to do 'internal training' so I ended up moving to side/back and going at my own pace.

All and all there was a good group in attendance and what Luke presented was authentic from his personal practice/

I had some conversations with Luke about the amount of teaching and his caution to not 'pollute' his art by teaching too much. From my perspective you would not be able to make a living if you didn't teach enough. But I also understand what he meant by 'polluting' by doing too much. I guess there's a balance in there that I'm curious about. Hmmmm!

I also talked with Phil and his take on 'community outreach' I liked his take and re-framing the idea of marketing. It strikes me as a better word for it even though the end result may be similar.

Friday Practice

 

The Details:

It's 39 at the house. The sunrise was at 5:52. It's forecast to be cooler than yesterday. I'm still counting this as Day #4 in the Rotation.

Notes:

I've got Tognarelli HVAC coming between 11-1 to work on the master bathroom shower and toilet.

The Practice:

I started with a full round of The 10+ on The Deck focused on leg strength and overall health and consistency.

Next I went out to The Driveway and did a Round (left side) focused on "Waist Directs The Movements" and observing Relaxed Balance.

Next I did a brief Standing and Healing Qigong

Next I did a round of Yin Style Baguazhang 8 Palms Changes 1-8 (both sides) reciting the names of the postures where I could. 

I was out of gas.......

Thursday Practice

 

The Details:

It's 38 at the house. The sunrise was at 5:53.

Notes:

We are going up to Keene this morning to retrieve the bar stools from Beemes Upholstery, get my international drivers license from AAA and meet with Peter and Susan for lunch.

The Practice:

I had 7 deer grazing in the front yard as I practiced on The Deck.

I started with a brief Warm Up using the first few of The 10.

Next I did a Round (left side) tuned in to observing the principles and using soft, relaxed, slow movement to cultivate and circulate Qi.

Next I did Standing and Healing Qigong to cultivate my Qi.

Next I did a round of Yin Style Baguazhang 8 Palms Changes 1-4 (both sides) reciting the names of The Postures throughout the round.