Painting Enso workshops, London

Some of last years attendees artwork © Adele Cloony

People in the South may be interested in the Enso painting workshops with Adele Cloony on 9th and 10th September. Click here for more details.

Warmest greetings to all Past Great River students, wherever you may be.

It's almost 10pm and I have just spent 3 hours going back over almost 18 years of this blog, saving some photos, writing, quotes and links that I have been meaning to gather together for quite some while. I was not expecting to be so moved by seeing all our faces getting younger by the minute, as I scrolled back to when I started this blog in 2005, three years after I officially started teaching T'ai Chi.

If you are reading this, and know me from classes, whether very well, or just for a brief time, then I send you my warmest good wishes and hope that this finds you well and well-loved. How incredible it has been to immerse myself in memories of the wider T'ai Chi family by looking through this blog in its entirety for the every first time. There was the news that I was inviting my teacher to come and teach my students at Drumblair Lodge, Aberdeenshire, in the Winter of 2005-6. Wonderful to know that many of you still practise and teach what you have been learning all these years. This makes me so happy.

I recently heard back from Megan, who used to study with Mark a decade ago, and who remembered me as 'always being there'. Indeed! It was good to be able to share lots of what is in the school's Dropbox, so that she can practice at home, now she is far away. Every year someone drops in at Mark's who used to study with John Kells, as happened last week. Mark told me how relieved and at home the student felt being in his class. 

There are so many people I miss, some moved away, some left, some passed on. Everybody left an impression. Some of my old students now study with Mark or Kevin, others elsewhere, others no longer practise. For those that do, I hope that T'ai Chi brings you a still point in your lives. Since the pandemic stopped me teaching in person in March 2020, I have only taught online, and currently I do not teach at all. After 20 years, it was a good time to take a break. Now, nature, writing, teaching craft and making art take up much of my time, but Central Earth is still fundamental. I am waiting for a dear relative to have a place I can stay in London in the near future, and then I will be able to come and study with Mark at Tuesday and Wednesday classes sometimes, with a quiet, safe place to stay, (which is essential for me, since last year's uprooting events). I plan to be at the November workshop if I can find someone who can put me up. 

I had forgotten how much we had all shared here on this blog, news, poems, classes, photos, comings and goings, births and deaths. I intend to leave this blog here, as long as Google leaves Blogger here for free, I guess. If you'd like to be in touch, my email address hasn't ever changed, so you can find me if you want to. In the meantime I can feel it will soon be time to wend my way back to T'ai Chi classes, though probably not teaching in person. I am going to help Mark record an online course, and see how that goes. I may also do a short one for all the chi kung I teach, as it has been so helpful to my friends with long Covid, which was a bit if good news recently. 

I have spent at least 20 years in rooms with people, wonderful people, whether for T'ai Chi, art, or before that, a decade of music indoors in studios. It feels like a combination of time outdoors, family time, and private time is still what calls me at the moment, for a bit longer. So if I don't see you in person very soon, but you are one of the excellent people I have had the pleasure of just seeing scrolling back through this blog, then may I wish you a very fruitful autumn and peaceful winter. Warmest greetings to you from stormy Bournemouth, 

Caro. 

The drawing board this week, putting the final 

touches to my natural paints book which will 

come out next June with Search Press.

The long-awaited 15th Annual summer intensive

Dear friends, at last we are able to announce The T'ai Chi Centre 15th annual summer intensive. It will be a four day event this year, to ease everyone back gently into the workshop habit. We were not able to afford the newly refurbished Petersham premises any more, and the dates we wanted were not free anyway. Our recent venue in Kingston have kindly moved a booking for us to have our preferred last week of July slot and have not raised their prices, for which we are grateful. 

Here are the details so far.

Dates: 2pm Saturday 23rd July until 9.30pm Tuesday 26th July 2022

Times: 2-5pm and 6.30-9.30pm daily

Cost: £50 per day, £25 per session. (Concessions £24 /£12) or anything between these that you can afford.

Address: Leander Sea Scout Hut, Albany Mews, Kingston Upon Thames. (No entrance from riverside, Lower Ham Rd.) Local parking restrictions may apply. No parking at venue. 65 bus stops very nearby. Train: Kingston, 20 min walk.

Food: Bring your own food for the break between sessions. Tea and soft drinks provided.

Nearer the time we will know if anyone can stay in the venue overnight. For now it is best to assume not. We have the venue from 12 noon Saturday until 10pm Tuesday. 

London taichi long weekend with Mark starts tomorrow

 I am looking forward to seeing those coming along to Mark's three day session this weekend in Twickenham. I have a cold (not Covid) that has been bad but is now clearing up, so I hope to be there the whole time. Contact Mark directly for any details. Bring your own food, tea will be provided. Cost is £50 per day or £25 per session. Concession are £24 / £12. Travel well!

London Taichi Long Weekend with Mark in February

All students are welcome to come to 3 days of Taichi in Twickenham taught by Mark at the same venue as 2021's Summer 4 day Intensive. The dates are Saturday 12-Monday 14 Feb, 2pm - 9.30pm, with a break for food between the afternoon and evening sessions. Cost £50 per day, or £25 per session. Tea is provided, bring your own snack for the break. 

Call Mark for further details. It's not 'an intensive', but a chance to have some concentrated study and practice. We look forward to seeing you there.

Mark's Tuesday classes in London

Mark's classes resumed this week after a break for the Scottish workshop. They'll continue until Christmas break. All TCC students are welcome.

Online classes will resume soon when the topics and times have been discussed with those who'd like to come. Get in touch with Mark if there's something you really want to do via Zoom. Of course, there may end up being another lockdown in UK, in which case there may be more online classes, as there were in the last one...

Wishing you all the very best for autumn, from me in Dorset. Thanks to Davina for all her work organising the workshop last week. The pictures look lovely. 

I plan to resume studying with Mark in London this term, hip allowing. See you soon, Caro.

Mark's classes resume in London

The first Tuesday class of term will be held on 7th September at the usual venue from 7-9pm. Class costs £15, all Mark's students are welcome. 

Zoom classes are imminent. Mark has not yet sent me details, but I hope to have them soon.

Tooting Bec lido pavilion class with Kevin Devine

I have now been along to a couple of Kevin's Wednesday morning classes at Tooting Bec lido pavilion, where he has taken over the class I used to run after I moved back to Bournemouth. It is open to all and covers chi gung, short form and warm ups. Kevin is a great teacher and the classes are lots of fun. They run from 9-10am, just turn up at 8.55am and join in, no experience necessary. 

My Tuesday morning short form class by Zoom is still running all year, with only August off for holidays. Get in touch via www.greatrivertaichi.com if you'd like to join. We are up to 'Fair Lady Weaves at Shuttles'.

Taichi class updates in London, online sessions and Summer Intensive news.

Mark's Long Form Tooting classes are now running at the usual venue Trinity Church Hall on Tuesday nights 7-9pm. Class last 2 hours, there is as yet no partner work, due to govt guidelines. Class costs £15.

Wednesday morning Short Form at Tooting Bec Lido Pavilion is running. Kevin Devine now takes the class after I moved back to Bournemouth. Class runs from 9-10am, all are welcome. Class costs £10 or £8 for SLSC members. 

Tuesday morning Zoom class with me is running each week 9-10am, all those with some experience of short form are welcome. We do warm ups, chi kung and short form. Email me or fill in the form via the Great River T'ai Chi website for the link. Class is recorded and can be watched at any time, £5 live or recorded.

Mark will continue to teach online Short Form in detail, Long Form and Left Side sessions by Zoom for the foreseeable future, at the usual dates and times he has been using since January 2021. Class prices are £10 per session. Some sessions are available recorded afterwards, get in touch with Mark for details. 

The Summer Intensive will run differently this year for 4 days. Please let Mark or me know if you plan to come. All students of John Kells, of his students, Mark, me and of all our students are welcome.

The October workshop in Scotland and regular classes for the Scottish contingent will resume as soon as lockdown has been entirely lifted. Mark will be taking over all my previous workshops, but rather than monthly, will probably be travelling every 6-8 weeks or so, in arrangement with the Scottish students. 

Online and recorded sessions, resources and classes are available on our Dropbox, if you want access, just get in touch with me. 

Personal news: I have been away for a while recovering from the events of May and my hip condition, doing an art residency, and spending time in the woods doing bushcraft and traditional skills. I am not online as much as I was, but do plan to return when I feel able to. I have plenty more essays and pieces to add to the new website blog. If you are teaching a class and want it to be listed on the website, please email me the details. In the meantime it has been lovely hearing from you by email. I am still practising much Heartwork, short form and meditation, and as my hip musculature improves, the more advanced forms and practices can make their way back into my life. For now, all situations in life are good opportunities for practice, whether or not they looks like T'ai Chi, they certainly feel like it. I have no plans to start in-person classes in Bournemouth, despite a host of great venues. I still haven't had that planned sabbatical, as Covid and then the ensuing events prevented it. Perhaps it will happen now. Very best wishes to all from sunny Bournemouth. 

News for classes

Zoom classes: Thanks to all who are attending Mark's ongoing online Long Form level classes. From next week the classes will move to Thursdays, from 10th December 7.30-9pm until further notice, so that Tuesday classes in Tooting can resume again. In the New Year we will see which night is best for people for online classes, perhaps Monday so that the Aberdeenshire posse can attend. Sandy says there is a chance Aberdeenshire will be back in tier 3 next week, so perhaps folk will be able to attend by Zoom for the next few weeks on Thursdays anyway. 

Tooting Long Form socially distanced Class resumes Tuesday 8th December, 7-9pm at Trinity Church Hall. Hopefully this will run until Christmas break, covid tier rules allowing. 

Short Form Zoom class with me continues every week at 9am on Tuesdays and the recording goes up on Dropbox within an hour or so. I have also uploaded the narrated full version of the Five Elements Chi Gung, as requested by Scott. Help yourselves. 

I will finally be updating the rather neglected Great River website this winter. If you have any pictures or info you'd like me to add, email them over. I will be in touch with all instructors in good time to see what details you'd like to be listed. 

Mark has been using every minute of daylight to get his boat painted before winter, so we have not had time to record any more videos with him. I have requests for a left side form and some slower solo and partner dance videos, so hopefully these can happen now temperatures are too low for paint to dry!

Have a good week. 

New lessons up on Dropbox and Tooting news

Today's Zoom lesson has everything done with the rear view, as though you were at class with me at the front, by request. Hope this is helpful. I have labelled rear view and today's date for ease of finding. 

Outdoor session yesterday was postponed by heavy rain, and I am away for the next two weeks. Two student shave offered their large back gardens which have side access, for us to have sessions on a Tuesday afternoon, when I am in Tooting anyway. So I will arrange this soon and plan provisionally to begin on 3rd November. More on that soon. 

If you are using the weekly Zoom class recordings, they are £5 each, whether live or recorded, as these are weekly ongoing classes with much prep by me re changing topics, progressing skills, new postures taught and questions answered. All our other resources are free to use / by discretionary contribution. Janet has asked for Mark and I to record a much slower film of the dance partnerwork, and solo parts. We will do that soon. Get in touch with other requests.

121s with Caro

Folks have asked if they can have 121s so that they can get on with their Short Form, or advanced things they are working on. I am not able to do lessons in-person where I live at the moment, but I am happy to do sessions via Skype or Zoom. If there's something you'd like to look at or ask, just get in touch. I am also happy to do short 1/2 hr sessions, working on one main thing, so that you don't have to endure too much screen time, but can get the detail to help you on what you are working on, whether a posture, a quality, some principle, or whatever. Get in touch. It'll be £10 per 1/2hr. 

I thought it would take me longer to get settled and ready to do this, but it seems a week in the woods works magic on me. It always does, not sure I should be so surprised! Pics soon. 

Tooting outdoor T'ai Chi meet up news

I have just uploaded today's lesson to the Dropbox for those studying Short Form, or those who would find it useful. Talking to the class, the problem of 'mirroring' or not mirroring is tricky, which way are we facing? and so on. These problems arise when we have not been able to consolidate things in person in class, by moving together as a group, and getting the forms in our body mind and muscle memory. It is important to remember how challenging it is to learn online something as rich and complex as T'ai Chi, and that you are all doing really well. It's good to get the body moving, and many of the benefits of T'ai Chi simply come from doing the movements, as best we can.

However, to help move things along here is a possibility. The lido pavilion is still not available for classes. Zumba is running outdoors at the pool, but rain is always possible, so it's not an option for me to regularly hire the outdoors space there on a Wednesday morning. However, I am now back in Tooting on Tuesday evenings to study and assist with my teacher. I could certainly spend an hour doing T'ai Chi in the park near the lido carpark. It would not be 'a lesson' (this is not allowed by the park authorities). However, we can do socially distanced T'ai Chi together, in our warm clothes. It would be great to see whoever came along, and for you to get the form back in your bodies. Then we could discuss ways forward to meet outdoors in person. Perhaps someone will have a suitable garden with a side entrance. I am sure something will turn up. Of course, as I am the opposite of a hard marketeer, I do not even have everyone's email addresses from class, being firmly of the 'if they want to come, they'll turn up' school of thought. So if you are reading this and know that old colleagues from the class are not in the Whatsapp or email list, please let people know about this blog post and the planned first meet up next week. All Mark's students are obviously very welcome too.

If no one turns up, I shall do a form, then head to my brother's for tea! Here's the details.

T'ai Chi Short Form informal meet up session 4-5pm, 13th October 2020, within sight of the lido carpark, wherever the ground feels not too boggy! It will run unless heavy rain falls. I will find a good spot... Wrap up warm, especially hats or ear-warmers, bring a flask of tea if you like! We'll make plans for future sessions and outdoor venue. Wear a mask if you like, we won't be touching and will keep 2m distanced. Any contributions will be entirely up to you. See you there!

Lots of news

Zoom classes are ongoing and are all online, including today's class. Join us on Wednesday mornings or download and use at your own leisure, £5 per session. Get in touch for links. I am recording a special class for next week as I will be in the woods on Wednesday... more details soon.

Students studying online, or stuck at home, if there is a resource you would like me or Mark to record, please get in touch, for instance, a form filmed from behind, a mirror image of something... let me know and I will try to sort that within a fortnight. 

Mark's Tuesday classes resumed last night, 7-9pm at Trinity Church Tooting Large Hall. We had social distancing, hand gel, so much space and room, plus all windows and doors open. Masks were won by whoever wished to do so and we followed all church guidelines, the person responsible for safety at the halls visited us and was happy with the set up. You are very welcome to join us, and classes will continue as long as it is allowed by the church, who check guidelines daily and are responsible for the hall use. Each class is just cash / e-payment on the night £15 / £10, as we do not know if 'terms' will resume for some time. Everyone's safety is our concern, so we fully understand those who do not feel able to come. You are welcome to book a socially distanced 121 with Mark, or a Skype lesson if that appeals. It is also still warm enough to practice outside, so if you'd like to meet up at 2-3m distance in a park to do form, that would be ideal. Mark can also teach outside. (I am still not teaching 121s until the spring.)  

On a personal note, it was just so brilliant to be moving in a room sticking to other people's movements. It was great to see everyone and to smile and laugh together. I missed you all!

Thursday class at Hampton Court will run weekly from tomorrow 7-9.30pm. Contact Mark to book a place. The class will run as long as it is legal and safe to do so. 

We were just about to organise an alternative Aberdeenshire workshop venue when the rules changed yet again yesterday regarding Covid. Mark and Davina will be talking very soon and we will post a definitive message here this week. Sadly we have just heard that the October workshops and 121s have been cancelled due to renewed Covid restrictions. Thanks to Davina for all her hard work on the admin side finding alternatives. Mark will arrange something in Scotland as soon as conditions allow it. 

Thanks to all who have been contributing to Mark and myself during this time, and to those paying for lessons. Banks transfers are best as Mark has had some Paypal issues. get in touch if you need either of our bank details. 

Classes this autumn with Mark and Caroline

Mark is waiting to hear back from Trinity Church to see if classes can go ahead on a Tuesday night in Tooting again, and under what protocols. We should know very soon and will post here as soon as possible. 

121s with Mark resume next week and you can book one by calling and texting him direct. If you don't have his number, just drop me a line at caroline at greatrivertaichi dot co dot uk and I will send it to you. Small groups are also possible in Mark's T'ai Chi studio, which is easily kept clean and is not used by anyone else. If you are already meeting up with a couple of T'ai Chi friends, and would like to book a session for up to three of you to study together here, that's totally possible. Just get in touch. 

I will be moving home next week, so for the foreseeable will not be teaching 121s. The Tooting Lido Pavilion class is sadly still not resuming, as the space apparently does not meet the correct ventilation requirements (bizzare, as its huge doors and windows literally open onto the poolside). The space is currently being used for storage and pool staff so they can have socially distanced breaks. Perhaps after the public swimming season ends, and only SLSC members can use it, fewer staff will be present at one time and the venue can resume its movement classes and kids' events. I hope so. It was a lovely short form class. 

Meanwhile I will start teaching this class online again starting next Wednesday 2nd September 9-10am, as planned. All students of Mark and mine are welcome to join in this hour-long class comprising warmups, chi kung, Short Form and questions. We look at a new posture each week or two. We are at Golden Rooster stands on one Leg. The class costs £5 and is also available afterwards on the Dropbox for those who cannot attend at 9am. I hang out online for 15 mins afterwards for those who have any questions or who would like to catch up and chat. I can't tell you what room will be the background yet, but wifi gods allowing, it could be my new boat...

Aberdeenshire classes are subject to different rules, and the instructors will post here when they have details. Very best wishes to all who read this. Mark is doing really well and is almost completely recovered. Thanks for all the good wishes. Caro.

Tooting Wednesday morning classes, term dates

Tooting class, 9-10am each Wednesday continues until Easter break. There will be no class on 8th and 15th April. We return on 22nd April and continue until the end of July.
We will take the whole of the month of August off, with no classes. We return on 2nd September and continue through until the Christmas break.

sticking

London class news, Aberdeenshire and calendars

London Classes with Mark have resumed this week. We go through until Easter. Holiday dates TBC. I will post all the workshop dates on this blog in February.

Thanks to all for a great weekend, Wishing Alistair a speedy recovery too. There are a couple of nice pics form the weekend and I will add them on Thursday when I empty my phone.

Sorry for the duplicate picture in March and August in the calendar this year. I will print the one that was meant to be there and hand it round soon :)

Thought it was all checked and perfect, but print websites move in mysterious ways. Never mind, it's a lovely photo anyway, and as someone said this weekend, they'll have forgotten the march one by August...

If anyone in London wants to meet up and do staff partnerwork with me, get in touch. I have room here.

News

Mark's last classes of term:
Tuesday 17th December, returning 14th January
Wednesday 18th December, return TBC
Thursday 12th December, returning 16th January

Heartwork session 2-5pm this Sunday 8th at Hampton Court.

Caro's workshops all weekend in Aberdeenshire, sessions as usual format. Revised sessions from January, we'll discuss this over the weekend. Looking forward to seeing you all.

Tooting classes with Caro: last class of term Wednesday 18th, returning 8th January.

Beginners class with Mark in Tooting is planned for February, as well as a Sabre class for new weapons students, more details in the New Year.

New beginners session in London

Mark will be starting off a new beginners group in Tooting from 1st week February 2020. It will start at 6,30pm prompt and last 1 1/4 hrs. Please call me on 07732 659104 to register your interest, or email caroline at greatrivertaichi dot co dot uk , as I will be arranging the dates and letting folks know.

Long Form and Dance study will not be affected, and will take place at their normal times. Weapons will continue, with space for people to begin sabre who have not yet done it, likewise with sword.

If you would like to join his class then get in touch with me, even if you have before, as for data protection law compliance reasons, we do not keep your details.

London classes with Mark

Classes resume next week on Tuesday 22nd October and continue until the Christmas break. Mark has been away teaching in Aberdeenshire for the 14th Annual workshop and for 121s.

If you have any queries or questions about private matters, syllabus, or other points or issues you'd like to raise, then let us know as soon as you are able, rather than leaving it a long time. This is just a reminder to say that whatever the matter, both Mark and myself are available to regular students of The T'ai Chi Centre and Great River T'ai Chi by phone or in person. I can also be reached by text and email.

Wishing you a good weekend, Caro.