What is Tai Chi Chuan ?
- Tai Chi Chuan was a famous Martial Art in China and has become a fantastic health exercise today. Composed of a series of postures performed in a smooth connected and flowing pattern, this low impact exercise has been called the "Perfect Exercise".
- As it has been handed down through each generation, Tai Chi has been divided into unique branches depending on the families that were teaching it.
Wu Style Tai Chi Short Form
This form comes directly from Taoist Lineage Holder, Bruce Frantzis with its use of higher stances and smaller movements it is one of the best forms suited to our modern times.
You will be learning the first section of this Wu style Short Form which will take you up to a posture called single whip and include what is called "Grasping the Sparrows Tail". This is a particular series of postures and is considered to be one of the foundation exercises and is used in every variation of Tai Chi.
Given the time frame we have and for our purposes, this part of the form, will create a container in which you can learn and experience deeper skills that can be found in Tai Chi. It will also serve as laboratory of sorts where you can test and refine any new Internal Skills before you integrate them into the rest of your particular form.
You will be learning the first section of this Wu style Short Form which will take you up to a posture called single whip and include what is called "Grasping the Sparrows Tail". This is a particular series of postures and is considered to be one of the foundation exercises and is used in every variation of Tai Chi.
Given the time frame we have and for our purposes, this part of the form, will create a container in which you can learn and experience deeper skills that can be found in Tai Chi. It will also serve as laboratory of sorts where you can test and refine any new Internal Skills before you integrate them into the rest of your particular form.
Internal Skills
Classically called Neigung, these skills involve the "stuff" that happens under your skin. How do you train the tendons, ligaments & tissues of the joints and blood vessels, even all the way to the fluids inside those structures.
What at first glance may sound esoteric ends up actually being a highly specific training methodology for these subtle structures inside your body, using that more than the muscles and bones, for power and to drive the
movements of the form.
Often called the hidden "Secrets" of Tai Chi, when in fact they are just natural human body reactions that get trained to a high degree of functioning. It is in training these "Internal Skills" that Tai Chi's power to heal comes from.
What at first glance may sound esoteric ends up actually being a highly specific training methodology for these subtle structures inside your body, using that more than the muscles and bones, for power and to drive the
movements of the form.
Often called the hidden "Secrets" of Tai Chi, when in fact they are just natural human body reactions that get trained to a high degree of functioning. It is in training these "Internal Skills" that Tai Chi's power to heal comes from.
As you work your way through learning the outside shapes and postures and how to move between them, Aaron will weave in various Internal Skills or Neigung.
Including Alignments from the gross to the more specific and refined, including the leg, torso and arm. Alignments serve two major functions, one is to create a stability in your body that will allow you to relax. Every one I have ever taught has a hard time relaxing when they are about to fall down.
The second reason that Alignments are so important is that they allow the maximum flow and communication between various body parts, and we all know truth in the old phrase
"the whole is greater than the sum of the parts."
Opening and Closing , specifically the joints of the body, is another foundation practice that seems to have been either forgotten or misinterpreted so far. This ability to consciously control and influence the space between your bones can have dramatic and systemic effects especially on mobility, and more importantly circulation.
For those that have more experience with this skill, Aaron will dive deeper into how to how to affect the fluids in the joint vs the physical structure and then how to train both combined.
While we will not have time to focus on every joint, you will learn the basic methodology and training practice, that you can take with you and apply later in your studies and practice.
Lengthening and Bending & Releasing go hand in hand even though they are two separate skills, both offering very positive effects for the practitioner of either.
Lengthening the soft tissues of your body can set the stage and support greater flexibility as well as increased fluid and energy flow.
Once you have a sense of lengthening the soft tissues of your body,
Bending & Releasing is the natural progression.
This particular skill helps develop a sense of soft structure and lead you in to developing an elastic and spring-like quality of the body. In other words, it has been known to put the bounce back into a person's step.
Once you have a sense of lengthening the soft tissues of your body,
Bending & Releasing is the natural progression.
This particular skill helps develop a sense of soft structure and lead you in to developing an elastic and spring-like quality of the body. In other words, it has been known to put the bounce back into a person's step.
Who Should Attend?
- The Complete Novice - This will be a great place to begin your Tai Chi journey. you will walk away with a fantastic personal practice as well as a clearer understanding of where the practice of this art can go.
- The Intermediate Tai Chi Player - This would be someone that has been practice for sometime and is looking for new elements to add into your practice.
- The Advanced Practitioner - I can guarantee that you will walk away with at least one new skill that can enhance whatever your personal practice is now. I have helped many teachers with over 30 years of experience find new skills and capacity.
- The Tourist - This will be a fantastic retreat from the hectic day to day drudgery. Nothing better than spending a few days away from it all with a group of healthy minded folks enjoying a gorgeous place.
Regardless where you are or what your goals, I hope you can join us.
Location & Accommodations
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Rydal Hall Rydal, Ambleside, Cumbria, LA22 9LX United Kingdom In order to provide a stress free environment in which to learn and grow, all accommodations are included with various room options available. |
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