Thursday Practice

I went to Hatfield to work with Paul this morning.

Before I drove down to Hatfield, I did a short Warm Up and a Round (left side) in the driveway.

When Paul came home he was a bit tired and needed a few minutes to regroup. We did a very light workout starting out with a short Standing using Wuji focusing on alignment from feet to the top of the head.  What I'm calling "Squaring yourself away". Simply organizing your body (no twisting please) and getting you balance before you start to move. It's the 'preparation' in the Tai-Chi Solo Form. 

I encouraged Paul to keep his eyes focused on one spot and to keep the top of his head parallel with the ground. After he got himself "Squared away".....Then start walking with eyes and head up, allowing his arms to swing naturally (ala #6 Exercise). Looking to move fluidly and relaxed without effort!

Next a little "Pulling the Ch'i" 

Then the first couple of movements of the Tai-Chi Form, focusing on the introduction, striving to have BIG and OPEN movements. Paul was really trying!! and getting results too!

Next Single Hand Push-Hands on both sides with BIG and OPEN movements. 

The for Paul is BIG and OPEN movements throughout!!

Wednesday Practice

It's hot out already this morning....

September in Leyden is usually cool, at least during the night and early morning. 

But not this year.....Yikes! 

I started this mornings practice in the living/dinning room because it was cooler than anywhere outside and I was watching my trusty practice partner Echo! My practicing has become ho hum to Echo....He's seen it all before....It's just a regular, ordinary part of everyday life on GilRoy Hill. 

After a Warm Up of The 10+ Exercises and a round of The 21 (Tai-Chi Qigong) with Hun/Haah Breathing using the long Haah sound. 

Next I went downstairs to the basement because it's the coolest part of the house and I wanted to experiment with leaving Echo on his own upstairs. There was a little whining at first but then he was silent. I managed to get a Round (left side) in. I was focused on the principles from the Tai-Chi Classics and Wu Wei (relaxed effort)

 

Next up....Guitar practice with my Gibson ES335 Dot. Brinker bought this guitar back in the late 90's early 2000's. I inherited it in 2006 after he passed. I've owned it for 17 years, it's just starting to feel like it's mine. The more I play it the more it becomes me and visa versa.....

Later I did Drum Set practice in The Barn using the metronome app on my phone. I started working on the Be Bop rhythm on the ride cymbal and then hi-hats. 

I have the Tama bop kit set up in The Barn. I'm liking the 18" bass drum when it's slightly miked with a D112 low and off center, I've got a little pillow at the bottom of the drum slightly touching both the both front and back heads and an additional strip of felt across the front head 3/4 of the way down. I started using a 'Zoro' square felt beater ball with a Tama bass drum pedal last year. It has a more positive feel to it with a similar rebound. All in all a more pleasing sound a nice to play too.

Tuesday Practice

 

I went in to The Studio this morning to teach the 8-9:30 am T'ai Chi Ch'uan class. I had four show up; Sally, Janee, LJ and Read.

I used Master T. T. Liangs 'counting' to illustrate and explain the paradox of completing a posture by stopping/not stopping between beat 4 and a half and the 1 of the next posture. There is a very small (time wise) state of Wuji (actively doing nothing and creating space) at the very end of each movement. 

After discussion we went on to The 10 Exercises for a Warm Up.

Then a Round (right side) focusing on transitioning from Wuji to Tai-Chi and back to Wuji.

After class I stayed until 11 ish and worked on the Tai-Chi Jian Form and sword basics with Janee and Read.

I needed to back home as I had a 'jam' set up for 2-5

                                              Music in The Barn with these guys is so much Fun!!

Monday Practice

 

                                                  #2 Exercise in the driveway                                    

Beautiful weather today....Happy Labor Day!

I started my practice in the driveway with a full Warm Up; The 10+ Exercises, Wall Squats, Master Choi's Bagua Zhang Standing Set....#7 using Hun/Haah Breathing, HuiYin Breathing and Reverse Breathing. I focused on Song Gong.

I had several interruptions during my Round (right side) but was able to re-connect to the 'feeling'. Today I focused on 'getting out of the way'. I did monitor (from a meditative mind set) the beginning, middle and end of each posture. 

Sunday Practice

                                                             Double Jian w/ Tassels

I'm meeting with Jeff at 10am this morning. I started with a short Warm Up and a Round (right side) in the driveway before he showed up. 

When Jeff came we talked about refining postures in general and specifically in the Forms that are taught at JRRMAS (J. R. ROY MARTIAL ARTS STUDIO), focusing on the Yang Style 150 T'ai Chi Ch'uan Solo Form. 

Each posture has a beginning, middle (transition), and end. 

The 'end' of the posture is where you would take a photo for a book describing that particular Form. 

In T'ai Chi Ch'uan practice, the end of the postures contains Wuji (stillness) for a fraction of a second. 

*One of the greatest paradox of T'ai Chi Ch'uan practice: To the casual observer, one should appear to 'flow' unceasingly (like a great river) from movement to movement, very fluid. However the practitioner is conscious that at the end of each movement there is a moment of stillness as Tai-Chi becomes Wuji and back again. Stop but don't actually stop! Good luck!!

First step is sequence after one is comfortable with the sequence then the task changes to refinement. 

There is no end to refinement. 

To refine anything: 

Initially takes conscious thought and effort.

A goal is to embody the principles with the ability to have the principles in place without conscious thought or effort. 

The skills and the quality of your 'Tai-Chi Body' becomes effortless and instantly accessible. 

Mastery demands correct iterations. 

Progress is paradoxical, cyclical as opposed to linear. 

There are 'quantitative leaps' as in water boiling or freezing. It appears as if nothing is happening, then all of a sudden....Bam! 

The resulting skills and the quality of your body movements are just the tip of an iceberg of effort.  

Techniques for refining postures 

Holding postures 

Looping single movements to repeat 

Two person partner work

Learning applications

Then we talked about the beginning - middle - end to each movement. 

I applied that to Single Hand Push-Hands

Next we reviewed the Tai-Chi 13 Spear Set (left side)

Some solo Spear basics w/ both sides

Then we spent a few minutes on the Modern Arnis, give and take knife drills. 

First the w/ x-block, then the ice pick

The Dance

Saturday Practice

 

                                         Knife Flowers with two Jian w/ Tassels 

                                      Stab to Knee with Jian (double edged straight sword)

I practiced in the driveway this morning. I brought a speaker for classical music and tea.

I started with Tai-Chi Jian practice, first the Form and then basics with the left hand then I moved on to Tai-Chi Dao Form (Broadsword) and basics with the left hand. 

Next I did a Double Jian practice w/ Tassels

Next I did a Round (left side) focusing on The Tai-Chi Classics.

Friday Practice

 I practiced on the deck this morning. I wanted easy access to classical music and tea. Echo joined me for the Warm Up. 

I added a full Deck Railing stretch and the Cheng T'ing Hwa Bagua Zhang Single Leg Standing set.

I finished with a Round (right side) focusing on proper stretch/release of my fascia and it's effect on the Vagus Nerve. I monitored the alignment of my bones throughout the Round.

I did a Healing Qigong and Standing Meditation at the end.

Afterwards I took my BMW motorcycle for a 'joy ride'. Motorcycling remains the most dangerous thing I do on a regular basis. 

Thursday Practice

 

I started out doing a short Warm Up a little Standing Meditation and a Round (left side) on the deck.

Afterwards I drove down to Hatfield to work with Paul C. We started with a discussion on where to practice, and what he thinks is 'working' for him. What does he gravitate towards when he is exercising. I also reviewed the sheets and exercises that the PT specialist is giving him. I noticed that the PT exercises encourage a BIG OPEN feel to all the exercises and I pointed out that the person demonstrating the exercises was fully "squared away" (good Wuji posture) before starting any of the exercises. We brought that BIG OPEN feeling to our Tai-Chi practice.

We started with Single Hand Push Hands on both sides. Striving to 1. Look eye to eye 2. Eventually when he felt comfortable and balanced to close the eyes and go on feeling alone. Once he closed his eyes, his body 'squared away' much better than with his eyes open.

Next we worked on Bagua Circle Walking. This morning it seemed like too much to try and circle around my nap sack. So we just stuck to 'regular' walking as fluid with arms swinging as possible.

Next Paul followed me through the first half of Part I a few times. Attempting to use Big Open postures. I felt he was fully engaged in trying to get his postures more open and less collapsed. 

When we came down stairs I pointed out a few things I've noticed to Jean: 

1. I thought the PT exercise 'get up out of the chair' (functional exercise) was the most important of the batch. 

2. That Paul should attempt to be fully 'squared away' posture wise (Wuji) before he attempts any of the PT exercises. That 'squared away' is in the preparation for Tai-Chi and Qigong practices.

Wednesday Practice

Qigong practice by the sea - Eastport ME - A few years back.....

Odd day, Echo had his last Heartworm shot yesterday. He's doing better but it's been a tough 48 hours. I'm off for my annual physical later this morning. Oh boy!

I had a tough time approaching my daily practices today so I decided to so a short Warm Up and a Round (right side) with a Healing Qigong and a little Standing at the end. 

It was one of those "get it done" days with no frills. Some days are just like that. 

Tuesday Practice

 

It's Tuesday so I went in to The Studio to teach the 8-9:30 am T'ai Chi Ch'uan and Qigong class.

Before class formed I used the time to review the Tai-Chi 13 Spear Set with the long pole and the plastic practice spear tip. 

I had five join me Read, Sally, Nancy, LJ and Janee. I had to leave promptly at 9:30 but Janee and Read worked on the Tai-Chi Jian Form after class. 

We focused on the relationship between fascia and vagus nerves, using a stretch/release technique as a means of accessing the parasympathetic nervous system inducing a deep state of inner calm. 

Monday Practice

 

I have Echo duty this morning so I practiced on The Deck. Echo has a Heartworm shot at 11:15 this morning. 

I started with a Full Warm up using The 10+ Exercises to which I added a Deck Railing Stretch, Four Way Slow Kicks and Cheng Style Bagua Zhang Single Leg Standing Set. 

I then did a Round (left side). I'm still researching the feeling from the slight stretch and release of my fascia and it's effect on the Vagus Nerve. I'm going to do more research on that relationship later today. 

After my Round I did a full Spear review, with the exception of the Bagua Spear Set that I've been working on. Maybe later today? After we get back from the heartworm shot. 

Sunday Practice

 

Green Tea and Classical music - It's Sunday morning - In solidarity with Master Paul and Sifu Ray - Thinking of you guys! 

I started my practice out in the driveway with Tai-Chi Broadsword

I started by polishing Master T. T. Liangs Broadsword. I was gifted the right side of Master Liangs personal Double Broadswords back in the early 2000's by Sifu Ray during my last visit to the Twin Cities for a demo that they had organized. For my part in the demo I performed the Tai-Chi Cane Form.

After polishing it I worked on the Tai-Chi Broadsword Form and some left side basics.

I started my round in my main practice spot but the mosquitoes drove me inside The Barn.

I continue to focus on feeling the effect that gently stretching (proper amount of stretch is imperative) my fascia, especially in the:

- neck

- upper torso

- lower torso

- groin/thigh

- feet/calf

and the effect that this gentle stretching of the fascia has on the Vagus Nerve. Once the Vagus Nerves are stimulated I focused on the effect on the parasympathetic nervous system . 

"The vagus nerve is an integral part of your autonomic nervous system. This part of your nervous system controls the things your body does without your conscious input, such as breathing, digesting food, and sweating. 

Specifically, the vagus nerve is part of the parasympathetic nervous system, which calms your body after you've been in a stressful situation. The vagus nerve carries signals from your brain to other parts of your body, like your heart or intestines, to initiate this process."

The vagus nerve provides signals from your brain to your body, regulating your:

• Heart rate
• Taste
• Speech
• Skin sensations
• Muscle sensations
• Immune response
• Respiratory rate
• Blood pressure
• Mucus production
• Saliva production
• Digestion
• Frequency of urination
• Mood

The opposite of the parasympathetic nervous system is the sympathetic nervous system. This is another part of the autonomic nervous system. It helps you enter fight-or-flight mode when needed.

This information comes from: WebMD.com

I did Part III of my Round in The Barn this morning.

Before I started I did a 10 min w/ Chinese Music Balls trying to get them to 'sing'. 

Excellent exercise for hand dexterity and fluid motion between fingers, palms and wrists.

Saturday Practice

 

My trusty Lung Ching Tai-Chi Jian (double edged sword) 

Seven Star Dragon's Well Jian 

This sword was given to me by my students Tom Sokol and Maggie Madden back in the 1980's to replace a sword the was given to my by my teacher Sifu Ray Hayward. Unfortunately my original Jian was stolen out of my office on Wells Street along with a few more personal weapons and a large outside (expensive) J. R. Roy Studio sign I had commissioned back in the late 1970's.

I started my practice today with a full Jian Sword session; Basics and Form

I moved on to work on the Double Dao (Broadsword) Form.

I then did a Medicine Ball session using various weights to do the Tai-Chi Ruler with finger tips (ala B. P. Chan).

I did a short Warm Up and then raked up my main practice area. Then I proceeded to do a Round (left side). About 1/2 way through I was getting bit by mosquito's so I moved into The Barn for Part III.

I continue to contemplate the relationship between the slight stretch/release of fascia and the Vagus Nerve. 

I vocalized The Tai-Chi Classics while doing the Form. I've been getting a lot from:

"Neither excess nor deficiency 

Hollow nor projection

Severance nor splice"

 Notes:

              "To contemplate does not necessarily lead to an answer."

                        Strive to be equanimous with 'not knowing'.

                                                                                           Sifu

Friday Practice

 

It was raining when I first started my practice this morning so I practiced inside looking out at the view. 

I started my Warm Up inside with The 10+ Exercises. After my Warm Up there was a break in the rain so I went outside on the deck to do a Round (right side).

Today I was focused on the connection between the slight stretch and release of the fascia and it's effect on the Vagus Nerve. I'm very interested in this relationship. I had a visceral experience as I focused on Stretch/Release of Fascia....As I continued to focus on that I became more and more aware of a deepening of my meditative state of mind. It felt almost like shifting into a higher gear.....Everything became lighter and more 'spirited'....A wonderful feeling that I've experienced before but it was different this time. There was a deepening of the feeling and instantaneous 'transformation' to this set of movements that I've been practicing since 1978. There was a profound change in the way the Round felt. 

Cool Beans!!

After my round I spent some time on the #1 Change of the second Yin Fu Bagua Zhang Set. I recited the names of the postures out loud.

- Lean on the Horse to Inquire the Way

- Hide the Flowers Beneath the Leaves

- The Wild Goose Leaves the Flock

- (Bagua Guard)

- Mount the Horse and Draw the Bow

- Close the Door and Push the Moon

If you have any insight or information regarding the connection between fascia and the vagus nerve please pass it along. Thanks

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