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“Seek perfection sincerely. Establish life. When you have settled the spirit, you may cultivate the ch’i.”
from T’ai Chi Classics translated by Waysun Liao
For Yang Style Tai Chi Classes in Los Angeles visit https://tcsociety.com
We are extending the Deadline to Friday, May 9, 2014 to sign up for the Alan Kan Tai Chi Retreat.
This is the 26th year of our Tai Chi Retreat. Unfortunately, registration is low this year. To assure this retreat will continue for years to come, we need people to sign up and attend the retreat. The Alan Kan Tai Chi Retreat has always been a very rewarding experience for all who have attended in the past. If this is your first time at the retreat, I’m sure you’ll have a great experience! Please Sign-up!
2014 ALAN KAN TAI CHI RETREAT INFORMATION
Thursday evening – Sunday noon, June 5-8, 2014.
La Casa de Maria, Montecito (South of Santa Barbara)
GREETINGS! Enclosed is information on the 2014 Alan Kan Tai Chi Retreat, Thursday evening through Sunday noon, June 5–8, 2014. The cost covers room and board (except Thursday dinner & Friday lunch), Saturday morning lesson with Master Zhao Yun, Retreat T-shirt and gratuities. We will be staying at the San Ysidro House at La Casa de Maria in Montecito, Ca. Car-pooling is encouraged. Please make your own travel arrangements.
Registration:
Please email your registration to Theresa Shibuya at: dukeandgigi@yahoo.com
Please include your name, address, telephone number and email address, and indicate the the number of nights you will stay.
Costs:
- Three Nights: Lodging for Thursday night through Sunday noon, and meals from Friday breakfast through Sunday lunch. (Thursday dinner & Friday lunch are not included.) The cost is $355.
- Two Nights: Lodging for Friday night through Sunday noon, and meals from Friday Barbeque through Sunday lunch. The cost is $305.
- One Night: Lodging for Saturday night through Sunday noon, and meals from Saturday breakfast through Sunday lunch. The cost is $252.
- Day Visitors: Saturday usage of La Casa’s grounds and facilities, and meals breakfast, lunch and dinner. The cost is $140.
Please mail your check, payable to Angela Seymour and include your name, address, telephone number and email address by May 9, 2014 to:
Angela Seymour
6690 Vista del Mar, Unit A
Playa del Rey, CA 90293
Tel. (310) 821-4115 Email: seynote@earthlink.net
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Please read below for the Registration Policies:
LATE REGISTRATION:
If you wish to register after the deadline (May 9, 2014), a LATE FEE of $50.00 will be applied for overnight stays. A LATE FEE of $30.00 will be applied for late registration of Day Visitors. Late registration cannot be accepted after May 19, 2014.
CANCELLATION FEE:
If you need to cancel on or before May 19, 2014, a full refund minus the cost of the Retreat T-shirt (approx. $25) will be given.
If you need to cancel after May 19, 2014 and/or up to June 5, 2014, a full refund minus the cost of the Retreat T-shirt and meals will be given.
Once the retreat has started (June 5, 2014), a refund will not be available.
CHILDREN:
In order to maintain a tranquil retreat environment, La Casa de Maria does not allow children at retreat functions.
La Casa de Maria asks that parents of children arrange for child care at home while they are on retreat at La Casa.
ARRIVAL:
Thursday Evening: meet at San Ysidro House at LCDM, 5:30 p.m. and together we will go out for dinner nearby.
Friday Evening: BBQ dinner in front of the house 6 p.m. until it gets dark. If you plan to arrive Friday, please arrive as early as possible. Orientation meeting by La Casa (in lieu of registration) follows BBQ.
Expect dormitory bunk bed facility. All bedding supplies and towels will be provided. Ladies’ dorm and bath are upstairs; the men’s are downstairs. First come first served. We generally do not go into town during the retreat.
Bring:- Small flashlight
– Flip flop/robe for dorm-style bath
– Earplugs (?), standard dorm equipment
– Munchies/fruits/drinks to share for the weekend. (We’ll have a refrigerator.)
– Comfortable shoes for walking/hiking and doing Tai Chi outdoors on basketball courts.
– Jacket for cool evenings outdoors to look at a sky full of stars
- Camera and musical instrument if you are so inclined.
- Although bedding is provided, if you prefer you can bring your own sleeping bag.
Also available: Massage (separate cost), unheated swimming pool, tennis court, healthy and delicious meals, hiking trails, meditation room, chapel, fresh air, laughter and the magic of the La Casa grounds.
Programs are usually group activities drawn on our own talents. They tend to be spiritual, philosophical, psychological, creative or just plain silly and fun (ideas and requests welcome.)
Typical schedule from past experience:
Thursday: Dinner out, informal program.
Friday- Tai Chi before meals. BBQ dinner, evening program.
Saturday-Tai Chi before meals. Tai Chi instruction; outdoor activities; evening program.
Sunday – Tai Chi before meals; Tai Chi instruction; outdoor activities before lunch.
Program ends after Sunday lunch.
We look forward to another weekend of great fun and fellowship. If you have any question, please do not hesitate to email anyone of us; Theresa Shibuya at dukeandgigi@yahoo.com, Mark Hiraide at mhiraide@phlcorplaw.com, or Angela Seymour at seynote@earthlink.net.
For more information on La Casa de Maria go to:
See you at the retreat!
Theresa, Mark & Seymour
In motion the whole body should be light and agile,
with all parts of the body linked
as if threaded together.
Attributed to Chang San-feng (est. 1279 -1386)
as researched by Lee N. Scheele
Marionette Detail – Reconnect: ZÃta Rá by Dominic’s pics, on Flickr
Watch FULL SCREEN in HD if possible…
Which do you prefer?
Once you decide to practice Tai Chi in Studio City, CA, one of the most important decisions you will have to make is what style to practice. There are many different styles of Tai Chi to choose from, each of which have many similarities and differences. With that said, no matter which style you choose, you will always reap the benefits of improved health, reduced stress, and increased gracefulness. Let’s take a quick look at the top 5 Tai Chi styles to help you choose which is right for you.
Style #1 – Yang Style Tai Chi
Yang Style Tai Chi is the most popular and widely practiced style of Tai Chi around the world. Within America and England alone, there are over 20 different variations of the Yang style. Each of these variations place emphasis on different technical points, but still have the same basic principles in common. If you are to practice Tai Chi in Studio City, CA with the TCSociety, this is the style of Tai Chi that you will be learning.
Style #2: Wu Style Tai Chi
The second most common style of Tai Chi is the Wu Style. Derived from founder Chuan You, this style only has three main variations. While this style is a variant of the Yang style, it is different in that it emphasizes small compact movements as opposed to the large movements emphasized in Yang style. Together, Yang and Wu Tai Chi comprise over 80% of all Tai Chi schools.
Style #3: Chen Tai Chi
When practicing Tai Chi in Studio City, CA, you might also come across the Chen style. This is the original style of Tai Chi. In fact, it is the style of Tai Chi that the Yang was created from. Unlike most versions of Tai Chi, not all movements in the Chen style are slow. Rather, slow movements are combined with fast and explosive ones. Chen practitioners are much more difficult to find than Yang and Wu practitioners.
Style #4: Hao Tai Chi
This style of Tai Chi is extremely rare. It is very unusual to see it practiced in China, and it is virtually non-existent in the West. This style of Tai Chi places more focus on internal chi movements than it does on physical motions. It is considered to be a very advanced form of Tai Chi that is practiced by only those with a significant background in the art.
Style #5: Combination Tai Chi
After Yang and Wu, combination styles are the third most popular style of Tai Chi. These styles mix and match movements from the other 4 styles. They also incorporate movements from other styles of martial art such as hsing-i and bagua.
As said previously, if you decide to practice Tai Chi in Studio City, CA with TCSociety, you will be practicing the Yang style of Tai Chi. You may also be able to find several practitioners of the Wu style, and possibly even the combination styles. With that said, it will be difficult to find a practitioner who teaches Chen or Hao Tai Chi.
If you were to walk into a room full 25 Tai Chi instructors or students and ask the question "What is Tai Chi Chuan?", you would get 25 completely different answers. This is because Tai Chi is multi-dimensional and each instructor places emphasis on different aspects of Tai Chi in their teachings. Let’s take a look at a few of the different answers that you might receive if you were to ask this question.
When translated, Tai Chi stands for the "Supreme Ultimate Force". It is a form of martial art that not only teaches how to defend oneself, but also teaches practices how to reach an inner sense of calm and peace. When practicing Tai Chi, you will find that it integrates a variety of slow, choreographed movements that are designed to simulate hand-to-hand combat. Depending on your level of expertise, some of these sequences can be as short as 16 different movements. For more experienced Tai Chi practicers, sequences can reach up to 108 movements or more.
There are several different aspects that are characteristic of all Tai Chi Chuan teachings. Here are a few:
1) Relaxation – While many forms of martial art focus on strong, hard movements, each movement performed in Tai Chi is designed to use a minimum amount of muscle activity. This makes it easier for individuals of all ages to learn, as it only places a small amount of tension on your muscles.
2) Slow movements – Tai Chi is a form of self-defense. But to those who practice Tai Chi, self-defense is not all about punching and kicking – it is about developing a self-awareness. According to Tai Chi masters, the slow movements used within the art help you to become more aware of the subtle changes within your body, allowing you to develop an "internal power".
3) Coordination – There are many different styles of Tai Chi, each of which achieve coordination in different ways. With that said, all Tai Chi Chuan styles reach the same consensus that the art form helps the body to work in harmony with itself.
4) Mindfulness – The art of Tai Chi is performed in such as way that the practicer is aware of each movement they make. The quieter your mind is, the more aware you will be. As such, Tai Chi teaches you to clear your mind and focus on what is put before you.
5) Breathing – Breathing is "the link that ties everything together". In Tai Chi, emphasis is placed on deep and natural breathing (otherwise referred to as "abdominal breathing"). Breathing will help you to become more aware, and will help to release stress and tension, bringing your body and mind to an inner peace.
So, what exactly is “Tai Chi Chuan?” It is a combination of many things, making it difficult to sum up in one short article. If you want to learn what Tai Chi is, the best way to do so is practice it for yourself. If you live in the Los Angeles area and would like to try out Tai Chi, contact TCSociety.com today.
Whether we actually do it or not, we all know that exercise is a healthy part of every daily routine. There are many different ways that you can exercise by walking, bike riding, running, climbing mountains, or playing sports. Unfortunately, not all of us are young and fit enough to run a marathon each day. The good news is, you can still exercise! Tai Chi classes in Southern California are considered one of the best ways to exercise each day, without straining your limbs, joints, or muscles.
An ancient form of martial art, Tai Chi looks like a cross between a slow motion ballet and shadow boxing. It combines graceful movements and mental focus together, helping people to improve things such as strength, agility, and balance. Because Tai Chi is a slow moving form of martial art that places a minimal amount of strain on your body, it is considered the perfect exercise for the elderly who may not be able to move well as they once did.
Tai Chi Classes in Southern California hold many benefits including both spiritual and psychological advantages. And while many practitioners praise these benefits, the majority of researchers focus on the benefits that Tai Chi has for the body. According to researchers, Tai Chi is extremely beneficial to anyone, especially older adults who are relatively inactive. For the elderly, Tai Chi has been shown to help reduce falls and give frail individuals a way to exercise without straining their bodies.
There are many different styles of Tai Chi available, but if you are to train with the TCSociety, you will be learning the Yang Style of Tai Chi. This is one of the most popular forms of Tai Chi and begins with a series of controlled movements known as "forms". The best part about Tai Chi is that you can move at your own pace. When you practice Tai Chi, you are not under any pressure to learn quickly. Rather, you are encouraged to learn at your own speed.
Like any other exercise, the effects of Tai Chi classes in Southern California will not be seen overnight. Rather, it will take a few months of regular practice before you begin to see results. With that said, once the results do begin to set in, it will be the gateway to a completely new lifestyle. Tai Chi has been known to have many benefits to individuals of all ages, increasing self-esteem, improving balance, reducing stress, and opening up the avenue to a healthier lifestyle.
For older adults, Tai Chi is the ideal form of exercise. The health benefits associated with Tai Chi are many, and the forms are slow enough that they do not place an immense amount of strain on your muscles like many other martial arts do. If you are an older individual who is looking to become more active, Tai Chi may be exactly what you are looking for. Come out for Tai Chi classes in Southern California with the TCSociety and find out if Tai Chi is the right choice for you!
Many people think that they can learn Tai Chi simply by visiting websites, reading books, or watching DVD’s. But this is simply not the case. There is only one way that you can truly learn the art of Tai Chi, and that is through regular practice with a certified instructor. Websites, books, and videos can help to deepen your knowledge of the art, but learning Tai Chi means practicing it regularly. Here are a few tips to help you get the most out of Tai Chi in Glendale, CA.
Getting the Most out of Tai Chi in Glendale – Tip #1: Practice regularly
The best tip that can possibly be given in regards to Tai Chi is to practice regularly. While it is best to set aside time to practice Tai Chi each day, it is understood that this is not always possible. If you can’t commit to once a day, try to set aside time for at least two to three training session per week. The more you practice the art, the better you will become at it. And the better you become at it, the more benefits you will recieve from it.
Getting the Most out of Tai Chi in Glendale, CA – Tip #2: Supplement your lessons with regular workouts
When you can’t take the time to attend Tai Chi lessons, supplement them with an at-home workout. This workout can be in the form of Tai Chi practice, or in the form of any other exercise type. As a general recommendation, you should try to set aside at least 20 minutes for exercise any day that you don’t have time to attend class.
Getting the Most out of Tai Chi in Glendale – Tip #3: Develop structure
When practicing your Tai Chi workouts at home, you will want to develop structure. You should begin with warm up exercises, follow up with form repetitions, and end with closing exercises. You can learn what each of these entail by attending regular classes with the TCSociety.
Getting the Most out of Tai Chi in Glendale, CA – Tip #4: Find a workout location
Unless you are able to attend Tai Chi lessons on a daily basis, you will need to set up a space in your home where you can practice. Always be sure that this is somewhere spacious, somewhere in which you feel comfortable, and somewhere that is peaceful where you will not be interrupted.
When it comes to your Tai Chi workout, you will want to do everything that you can to get the most out of it. Tai Chi lessons should be attended as often as possible, at least 2-3 times per week. When you cannot attend a lesson, you should set aside at least 20 minutes in which you can practice at home in a quiet location where you feel at peace. If you attend Tai Chi in Glendale, CA and follow the four steps above, you will soon see a huge improvement in both your Tai Chi technique and your health.