Coronavirus updates re T'ai Chi classes

Great river and The T'ai Chi Centre students and friends, I do hope you are well and safe, wherever you are.

I am home to London 3 days early as I cancelled this weekend's Gothenburg sessions in consultation with the students, as the situation regarding public health advice in Sweden was changing very rapidly. I am very glad I made this choice as I do not wish anyone to get ill due to my lack of diligence. I miss the students and send you warmest greetings. BA price-gouged the flights and charged me a cool £550 to come home. Exploitation has many faces, sadly. Last month I arranged a few months sabbatical from teaching in Aberdeenshire, and now it seems I would have ghad to cancel the travel and workshops anyway due to outside forces. What strange times we live in.

I have been asked by a Swedish student to consider Skype sessions for those abroad and for those who have specific questions they would like to work on, or things they would like to see demonstrated. I will consider this all week and post something next weekend. I think given the current worldwide situation, this could be a good idea. I have not used Skype in this way before but I have enjoyed using Zoom, so watch this space, literally, and I will come up with something. I will also record any video clips students need and send them by Dropbox, just get in touch if there is something you need. My phone is perfectly good enough for this job. Flexibility is the movement of Tao, after all...

Mark's classes in London, and plan for the Summer and Autumn workshops are so far not changing, you are welcome to contact him if you have any questions.

My Tooting Lido classes will continue this week and I will ask the students if they would like to carry on weekly, or pause and resume after Easter break, as circumstances allow. The hall is hygienic, roomy and we all have plenty of space there. I provide hand gel and there are excellent hand wash facilities, so I am minded to turn up this week on 18th and see what folks think. We will however pause our study of partnerwork and continue with solo practice. There is plenty to be getting on with!

Lastly, spare of thought for the gig workers, including T'ai Chi teachers, artists, craftspeople, musicians, actors, workshop instructors and choir leaders, etc all around the world who teach and lead groups of people in person, and whose livelihoods are now very precarious. I am lucky, I have boat and lowish overheads, almost all my work is now cancelled, but I have plans in place, as I have always thought a situation like this would arise one day and prepared accordingly. The spring season is often the busiest time for makers and organisers of events, and suddenly this is all cancelled. If you are someone with a regular salary and and good healthcare, now is the time to be reaching out to friends whose work has dried up, and buying that vase from them you always wanted, or joining their Patreon, or booking a Skype lesson, and so on. I will be organising something in solidarity with my other self-employed friends over on my art life Instagram @foundandground and you are very welcome to have a look.

To all who read this, stay safe, check in with the vulnerable ,and be well. Get in touch any time.

Dance study, Part the Wild Horses Mane

Northern posse

Dates for 2020 at the T'ai Chi Centre - Easter hols added

Here's all the dates for this year's events. All the great River only dates with Caroline are on a separate post.  I have not been posting much here due to weight of work and having another delightful cold. I love not driving, but much time on public transport means if I've just missed one cold germ then another one will be along in 5 minutes...

The last Tuesday class of this term will be 24th March. Holiday dates for class break for Easter in London are 31st March, 7th and 14th April, when there will be no Tuesday classes. These weeks there will also be no Weds or Thurs classes with Mark. Classes resume 21st April.

The 15th Annual Summer Intensive runs from 25-31st July 2020, with optional partnerwork on evening of Friday 24th. Same venue, details and arrangements as last 3 years. Price tbc in coming days. All are welcome on the Saturday, even if you've only been studying a year or so. We hope to contact many old T'ai Chi friends and colleagues so that they can join us for a 15yr celebratory day of basic practice, with plenty of tea and cake too. If you have old T'ai Chi pals you haven't seen for a while, do let them know they'll be very welcome for some Short Form, sticking and more. Details soon. I organise the logistics for this course, so any questions feel free to get in touch.

October Workshop will be 4 day this year rather than 3, by popular request. 10-13th October 2020, with optional weapons session eve of Friday 9th. Mark will stay on to teach 3 days of 121s in Scotland for those who want them. Davina organises things for this course, so if you have any local questions get in touch with her. Also - huge thanks to Davina for over a decade of seamless Aberdeenshire admin for both Mark and myself.

There will be no London classes with Mark during these two workshop weeks, but Wednesday morning Tooting classes with Caroline will not be affected.

121 classes are available with Mark any time at his studio near Hampton Court.

Great River tutors in London and Aberdeenshire are available to give one-off T'ai Chi sessions for organisations, get in touch if you'd like to know more. We also run regular classes in Gothenburg, and run workshops in Sweden in March and November.

Swedish sessions next week

On Friday evening on 1st November I will be teaching an introduction to T'ai Chi pushing hands in Gothenburg, Sweden. If you'd like to come along, drop an email to caroline at greatrivertaichi dot co uk
On the Saturday and Sunday sessions with the regulars and guests, we will be doing more advanced pushing hands, spiral rotations and Long Form. Looking forward to seeing the crew.

After that I will be heading to west to teach Wild Inks at A School Called Home.

See you soon.

Gothenburg sessions

Thanks to the Swedish crew for great work. We finished the in-depth revision of Short Form, with applications. Next Autumn, or possibly before if I am back in Sweden, Long Form...
Photos below: yielding exercises, and Short Form refinements.

Next Gothenburg workshops

I'll be there 23rd and 24th February, after a little trip to see friends elsewhere in Sweden too. I am looking forward to seeing everyone.

Aberdeenshire this weekend

I am back from Gothenburg but won't get a chance to post pics until tomorrow on the train to Aberdeen, as frankly I don't have one minute not accounted for, this month... However, it was a wonderful trip, great T'ai Chi with the students, friends seen, and much to come share and try out in Scotland. I have one 121 space left for Sunday morning, if anyone wants it. Hi to those in warmer climes who won't be with us this time... See you Friday night.

Next Gothenburg workshop

The next Gothenburg T'ai Chi workshops will take place 3-4th November. This is primarily for the study group in Sweden who have been working with me (and Mark at the Summer Intensive) for many years now. However, if you have experience for Long Form Yang Style T'ai Chi and pushing hands, and wish to come along, get in touch regarding suitability.

I am looking forward to seeing the group and doing some more great work together. I will also get my first chance to visit friends in Sweden and hopefully teach a taster class while I am there. More details soon.

Gothenburg

Thanks to the great Swedish students for their good work and lovely company. See you in the summer at Mark's workshop.

Gothenburg ahoy!

I am really looking forward to teaching the 'famous five' students This weekend. I have been given my itinerary! I shall turn up, and teach what has been requested :)

I may also add my own surprises!
See you Saturday 10am.

Workshops with Caroline

I am particularly looking forward to coming up to Aberdeenshire this weekend, and also over to Gothenburg next weekend. Lots of great things to share, and of course, nice things to eat!
Hang on in there everyone, spring will come.

Last workshops of the year

Thanks to all the students in Gothenburg and Aberdeenshire for great work and hospitality. I am attempting to take it easy for the weekend, but will crack on with the calendars on Monday, and they will be ready for January. Mark's classes resume 9th January. Have a peaceful and joyful Solstice, Christmas and New Year.

The view though the window as I taught

Sabre applications

uprooting

Gothenburg

We studied Short Form in great depth.

Thanks guys! See you March 2018.

Gothenburg

I will be teaching in Gothenburg this weekend, focusing on getting the Short Form to a high level, by request. there will also be some pushing hands. looking forward to seeing the crew!

Principle and Relationship

Last weekend teaching in Gothenburg we were working on softness in outreaching and connection, and maintaining our centre-line (uprightness). 

One way to describe this is that softness (the possibility of yielding) is our relationship to others. Uprightness (integrity) is our relationship to ourself. 

Of course, one quality is nestled inside the other, ad infinitum. But it's a good place to start. 

Gothenburg this weekend

I will sadly miss the Sword session as I will be in Gothenburg, there were just no other dates that worked for everyone. However, I am really looking forward to seeing the Swedish crew and getting their Form, Push Hands, Heartwork and Chi Gung going. Also, I am looking forward to fika.

Gothenburg and Shetland workshops

In my ongoing project to teach only in places with a high probability of damp, cool weather, I'll be teaching two days of workshops on 10am-5pm 1-2 April in Sweden. It's for a group who have studied with both me and Mark before. If you'll be in Gothenburg and want to attend, let me know. It won't be suitable for beginners, but for those with some experience.

Later this year I will be teaching some private 121s in the north west of Shetland from 4-7 July with someone who studied with John Kells many years ago. There will also be a chance to have an open session for any folks to attend. Do let me know if you are interested, date and time TBC.  No experience is necessary. 

I have actually taught T'ai Chi twice in warm places. My first ever lesson where I taught an adult was a to saddhu whilst travelling near Manali in India in 1989. The second time was by Lake Garda with Simon a few years ago. Both were great. Balmiest since then was probably 9 years of summers in Hackney, but hardly scorchio. 

New T'ai Chi class in Gothenburg

In February, my good friend and long-time student Jonathan Monks, who also studies at The T'ai Chi Centre with my teacher, will finally start teaching his own classes in Gothenburg, Sweden. These classes will be open to complete beginners, so if you want to try T'ai Chi, now is your chance. He is an excellent teacher, has great T'ai Chi to pass on, and really understands posture, the benefits of softening, and connection. Here's a link to the details.

Jonathan, exiting stage left as I do Press.

Rolling split in Ward Off Right.

Split happens (to Johan) in old style Roll Back.

Sadly I have had to cancel this weekend's classes in Gothenburg. I hope to teach there again at some point in the future. Thanks to Anna for her help.

Gothenburg workshops

 

T'ai Chi With Caroline Ross, Gothenburg, Sweden April 13-14 2013
10am-1pm, both days: workshop, push hands, Wabu, Talu, front heart and back heart.

Beginners T'ai Chi workshop Saturday April 13, 1.30pm-4.30pm.

We will learn basic T'ai Chi exercises and examine connection, presence and soft adherence.
 

Venue: Brunnslyckan, Thorild Wulffsgatan 22, Göteborg.

Next Swedish Dates

I will next be teaching in Gothenburg over the weekend of 13th and 14th April 2013. Get in touch with Anna via the links to book a place. We will be revising what we have learned and looking at Talu and wabu in the context of 13 postures T'ai Chi. Here's some pictures from last week.

Gothenburg

I will be teaching in Sweden all weekend and Anna said to pass her love on to all the UK students. I hope to teach Ta Lu over the two days, as the class will consist of students who have studied with me before, except perhaps one person. I am really looking forward to going, although not to the cold damp weather forecast for the whole weekend. We will self medicate with fika and long conversations.