Many good years

Today this trusty old blog becomes archive-only as it is time to wind it down. I will leave it online as it is a lovely record of much good T'ai Chi from 2006-2023, that's quite something! Thank you to everyone who has read or contributed to this blog over the years. The internet was such a different place then, how things have changed...

Links and info updated 02/11/2024.

In a bid to follow the Classics and simplify life, lessen entanglements and reduce stressors, I am pulling in some of my tendrils in the online world, to concentrate on the roots: real lived life. T'ai Chi informs every aspect of my life and continues to transform every aspect of it in sometimes obvious but more often subtle ways. I spend part of each week with my flatmate and oldest T'ai Chi buddy Duncan Price, which is a great joy. (He, along with David Hurn and Kevin Grey, were the first students of Mark I met on that blessed day I found the T'ai Chi Centre back in 2000. I walked into the garden at Art of Health and Yoga in Balham, London, and knew I had found 'home'. It is a delight to still be friends with these excellent people.) In the autumn I'll be studying some interesting Nei Gong with Duncan. I am also very happy to say he is now organising monthly push hands events in the South West and is teaching his classes in Bournemouth. 

I still study with Mark Raudva at the T'ai Chi Centre, whenever I can get to London or when he comes to visit in the south west. 

I continue to teach T'ai Chi, Chi Kung and Heartwork, privately at my home and also online, this can be found at greatrivertaichi.com. I have begun teaching Heartwork in the USA, details are at my Instagram along with free Chi Kung that I posted for people's wellbeing during lockdowns, all found here. I recently taught aspects of T'ai Chi and Chi Kung in new and diverse contexts, such as multi-disciplinary workshops, weeklong courses in Davon or with the Dark Mountain Collective. This is heartening and rewarding work. 

The Taoist Classics provide the greatest resource and I am rereading the Thomas Cleary editions for the umpteenth time. I hope to write a few long pieces about the links between Iain McGilchrist's The Master and His Emissary and the states of being described in the Classics, over the winter at my Substack Uncivil Savant, where I write about Tao, the embodied life and art where Earth matters. During 2023, paid subscribers get access to monthly Chi Kung lessons and a meet up at the end of the year. Here's a link to the video of a conversation we had at Iain's home in January 2023. 

I now travel to teach art for a large part of the year, when I am not at home writing the follow up to my debut book Found and Ground. Writing and art have overtaken T'ai Chi as my main livelihood, which is wonderful and always interesting. All my art and teaching can be found at FoundandGround.com and at my Instagram. 

As I personally no longer teach T'ai Chi in Scotland or Sweden since Covid lockdowns and life changes brought that era suddenly to a close, it seems more appropriate for a locally-based newsletter or email round-robin to emerge than to continue this format.

In London I recommend Mark Raudva's classes and events which can be seen at www.thetaichicentre.co.uk. If he sets up a blog or similar, I will add the link here. He has an Instagram but currently does not use it much. 

In Gothenburg, Sweden you can study with Christina Fors. 

Kevin Devine's daytime classes continue in South London, he can be contacted at kevin [at] kevindevine [dot] co [dot] uk

In Aboyne, Aberdeenshire you can study with Anneke Stolte who can be contacted at annekestolte [at] hotmail [dot] co [dot uk

In Kintore, Aberdeenshire you can study with Scott Allan who can be contacted at activeresources [at] sky [dot] com

In Monymusk, Aberdeenshire you can study with Paolo Marioni who can be contacted at paolo [at] greatrivertaichi [dot] com

Kevin Grey provides superb TCM tui na, acupuncture and herbs at his practice in Tooting London. 

I will update this last placeholder post as and when any links or details change, as best I can. 

May I take this opportunity to thank every student who has studied with me, for however long, for their attention and energy. Thanks also to all those who have instructed for Great River T'ai Chi over the years and to those who now run their own classes or schools. May you have as a rewarding and heartening time as I have done. 

You can contact me via my website home page any time. 

Warmest good wishes to all who read this, yours, Caroline Ross.

Great River T'ai Chi School, founded 2002.

Picture, sunset from the end of my road, January 2023.

Autumn workshop with Mark

The Autumn workshop with Mark will run at Fetternear Hall 21st - 24th October. Paolo is finalising the schedule for 121s and group sessions, so if you want to book one of those then please let him know as soon as possible.

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.

Summer workshop starts tomorrow!

From 2pm Leander Sea Scots Hall, same as the past 5 events. All welcome. 

I was hoping to be there tomorrow and Sunday, but tarin strikes means I won't get there until Sunday. I am looking forward to seeing all who come. 

be very interested with your heart

'Heart and Soul'

Memorial for Chris Laver

Mark and I attended the memorial for Chris yesterday in Totnes at his home where he'd lived with Nina, his widow. People spoke so movingly about him, his passion for life, including travel, steam trains, typefaces and T'ai Chi. We told people how much he meant to everyone in the schools and how much joy and warmth he brought to every class he came to. It was good to hear so many great stories about his life, from the 1980s squats of London to illegally driving steam trains in Krakow! He is greatly missed, but the impression he made on everyone he met is indelible. A small and beautiful wild meadow area of his garden was created in his memory, and we all planted wild flowers there. If you'd like Nina's address to send something, please feel free to get in touch by email.

Yayoi Kusama at Tate Modern

Travel for Autumn workshop

For anyone planning ahead and intending travelling by train to the Autumn workshop which starts on October 21st, LNER tickets to Aberdeen are now on sale here

Summer workshop dates

The Sea Scouts have confirmed the hall hire for us so we are at our usual venue, Leander Sea Scouts, Kingston Upon Thames, UK. 22-28 July 2023. 2pm-9.30pm daily, with an hour's break for dinner around 6pm ish. 

Bring your own food, rather than big things to share, to make sure you've got something. But it's also fine to bring sharing cakes, snacks or whatever, and up to you whether you partake. Tea will be provided, as usual, and teas and milk are always welcome. Bring hand gel as there will be lots of partnerwork to make up for all the years without it!

As far as we know, camping at the venue is still fine. I will be camping there Saturday and possibly Sunday night.

Cost £50 per day, £25 per half day, (£30 per day, £15 per half day concessions)

Get in touch with Mark for more details or search this blog for 'Intensive' or 'summer workshop' as all the travel and venue details are still the same. 

Chris Laver

Dear friends, On Tuesday I heard from my friend Nina Cadzow that her husband, our dear T'ai Chi brother Chris Laver, died on Tuesday 11th April 2023 of pancreatic cancer. Chris was a wonderful man with such a great sense of humour. I first met him at Great River T'ai Chi classes The Round Chapel when he turned up to come and learn Sabre during my first year teaching there. He had previously studied with John Kells and other students of John. He became a stalwart of the class and was always to be found at Mark's workshops too. He loved weapons applications particularly, and a few years ago when passing through Totnes, where he had recently moved, we spent a happy afternoon doing sword form in his garden. It was then that I met Nina, his wife, who is an artist and pigment person and we became friends. Since 2018 I have stayed with them a few times, the last time in September 2022, when Chris seemed thin, but well, making great work in his printing press and design studio. Chris was a talented and experienced designer and artist with a love of old types and printing paraphernalia. I had been hoping to see him in June, and I will miss him very much, as I know many of you will, who have had the pleasure of spending hours pushing hands with him, for years. 

I am currently in the States and won't always have access to internet until after 23rd May, but I have passed Nina's address to Mark, if you wish to send notes of condolence. 

 

Goofing around in Totnes, March 2018, and a bit of actual push hands

When I get back to a place with wifi next week, I will find a few more pictures to share with you all.

Workshop dates with Mark 2023

Twickenham Spring Intensive 29, 30th April and 1st May, 2-9pm daily, usual venue. Contact Mark for details. 

Summer weeklong workshop dates are just being checked by the Leander Sea Scouts but it is most likely to be Saturday 22nd - Friday 28th July. We should know by Easter and I will post it here as soon as I know.

Autumn Workshop in October will be at Fetternear Hall, Aberdeenshire, as usual, see previous post for details. Contact Paolo to book. 

All workshops cost £50 per day, concessions are available.