Fu Sheng Yuan Tai chi AcademyIndia Chapter

Newsletter - October, 2010

Tao - The Way

When people see some things as

beautiful,other things become

ugly.When people see some

things as good,other things

become bad.

Being and non-being create each

other.Difficult and easy support

each other.Long and short define

each other.High and low depend

on each other.Before and after

follow each other.

Therefore the Master acts without

doing anything and teaches

without saying anything. Things

arise and she lets them come;

things disappear and she lets

them go. She has but doesn't

possess, acts but doesn't expect.

When her work is done, she

forgets it. That is why it lasts

forever.

Did You Know?

Tai Chi originates from ancient

China. Over 300 million people

throughout the world practice it as

an effective exercise for health

and wellness of mind and body.

Grandmaster speaks

General Training Tips:Besides your Taichi form, those who have learnt Taichi sword /sabre, it isrecommended that one practices both two to three times in the morning or night. Ifyou have the time, do more repetitions. don't practice on full stomach or afterconsuming too much alcohol. It is more beneficial to practice outdoors or where thereis plenty of fresh air. Avoid practice in windy areas or a damp place. During yourTaichi session, your breathing will naturally deepen and attract the negative effects ofdampness, wind or foul air. Even though you are perspiring, it is advisable not to takeyour top off or to have a cold shower immediately. It is advisable to wear a longsleeved top to practice in both winter and summer.

Sifu Speaks

While practicing do remember the solid (active) is the weight bearing leg and

the empty (passive) is the resting leg. You should feel every transition and experience

the inter-changing of the Yin and the Yang. It is very important to be aware that the

weight bearing leg should always have the knee and the toes to be aligned in one

line.

In a Bow stance the front leg is solid and be sure to keep the knee and toes in

one vertical line.

In a Cat stance the back leg is solid and be sure to align the knee and toes in

one vertical line.

Students Speak

Been meaning to put this down in words for sometime now. My experience with taichi has mostly been physical. There has been a drastic shift in the way I walk andstand. The stress on posture in tai chi has made a lot of difference to me. I used tohave a peculiar way of walking, without going into the details of it I will just call it avery unstable way of walking, used to fall or at least trip and sprain or twist my ankleat least once a month. This would be of course, with varied degrees of pain.

Close to one and a half year since I started tai chi I have but twisted my ankle once, Ifeel that 21 to 22 minutes of moving with a lot of attention to balance really helps,specially with sifu Rose gently reminding me in the background to go slow. I don'tknow about slow I am most decidedly steady, a lot steadier than I was before, thanksto Tai chi.

The other thing for which I must give total credit to the one and only Sifu George is hismention of "full" and "empty" part of any stance. I used to take up a lot things to doand eventually wind up not completing anything fully to my satisfaction. Now I try anddefine most of the things I do with this full and empty concept. I must admit I have got

Instructor Profile

Nisha Varmais a Reebok University MasterTrainer as well as a certifiedHealth and Fitness instructor fromthe American College of SportsMedicine She is a certifiedpersonal trainer from theAmerican Council on ExerciseUSA.She is a reputed personal trainer,fitness consultant, yoga instructorand a Yoga therapist. In additionto this, she is also an Aquaaerobics instructor with aninternational qualification fromFISAF, Singapore.Nisha has authored four books onyoga and a book on Pilates whichis due for release next year. Shehas been a columnist forHindustan Times and now has herown column in “Prevention” –amagazine of the India Todaygroup.She regularly writes for severalother magazines like goodHousekeeping, femina,Cosmopolitian, Inspire, Bride andStyle etc.Nisha works as a fitnessconsultant to different companieslike Reebok, PepsiCo andVibrogym and several othercompanies related to health andFitness. She has done several TVprograms as well. Nisha is astudent of Sifu George Thomassince 2007

a lot of things done to my satisfaction after that. Thank you Sifu George. Can't say itsa physical change, but its most certainly because of tai chi.

I actually went in for tai chi to become a tough guy who can flatten people with atouch and blah blah whatever. what I got instead was a path to being more composed(I am a bit hyper, ask the guys who work for me in the shop floor) I don't feel the needto be the tough guy anymore.

S.Ravi - Chennai

Q & A

Certain sects of Indian tradition recommends all the three, viz. meditation,

yogasan and pranayam for physical and mental well being.

For example, sitting in vajrasana, meditating on in flow and out flow of

breathing while performing particular pranayama.

How does Tai Chi combine meditation, forms and breathing while practicing?

M D Rajendran, Chennai

1. While performing the forms the combination of movements is (Hatha

yoga) physical exercise.

2. Breathing is natural in The Authentic Yang Family Taichi. We do not force

or hold the breath. As the sequence of forms change so does the breathing pattern

(pranayam).

3. When we perform the Life package (85 forms) the mind naturally slows

down from going to the past or future and at times we are in a state of No-Mind. This

is, being in the present moment or in others words Meditation (Raaja Yoga).

The greatest advantage is, while we perform the 85 Forms all the 3 yogas are

combined together and done effortlessly. That is why it is known as Chinese Yoga

and Moving Meditation.

News & Event

Sifu's Visit:

CHN:Vallal : 5th morning &7th eveningKottur: 5th evening & 6th morningBesant : 22nd eveningPVR :24th moringHYD;9th & 10th OctPUNE:12th Oct'MUMBAI:13th & 14th Oct'DELHI:14th & 16th octKOCHI:21st Oct'

See

BLR:29th & 30th Oct

A Taichi trek has been organised by the bangalore student on 2nd oct'. Will postpictures in our next issue.

Birthday wishes to all those celebrating in October !!!

Starting a new center in Ahemdabad soon !!!

Photo of the month

Tai chi Academy Students Celebrate Ramzaan Festival

Tai chi Academy students of Numgambakkam Branch celebrate Ramzaan on

Thursday 9th September. Team is seen enjoying the feast after a good workout

session.

Zen Stories

The Gates of ParadiseA soldier named Nobushige came to Hakuin, and asked: "Is there really a

paradise and a hell?"

"Who are you?" inquired Hakuin.

"I am a samurai," the warrior replied.

"You, a soldier!" exclaimed Hakuin. "What kind of ruler would have you as his

guard? Your face looks like that of a beggar."

Nobushige became so angry that he began to draw his sword, but Hakuin

continued: "So you have a sword! Your weapon is probably much too dull to cut off

my head."

As Nobushige drew his sword Hakuin remarked: "Here open the gates of hell!"

At these words the samurai, perceiving the master's discipline, sheathed his

sword and bowed.

"Here open the gates of paradise," said Hakuin.

- From Mohan Rao

Fun with words

Puzzle for Next Month:

1 2

3 45

67

8

9

Across

2 Put it together for an applause (5)

3 Fierce feline (5)

5 Venomous Reptile (5)

7 Bird moves heavy objects (5)

8 Form a curve (4)

9 achromatic (5)

Down

1 1-2-3 spreadsheet for a national flower (5)

2 Hidden shore moves two squares horizontally and one vertically (5)

4 Pleasing Maiden (4, 4)

6 Pipe with sharp bend is mixed up below (5)

Last Month Answer:

Needle at the bottom of the sea

Flash out hands

Tai chi on Net

http://www.fengshui-magazine.com/taichi.htm

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/28/health/28brody.html?_r=1&emc=eta1

Books to read

Taichi Sensing - Hands by STUART OLSONFu Zhongwen Mastering Yang Style taijiquan translated by LOUIS SWAIM

Newsletter Contribution

To make the Newsletter fun and informative we need your contribution. We

have categories as follows:

• Articles (Taichi, Personal thoughts, tai chi benefit's etc)

• Fun (Crosswords, jumbled words etc.)

• Photo (any photo you like to share)

• News (your coverage of any activity events etc.)

• Q&A (post your questions to Sifu)

Send all your contribution to Academy. - Only from Students.

In Stock (Contact Academy)

Academy Souvenir 2010 Blue Taichi Tshirt Taichi Books(85 & Sword forms)

Taichi Retreat 2010(DVD and Photos)

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