If anyone is able to pick myself or Mark up from the airport on Thursday 10th August, that would be wonderful. Dik will also be arriving on Friday, and if he could come to the Ta Lu evening with any of you that would be excellent. Mark and I are not on the same flights due to booking at different times... Also, during the week itself we would be hugely grateful of any help getting supplies and shopping on your way in each day, as I do not drive (apart from the scooter) and Jim will be away most of the time. Do get in touch if you can help at all.
It has finally cooled down here and I am looking forward to an evening of T'ai Chi.
29 July 2006
28 July 2006
BTCCA Pictures
Here's a picture by Steve of some of our posse at the grand opening. I have just a couple of general pics from the weekend and also from class there last Wednesday but can't post them from this PC, so they will have to wait. I don't often think of taking pics during class as my mind is obviously elsewhere, but I know it's great to see just a few glimpses of the T'ai Chi, the people and the work, as it can be inspiring sometimes. On that note, there are some really great posts and pics on Steven's blog at recently, so have a look if you haven't for a while.I have a one to one tomorrow and class on Sunday, but today is a day off so I am catching up on emails and arranging the Summer T'ai Chi retreat. Still some free spaces...
Classes in Aberdeenshire this weekend
Class this Sunday will be at Ev's if fine, and at Paolo & Davina's if not.
23 July 2006
Saturday
Headed up to Camden today to do T'ai Chi and Heartwork with Duncan. I dropped in to Soho first to get some rubber soled shoes to use in the park, as it has rained at last, and the air is fresher and cooler for a wee while. The guy in the martial arts shop has worked there for years, though he appears quite young, and I have heard that he can be unfriendly, but he was incredibly warm and inquisitive about our T'ai Chi, although I can't remember how we got talking about it anyway. I am walking round with the strangest feeling as if there is something big protruding out of my chest into the space in front of me! It seems to be part of me and feels like I am being pulled along by it. No one has yet pointed and stared in horror, so I am not worrying about it...
In the park we did all the Heartwork partnerwork that involed touching, deeming the no-touch work a little too intense for the passing toddlers and mums. Later we did Ta Lu, Wapu and different pushing hands work. Obviously, Duncan could pretzel me in a moment, but that wasn't the point. No-one has his warmth, energy and sheer enthusiasm for life. I showed him some sabre form with the bokken and we worked with that with no fear of gouging holes in anyone's ceiling. Teenagers poured into the park at the end of the afternoon, and by 7pm there was a large bunch of girls jeering us and saying had we learned that stuff from 'chinks'? They soon tired of us so two boys came closer constantly asking for attention, shouting, heckling, swearing, shouting insults, asking if we were 'gay' and trying to seem cool in each other's eyes. What was particularly sad and strange was that one of them said: 'is that T'ai chi' before realising he had sounded uncool in seeming at all interested and peer-pressure made him relapse into his habitual blase behavior.
Just keep remembering so many things from the weekend... Just now recalled John advising us not to be so preoccupied with habitual thoughts or worries about plans, mortgages, work, etc, that you miss the love of your life, or the most precious chance for a unique connection with someone you see every day.
In the park we did all the Heartwork partnerwork that involed touching, deeming the no-touch work a little too intense for the passing toddlers and mums. Later we did Ta Lu, Wapu and different pushing hands work. Obviously, Duncan could pretzel me in a moment, but that wasn't the point. No-one has his warmth, energy and sheer enthusiasm for life. I showed him some sabre form with the bokken and we worked with that with no fear of gouging holes in anyone's ceiling. Teenagers poured into the park at the end of the afternoon, and by 7pm there was a large bunch of girls jeering us and saying had we learned that stuff from 'chinks'? They soon tired of us so two boys came closer constantly asking for attention, shouting, heckling, swearing, shouting insults, asking if we were 'gay' and trying to seem cool in each other's eyes. What was particularly sad and strange was that one of them said: 'is that T'ai chi' before realising he had sounded uncool in seeming at all interested and peer-pressure made him relapse into his habitual blase behavior.
Just keep remembering so many things from the weekend... Just now recalled John advising us not to be so preoccupied with habitual thoughts or worries about plans, mortgages, work, etc, that you miss the love of your life, or the most precious chance for a unique connection with someone you see every day.
19 July 2006
Heartwork
I have a few moments before leaving to go for my next 121 lesson with Mark, and then off with him and David to the BTCCA tonight for the first regular Heartwork class. It is impossible to put into words how moving and exceptional the weekend's events were. Speaking with Mark last night I said it felt like there was so much more wonder in my life now. Far from there being a whole bunch of things I have learned and am busy assimilating, it's quite the opposite. Who is a stranger anymore if you can walk into a room of 60 people and already feel viscerally connected? What is it that when you allow yourself to lean back into it, your heart feels like it is bursting forward?
Whatever is inside the Heartwork we all worked with this weekend has the most wonderful effects. I have never felt more full of energy or alive, despite the incredible heat here, which normally saps all my strength. I met folks this weekend who I hope to know all my life. It was wonderful to see the Aberdeen posse in such fine form, open to everything. For me it was lovely to work with old T'ai Chi friends like Duncan and Kevin in whole new ways. I have run out of words now, as they seem to be only dull shadows cast by what I really mean.
Whatever is inside the Heartwork we all worked with this weekend has the most wonderful effects. I have never felt more full of energy or alive, despite the incredible heat here, which normally saps all my strength. I met folks this weekend who I hope to know all my life. It was wonderful to see the Aberdeen posse in such fine form, open to everything. For me it was lovely to work with old T'ai Chi friends like Duncan and Kevin in whole new ways. I have run out of words now, as they seem to be only dull shadows cast by what I really mean.
13 July 2006
New Class at Garioch Sports Centre
I have just confirmed a new T'ai Chi class in Inverurie on Wednesdays from 4-5.30pm or 4.30-6pm starting 6th September. It will run in two terms until Xmas with a break for Tattie Holidays 18th and 23rd October. This class will be open to all including absolute beginners and you can contact the centre on 01467 626141 for details. I do not yet have the prices but will post them on the website as soon as I do. We will have a very nice quiet carpeted room, a little brighter than some others we use. If any senior students wish to come along for free and assist, let me know.
10 July 2006
Grand Opening of BTCCA
It seems marine Ices is not open until noon, so we won't be meeting there before the GO.
Just a note to any of my students who usually wear those nice warm tibetan shirts. They'll probably be too hot, so a dark T-shirt would be better, and prevent us looking like a gang of extras from a 1970's martial arts movie!
I have been going to all the classes mark teaches, assisting with beginners, revising and learning sabre form, working on push hands lots, doing a bit of long form and I will be having my 2nd 121 this evening. Now the heatwave has passed it will be easier to meet up with folks to do T'ai Chi together.
Fell free to contact me on my mobile or by email.
Just a note to any of my students who usually wear those nice warm tibetan shirts. They'll probably be too hot, so a dark T-shirt would be better, and prevent us looking like a gang of extras from a 1970's martial arts movie!
I have been going to all the classes mark teaches, assisting with beginners, revising and learning sabre form, working on push hands lots, doing a bit of long form and I will be having my 2nd 121 this evening. Now the heatwave has passed it will be easier to meet up with folks to do T'ai Chi together.
Fell free to contact me on my mobile or by email.
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