Friday Practice

 

The Details:

It's 54 at the house. I have an 8:30 video meeting with Jeff and a scheduled call with Sifu Ray. It's still wet, cold and rainy. Ugh!

The Practice:

I started with reading a poem from Evidence. These poems help me to tune into a greater appreciation of nature and life itself. With gratitude and appreciation. 

Next I went outside and did a round of Baguazhang - Yin Fu's 8 Linking Palms around my Bagua Poles.

The addition of 'kick ups' as I'm doing 'The Wild Goose Leaves The Flock' I find very helpful for remaining upright and mobile. 

Next I did a full round of The 10+ focused on consistency and overall health.

Next I did a Round (left side) reciting the Taiji Classics during Part I. I tuned into observing the whole body aligned and Song and feeling Peng Jin rising up from the earth, mobilizing through my bones. I also focused on TLB (Taoist Longevity Breathing) in and out through my nose.

Next I did a round of Anyo Apat tuned into the sequence, applications and mobility/agility.

Next I did a round of Wansu Kata focused on adding more focus to fully extended punches, strikes and kicks.

I finished with Healing Qigong and journaling my practice's

Thursday Practice

 

The Details:

It's 54 at the house. It's wet out but not raining...Yet! It's forecast to start raining this afternoon and for the next 48 hours we're going to receive another 2 inches of water. Oy!

The Practice:

I started inside by reading a poem from Mary Oliver's book 'Evidence'.

Next I went out to The Driveway and did a full round of The 10+ focused primarily on overall health and well being both of which demand consistency and perseverance.

Next I did a round of Taiji Jian using my metal Jian reciting the names of the postures throughout the form.

(That got a little shaky towards the end) I also focused on the tip of the sword and moving from my Dantien.

I also focused on light body during the leaps forward.

Next I did a round of Taiji Dao using Master T. T. Liang's broadsword that was given to me (by Sifu Ray Hayward) after Master Liang's passing. I tuned into the sequence and the timing of stepping and technique.

Next I did a Round (right side) reciting the Taiji Classics during Part I. I tuned into TLB (Taoist Longevity Breathing) throughout the form. I also focused on moving from Song (release) and directing my movements from the waist. 

Next I did a round of Anyo Tatlo focused on applications and light body during the progressive stances.

Next I did a round of Seiunchin Kata focused on health and consistency of practice.

I finished with Healing Qigong and writing. 

Wednesday Practice

 

               Looking south towards Beaver Meadow from the deck. That's East Hill in the distance. 

The Details:

It's 59 at the house. It's very wet outside. It's not raining but it's wet and very, very green!

The Practice:

I practiced on The Deck with several deer resting and/or grazing. It was very peaceful and serene. 

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

Next I did a Round (left side) reciting the Taiji Classics during Part I. I focused on opening and closing my Kua and spine. I also tuned into whole body Song and feeling the earth pushing up against my feet as well as simply observing the principles occurring from a meditative perspective and doing my best to 'get out of the way' (tricky, very tricky indeed) Thinking without thinking.

Next I did a brief Standing (SPT) and Healing Qigong.

Next I did a round of Anyo Dalawa tuned into 'sparking it up' adding more focus to my punches and strikes. More like demo mode.

Next I did a round of Seisan Kata also tuned into adding more focus to my punches and kicks.

I finished with a round of Baguazhang using the first four changes from the Cheng T'ing Hwa 8 Animal Set tuned into the correct sequence. Note: I need to do this set more often in order to keep the sequence straight. I feel as though I'm pushing the limit for doing or not doing this set. Oy!

By the end of this practice session there were 1/2 dozen deer resting and/or grazing in full view just south of my property line.

Tuesday Practice at The Studio

 

The Details:

It's 54 at the house. It's forecast to be rainy again today. We need the rain but after several days in a row I find myself longing for sunshine.

The Practice:

I drove into The Studio to teach the 8 am Taiji and Qigong class. I had three students show up for class; Ruby (new students), Nancy and Read. I received a heads up from Jack, Phil and Janee. 

I started talking about Lymph and Fascia and explained how The 10 exercises (I did 1-6 with the group) can first develop awareness and eventually skill. 

Next I presented the details regarding basic Taiji Stepping and did several rows of stance work focused on relaxed balance and neutral postures. 

Next I presented the preparation and introduction to the Taiji form in detail. We did several repetitions for Ruby's benefit, the details on internal practice was intended for Nancy and Read.

Next we did a group Round (right side) I recited the Taiji Classics during Part I. I focused on moving by release as opposed contraction.

We ended with Healing Qigong.

Monday Practice

 

The Details:

It's 58 at the house and it's raining. 

The Practice:

I started inside with a reading from Mary Oliver's book of poems, Evidence. I read the poem The Mysteries, Yes.

Next I went out to The Barn and practiced drum set technique on my Tama Kit. I re-tuned my floor Tom and snare drum and switched out the beater ball on my bass drum pedal from the original Tama to the square Zoro.

Next I used my Dragon Canes to do a full Modern Arnis Cane Warm Up and basics. I focused on hand and forearm strength.

Next I did a full round of The 10+ focused on breathing, stretching, strengthening, coordination and overall health. I used a 20lb dumbbell to assist with #8.

Next I did a Round (left side) using a metronome set at 60 BPM with two tones focused on my whole body being conductive using neutral stances and monitoring my breath. 

Next I did a round of Anyo Isa focused on the quality of my basics.

Next I did a round of Naihanchi Kata solidifying the changes that I've made to this Kata.

Bill Wallace IKTA Seminar

Small Heavenly Circle lesson 4 - with Sifu Ray Hayward

Small Heavenly Circle, lesson # 2. with Sifu Ray Hayward

Small Heavenly Circle Meditation, lesson # 1. with Sifu Ray Hayward

Small Heavenly Circle Meditation, lesson # 5 with Sifu Ray Hayward

Sunday Practice

 

The Details:

It's 61 at the house. It's wet outside and forecast to showers for the next few days. Genna is moving to Winchester NH today and Dylan, Giulia and Travis are helping her. We offered but she said she was all set.

The Practice:

I started inside with reading a poem from Evidence and acoustic guitar practice.

Next I went out to my main practice spot and started with a full round of Baguazhang (Yin Fu 8 Palms Set) around my Bagua Poles. I focused on the correct sequence and the names of the postures. 

Next I did a full round of The 10+ tuned into stretching and identifying fascia, relaxed balance, coordination, leg strength and diaphragmatic breathing. 

Next I did a Round (right side) reciting the Taiji Classics during Part I. I tuned into the cultivating the serenity and calmness that was all around me, connecting with the forest and breathing in oxygen from the trees and the greenery all around me. 

Next I did SPT and Healing Qigong

Next I did a round of Anyo Walo tuned into agility, mobility and applications.

I finished with a round of Sanchin Kata tuned into connecting my breathing with my punches and strikes.

Saturday Practice

 

The Details:

It's 60 at the house and the forecast is for thunderstorms this afternoon and rainy for the next few days. SYC has the Spring Work Bee today. Last night we went to Giani Fig in South Deerfield to celebrate Gerri's 68th birthday. 

The Practice:

I started inside with reading a poem from Evidence and acoustic guitar practice.

Next I went out to the patio in front of The Barn and started with a full round of The 10+ focused on using self discipline (as opposed to motivation) to stay consistent. I focused on overall health, agility, balance and breathing.

Next I did a Round (left side) reciting the Taiji Classics during Part I. I tuned into whole body Song and abdominal breathing in and out through the nose. I monitored my breathing throughout the Round.

Next I did a short session of basic standing.

Next I did a round of Anyo Pito tuned into direction and correct sequence. I've noticed the similarity of the form and some of the Shotokan forms that I've seen. It makes sense since Prof. Presas initially studied Shotokan Karate and Judo.

Next I did a round of Sunsu Kata focused on the quality of my techniques.

I finished with Healing Qigong.

Friday Practice

 

The Details:

It's 54 at the house and forecast to be a rainy day. It wasn't raining but it was wet and cold, so I decided I'd practice inside, up in the loft. It's Friday so I have an 8:30-9:00 video meeting with Jeff.

The Practice:

I started with a reading from Evidence.

Next I went upstairs and did a round of The 10+ as I was waiting for Jeff. (he overslept). I focused on consistency and overall health.

Next I did a round of SPT on my Bosu Ball. I used the Taoist sequence of the most challenging postures in the middle and the least challenging postures at the beginning and end.

Next I did a Round (right side) focused on observing from a meditative state of mind and monitoring my breathing in and out through the nose. 

Next I did a round of Anyo Apat focused on the quality of my techniques and applications.

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

I finished with Healing Qigong.

Thursday Practice - Day 8,706 -

The Details:

It's 44 at the house. I've got an appointment with Bay State Audiology in Greenfield and a 1 pm service for Mike Sexton at Beaver Meadow Cemetery. Busy morning!

The Practice:

I set up my bluetooth speaker coupled with my MP3 player in The Barn so I could practice to Master Liang's Taiji Music with him counting.

No warm up today just a Round to the music focused on No Conscious Thought and staying with the sequence. The count and music keeps you honest. I had to pause at the end of Part II and when I came back to finish Part III I had a little trouble staying with the count at the end. I used the trouble to practice equanimity.

Next I did a resistance training session using TRX Straps and dumbbells.