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☯www.taichichuan.com.br
NUMBER
13FEB
2017
EQUILIBRIUS® Quarterly NewsletterYang FAMILY Tai Chi Chuan
☯
PAG
2FEB
201713Nº
EQUILIBRIUS® NewsletterYang family Tai Chi Chuan
Editorial
First, I wish you all a happy and prosperous 2017, chinese year
4714 – the year of the Fire Rooster. As done in previous years,
we are organizing and preparing many Courses, Events and activi-
ties for all our students and the general public.
Our goal is to always create and deliver opportunities for people
to learn and evolve in a healthy and balanced way, having the teach-
ings of the great Masters and the abundant philosophy and culture
of the east as our foundation.
In 2017, we’re organizing TWO GREAT EVENTS:
• First, we are gathering a group that will take a Trip to China in
March, to participate in the Opening Ceremonies of the Interna-
tional Yang Family Tai Chi Chuan Association’s Asian Headquar-
ters and the Cultural Tour; it will be an historical landmark event
for the Yang Family Tai Chi Chuan.
• Second, we are preparing the 3rd International Workshop of Thera-
peutic Chi Kung with Master Helen Wu in Ribeirão Preto. She will
teach us two Therapeutic Chi Kung traditional sequences and share
several teachings that will help prevent health issues, following
the ways of natural healing.
The EQUILIBRIUS’s team will continue working ceaselessly to
promote Tai Chi Chuan, Chi Kung, Meditation, Acupuncture, Yoga
and the wisdom of the great Masters, with the main purpose of
helping people to conquer a healthier and balanced lifestyle.
I believe that the greatest goal in our lives is to become better
people and evolve spiritually, and so being, we should nourish our
virtues and higher qualities – so as to acquire more consciousness
and wisdom, putting aside all negative thoughts.
We should stimulate and cultivate what is good, what’s truly
healthy and useful, so we can live in a better way, in harmony with
others and all living beings. Health and Wisdom to all!
Prof. Fernando De Lazzari
within Ribeirão Preto - SP
3rd International Workshopof Therapeutic Chi Kung &The Way of Natural Healing
MASTER H E L E N W U
www.taichichuan.com.br/helenwu_2017.php
60 participants only.Register now!
For detailed information,read Newsletter nº 13
(feb 2017), and visit the link:
AUGUST11TH – 13TH, 2017
Trip toCHINACHINACHINACHINACHINACHINACHINACHINACHINACHINA
CULTURAL tourCULTURAL tourCULTURAL tourCULTURAL tourCULTURAL tour
& TAI CHI CHUAN& TAI CHI CHUAN& TAI CHI CHUAN& TAI CHI CHUAN& TAI CHI CHUAN
SEMInarSEMInarSEMInarSEMInarSEMInar
march march march march march 2424242424ththththth –––––
april april april april april 0606060606ththththth,,,,, 2017 2017 2017 2017 2017
www.taichichuan.com.br/china2017.php
Be a part of our group!
For detailed information,read Newsletter nº 12
(nov 2016), and visit the link:
xtGuwxtGuw
This is a quarterly electronic publication by
EQUILIBRIUS® – Centro de Tai Chi Chuan, Acupuntura e Cultura OrientalYANG CHENGFU TAI CHI CHUAN CENTER BRAZIL
R. Cerqueira César, 1825 - Jd. Sumaré - Ribeirão Preto - SP - CEP 14025-120Phone/Fax: (16) 3911-1236 – E-Mail: [email protected]
DIRECTORS: Fernando De Lazzari and Dra. Cenira Braga BarrosGRAPHIC DESIGN AND TRANSLATIONS: Cyntia S. Levy / EDITING: Cyntia S. Levy and Fernando De Lazzari
SUPPORT: RTBC (Tai Chi Brasil Magazine) - www.RevistaTaiChiBrasil.com.br
This publication and its contents may not be utilized or reproduced, in any form (electronic or mechanical), without the Editor’s prior permission.
http://www.facebook.com/equilibrius.rphttp://www.youtube.com/equilibriusbrasilwww.taichichuan.com.br
PAG
3FEB
2017
☯
13Nº
EQUILIBRIUS has won the first place in the TOP ofMIND – Class A Awards, from 2011 to 2016.
For the sixth consecutive year, EQUILIBRIUS was themost remembered company and brand in RibeirãoPreto in the ACUPUNCTURE category.
On March 25th, the Grand
Opening Celebration of
the Association’s new Head-
quarters will take place in
Kunming, Yunnan Province
in China.
This center will also be
our Association’s first office,
as well as a training base in
China’s southwest area – the
first step in developing and
promoting our International
Association in Tai Chi Chuan’s
homeland. Along with the
Grand Opening Celebration,
the Association organized a
Cultural Tour, as well as a
Seminar with Master Yang
Jun. (read more in Newsletter
nº 12 – nov 2017, pgs. 3-4)
In a recent interview to
the Association’s Newsletter,
Master Fang Hong tells us
about this new phase in the
development of Tai Chi
Chuan in China:
“Master Yang and I
wanted to choose a place
where Tai Chi is not too popu-
lar. We could have put it in
Taiyuan – where we were
born and raised, and it is very
familiar for us.
But lots of people teach
Tai Chi there, so we wanted
to move somewhere new to
develop Tai Chi.
Yunnan province has lots
of people from ethnic mi-
norities. The other nice thing
is the weather is very good
in Kunming – it’s called a
“spring city”. It’s not too cold,
not too hot, and not too
much rain like in Seattle.
The center in Kunming is
really three things. It is a Yang
Chengfu Center. It is also a
Training Base. It is also our
Association’s Asian headquar-
ters, just like we have Associa-
tion headquarters or branches
in Europe and South America.
All of these headquar-
ters are part of the Interna-
tional Yang Family Tai Chi
Chuan Association.” (read full
interview in the Association’s
Newsletter nº 39)
Imag
es: A
ssoc
iatio
n’s
arch
ivesThe new
instalations of theAsian Headquarters,
to be inauguratedon March 25th
EQUILIBRIUS® NewsletterYang FAMILY Tai Chi ChuanInternational Yang Family
Tai Chi Chuan AssociationNew Asian Headquartersin Kunming
International Yang FamilyTai Chi Chuan AssociationNew Asian Headquartersin Kunming
☯
PAG
4FEB
201713Nº
3rd International Workshopof Therapeutic Chi Kung &The Way of Natural Healingwith
in Ribeirão Preto – SP – BrazilMASTER H E L E N W U
AUGUST 11th – 13th, 2017
MASTER HELEN XIAO-RONG WU was born
in Shanghai – China, in 1956. When she
was 3-years old, she began training and study-
ing Martial Arts with her grandfather, Zi-Ping
Wang – legendary Martial Artist and Tradi-
tional Chinese Medicine Doctor.
She also studied with her mother – Ju-
Rong Wang, the first female person to become
a Martial Arts Teacher in China.
Master Helen Wu gathered expertise in
several different Kung Fu and Tai Chi Chuan
styles, and graduated in Physical Education at
the University of Shangai in 1982. She wrote
five books about Tai Chi Chuan, Wushu, trau-
matology and sports medicine.
Nowadays, Master Helen Wu teaches Tai
Chi Chuan and Chi Kung at the School of Ki-
nesiology and Health Science of York Univer-
sity in Canada, where she lives since 1989.
For the third time, EQUILIBRIUS is proud to bring
Master Helen Wu to Brazil. This year, she will
teach the 24 Postures Therapeutic Chi Kung’s com-
plete sequence (Wu Yi Jie He), the Five Animals Chi
Kung sequence (Wu Qin Xi) and Self-Acupressure
techniques for health improvement.
She will also share her knowledge about Chi
energy development, the energy meridians and
oriental philosophy – concerning the way of natu-
ral healing and prevention of illnesses.
Any person, regardless of age, can attend this
Workshop. No experience in Chi Kung, Tai Chi Chuan
and Oriental Arts is required.
The sequences were created as a way of dimin-
ishing chronic pains, preventing health problems,
reducing tensions and stress, regulating physiologic
functions, improve circulation, boost the immune
system, thus resulting in mental wellness.
View detailed information about MasterHelen Wu, about the Chi Kung sequences,the schedule, prices, payment options andregistration in the website:
www.taichichuan.com.br/helenwu_2017.php
Imag
es: M
aste
r H
elen
Wu’
s pe
rson
al a
rchi
ves
EQUILIBRIUS® NewsletterYang family Tai Chi Chuan
☯
PAG
5FEB
201713Nº
The year of the Rooster is
sometimes known as the
year of the Phoenix or
Chicken. The Rooster from
the Chinese astrology corre-
sponds with the sign of Virgo,
and is associated with the
Sun, since it crows at dawn.
Those born in the year of
the Rooster are observant,
hardworking, courageous
and talented; always active,
talkative, outspoken, frank,
honest and loyal.
Roosters are happiest
when they are surrounded by
others. They are drawn to re-
ligious and spiritual studies,
especially regarding healing.
Problem solving is your spe-
cial talent.
Predictions for the Yearof the Rooster 2017It will be a year when it is
better to do less, but do it
perfectly. It will be oriented
towards progress, honor and
maximum integrity.
The year of the Rooster
teaches us about order, scru-
tiny and strategic planning.
The sage Sun-Zi’s advice,
which is still taught in mod-
ern military circles, advises
one to “achieve psychologi-
cal advantage over the adver-
The Fire Rooster
The Rooster is the tenth animal in the chinese zodiac. The year of the Fire Rooster hap-
pens once every 60 years. Those born in 2017, 2005, 1993, 1981 and 1969 have the Rooster
sign. The colors golden, brown and yellow, and the numbers 5, 7 and 8 are considered
auspicious. Read more about the chinese zodiac, the origins of chinese New Year, festivi-
ties and legends in Newsletter nº 5 (feb 2015) and Newsletter nº 9 (feb 2016).
2017Year of the Fire Rooster
Sour
ces:
htt
p://w
ww
.chi
nese
horo
scop
e-20
17.c
om/;
http
://as
trol
ogyc
lub.
org/
chin
ese-
horo
scop
e/20
17-y
ear-
roos
ter/
#yea
r-of
-the
-roo
ster
-201
7-pr
edic
tions
/ Im
age:
Goo
gle®
sear
ch
sary and use force only as a
last resort”. 2017 is the year
when diplomacy wins!
There’s a Chinese saying:
“If you take a step back, you
will find the sea and the sky
is boundless.” Remember,
good values never go out of
style, no matter how hard it
may seem to apply them.
Therefore, 2017 is a time
of conscientiousness and
realistic outlook. Be a bit
frugal financially, and refrain
from complaining. Choose
your battles wisely, because
there could be much crow-
ing and pecking. Do not en-
gage in petty arguments.
Keep life simple.
The Legend of theRed EnvelopesDuring the Chinese New Year
period, the married or the eld-
erly give red envelopes to chil-
dren or unmarried juniors.
A red envelope is called
yasui qian (suppressing Sui
money). According to legend,
on New Year’s Eve, besides
the monster Nian, there was
a demon named Sui, that came
to terrify children while they
were asleep.
It was said that the chil-
dren who were touched by
the demon would be too
scared to cry out loud, got a
terrible fever, and even be-
came mentally unstable.
To keep children safe from
being harmed by Sui, parents
would light candles and stay
up for the whole night.
On one New Year’s Eve,
the parents gave their child 8
coins to play with, in order to
keep him awake and avoid
him being hurt by the demon.
The child wrapped the coins
in red paper, then opened it,
and kept playing with it,
until he was too tired and fell
asleep. Then the parents
placed the packet with 8
coins under his pillow.
When Sui tried to touch
his head, the coins emitted a
strong light and scared the
demon away. The 8 coins
turned out to be 8 fairies.
From then on, giving red en-
velopes became a way of
bringing good luck.
EQUILIBRIUS® NewsletterYang FAMILY Tai Chi Chuan
☯
PAG
6FEB
201713Nº
SergioArione
INTERVIEW WITH PROF.
EQUILIBRIUS® NewsletterYang family Tai Chi Chuan
Sergio Arione is the Founder and Director of the Yang Chengfu
Tai Chi Chuan Center in Montreal – Canada, and Master Yang
Jun’s direct Disciple.
Sergio Arione was born and raised in Buenos Aires. As a teen-
ager, he played professional handball. In search of an activ-
ity that went beyond physical skill, he took his first Tai Chi Chuan
class in 1976, studying with the late Master Tsun Kuen Ma,
from 1976 to 1992.
He left Argentina for Toronto in 1985, helping a friend to
run a Tai Chi school. He also worked as a banker at the time,
juggling between two jobs.
The bank offered him a job transfer to Montreal in 1988.
Arione immediately opened a small Tai Chi Chuan school that,
as years went by, became bigger. Today, Yang Chengfu Tai Chi
Chuan Center Montreal has 40 Instructors and 700 students.
For the last twenty years, Tai Chi Chuan has been his full-
time job, and he has been a gold medalist in international events
more than thirty times.
Arione is direct Disciple of Grandmaster Yang Jun – of the
Yang Family Tai Chi Chuan International Association, and of
Master Chen Yong Fa – of the Choy Lee Fut Kung Fu and Lohan
Chi Kung system.
Biog
raph
y’s
Sour
ce &
Imag
es: h
ttps
://pi
erre
fond
srox
boro
com
mun
ityce
nter
.com
/ ; h
ttp:
//mon
trea
lgaz
ette
.com
/new
s/; h
ttps
://ta
ichi
men
doza
.com
/mae
stro
serg
ioar
ione
/
Imag
es:
http
://p
ierr
efon
dsro
xbor
ocom
mun
ityc
ente
r.com
PAG
7FEB
2017
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13Nº
EQUILIBRIUS® NewsletterYang FAMILY Tai Chi Chuan
1 • EQUILIBRIUS: First, we would like to thank
you for this opportunity of interviewing you
and learn with your experience in the prac-
tice and teaching of Tai Chi Chuan.
PROF. SERGIO: Thank you for reaching out, it is
great to work together and to share our expe-
riences.
2 • EQUILIBRIUS: When have you known and
started to practice Tai Chi Chuan?
PROF. SERGIO: I started Tai Chi in 1976, a bit
more than 40 years ago, when a friend of mine
at University suggested trying some Tai Chi
classes. In those years, I used to play handball
professionally – I was a member of a team com-
peting in the National Association of Handball
in Argentina.
While I was young, I noticed that the main
purpose for training in sports was to win the
championships. I felt that generally in sports it
was more important to win than the Olympic
Values or self-improvement.
I was looking for something more spiritual
than sports, where instead of being better than
someone else, I could focus on becoming a
better person myself.
After watching Tai Chi for the first time,
I was so touched that I could not stop crying.
I felt quite embarrassed because I could not
stop crying and I could not explain why.
I knew deep in my heart that there was
something special inside Tai Chi.
In those years, Tai Chi was something not
known in the western world; even 12 years later
(in 1988) I was almost arrested by a policeman
at a park in Canada for practicing Tai Chi.
This policeman approached me while I was
practicing Tai Chi in a park; he thought that I
was a bit crazy because I was moving strangely
in a public area.
When he asked me what was I doing,
I explained to this policeman that this was Tai
Chi, a kind of exercise very good for the bal-
ance, health and relaxation.
He still looked at me suspiciously, but he
could not arrest because I answered all his
questions and he could tell that “probably I
was not crazy”.
After his interrogation was finished,
he said that a neighbor had called the police
and complained about a crazy man in the park
near the playground area and she was afraid
to come to the park with her children.
3 • EQUILIBRIUS: What made you decide to
teach Tai Chi Chuan?
PROF. SERGIO: After training Tai Chi for 6
months, I knew with absolute certainty that
Tai Chi would be my profession for life.
Tai Chi had helped me so much that I felt I
had to share Tai Chi in my community, teach-
ing Tai Chi was a way to say thank you.
Teaching Tai Chi became very important
to me because it was a way to return to soci-
ety what I had received from society, it was a
way to say thank you to Life, it was a way to
return to Life what Life had brought to me.
Image: http://montrealgazette.com/news/localnews
☯
PAG
8FEB
201713Nº
EQUILIBRIUS® NewsletterYang family Tai Chi Chuan
4 • EQUILIBRIUS: Could you tell us about your
story in the Yang Family Tai Chi Chuan?
PROF. SERGIO: My first Sifu was Master Tsun
Kuen Ma, a student of Master Yang Chengfu
and classmate of Master Cheng Man Ching.
I trained Yang Style Tai Chi Chuan with
Master Tsun Kuen Ma for 17 years (from 1976 to
1993). After the passing of Master Tsun Kuen
Ma in 1993, I started to participate in Tai Chi
tournaments all over the world, hoping to find
the best competitors and eventually hoping to
find the best Sifus behind the best competitors.
Every 2 months, I was traveling to various
tournaments and Seminars, trying to balance
family life, Tai Chi practice, Tai Chi teaching
and competitions.
In 1996 I met Grandmaster Yang Zhenduo
and Grandmaster Yang Jun during their first
Seminar in New York.
This was very meaningful to me because
it represented to be connected with the source
of Yang Family Tai Chi.
I fell in love with the Yang Family and for
the next 20 years I could not attend enough
Tai Chi Seminars with Grandmaster Yang
Zhenduo and Grandmaster Yang Jun; I think
that I attended more that 150 Seminars dur-
ing the last 20 years.
5 • EQUILIBRIUS: And about the opening of the
Yang Chengfu Tai Chi Chuan Center in
Montreal and what it represents to you.
PROF. SERGIO: The most significant event in
those days was the opening of the Interna-
tional Yang Family Tai Chi Chuan Association
in 1998, and subsequently, various Yang
Chengfu Centers were opened worldwide.
The opening of the Yang Cheng Fu Tai Chi
Chuan Center in Montreal was a great oppor-
tunity to officially share Traditional Yang Fam-
ily Tai Chi Chuan in our communities, under
the banner of the Yang Family.
This represented the opportunity to teach
Yang Family Tai Chi in its most pure and pris-
tine manner, as it was taught “at the Source”.
At the center, Master Yang Jun and Prof. Sergio Arione, after winning medals at an event in China
Imag
e: P
rof.
Ser
gio
Ario
ne’s
pers
onal
arc
hive
s
interview with
PAG
9FEB
2017
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13Nº
EQUILIBRIUS® NewsletterYang FAMILY Tai Chi Chuan
6 • EQUILIBRIUS: How is the development
of Tai Chi Chuan in Canada? Are there many
practitioners?
PROF. SERGIO: Yang Family Tai Chi Chuan has
been very well received in Canada.
The Yang Chengfu Tai Chi Chuan Center
in Montreal has taught Tai Chi to more than
20.000 practitioners since it’s opening.
For about 15 years I have been personally
teaching 60 weekly classes in 12 different loca-
tions within Montreal. The Yang Chengfu Cen-
ter in Montreal hires 4 full time employees.
More than 20 Tai Chi Instructors teach weekly
classes at the Yang Chengfu Center in Montreal.
We also have a school in Ottawa, managed
by Dr. Laird Trimble and another school in
Yukon, managed by Pam Boyde.
7 • EQUILIBRIUS: According to your experience,
why is Tai Chi Chuan considered a precious Art,
recommended to help people improve their
health and quality of life?
PROF. SERGIO: Tai Chi is certainly a precious Art,
I have clearly seen many people changing their
quality of life again and again over the last 40
years, thanks to the practice of Yang Family
Tai Chi Chuan.
I will start by answering the second part
of your question. It is recommended because
Tai Chi has real impact on people’s balance,
coordination, concentration, mobility, equilib-
rium, relaxation.
I have seen members improving in all the
above-mentioned areas. Some members improve
faster than others and there are various variables
in the equation that determines the progress
made by students in each of these areas.
Some of these variables are age, genetics,
medical conditions, sports done earlier in life,
injuries, etc.
Some of these variables can determine the
pace of the progress made in each of these
areas, yet the focus in our teaching should al-
ways be to help our students to make continu-
ous and natural progress.
We have also seen the profound benefits
brought by Tai Chi to students with several
medical conditions, such as arthritis,
fibromyalgia, multiple sclerosis, scoliosis, spi-
nal stenosis, osteoporosis and many stress re-
lated disorders.
I would love to explain more about all the
benefits experienced by many students at the
Yang Chengfu Center in Montreal through the
practice of Tai Chi, but it would be impossible
due to space limitations.
Tai Chi is certainly a “precious Art” because
it can help people in so many ways.
It is not just about physical balance, coor-
dination or flexibility.
I have seen Tai Chi helping people with
very deep emotional wounds; I have seen many
people changing their lives and finding hap-
piness and balance through Tai Chi.
Advanced practice of Tai Chi can help stu-
dents calm their minds, center their minds, see
more clearly, consequently we learn to make
better choices and contribute to society in a
more meaningful way.
PROF. SergioArione
Master Yang Jun’s first Disciple Ceremony in August 5th, 2012: Prof. Arione(Yang Yazhong) standing at the left, between Profs. Roque and Angela
Imag
e: w
ww
.yan
gfam
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ichi
.com
☯
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10FEB
201713Nº
EQUILIBRIUS® NewsletterYang family Tai Chi Chuan
8 • EQUILIBRIUS: How did your teaching meth-
ods change throughout the years?
PROF. SERGIO: I am presently writing a book on
this topic. In the last 40 years, I have taught
more than 35.000 hours of Tai Chi classes.
I have explored various teaching methods,
keeping always in mind the needs of the stu-
dents and the levels of the students. This is a
fascinating topic.
There are several things
that are very important to keep
in mind as a Teacher.
1 • Warm Ups:
The first thing that a Tai Chi
Teacher should do when the
class starts is at least 10 to 15
minutes of warm ups.
Even though Tai Chi is prac-
ticed slowly, students (particu-
larly some adults and seniors) could
be candidates for injuries if we
do not warm up their body
before starting all the Tai Chi
rotations, weigh shifting and putting 100% of
the weight on one leg while stepping during
the Hand Form.
It is important to have an appropriate
warm up system to prevent injuries and to help
students of all age groups.
2 • Body Alignment to strengthen the body
properly and to prevent injuries:
This is such a crucial thought to keep in
mind; particularly for the spine and the knees.
It is very important to keep the front knee
aligned with the toes.
The knee never passes the toes’ line
(on the weight bearing leg).
3 • Understanding and Implementing Jing, Chi
and Shen as a teaching method:
This is a very deep topic; the understand-
ing of Jing, Chi and Shen is indispensable to
maintain the momentum within a Tai Chi class.
Understanding Jing: Every Teacher needs to
ensure that we teach the most essential things
first: Relaxing, alignment, balance, coordina-
tion, etc.
This face of the training is related to the
understanding of the human body and the dy-
namics of movement.
The understanding of Jing is
not just limited to this, but this
basic aspect is very important in
every class. We cannot talk too
much in classes, there must be sig-
nificant part of body movement.
Understanding Chi: Under-
standing how energy works is
so indispensible to maintain the
momentum of a class, the flow
of a class, the energy of a class.
Tai Chi movements are im-
portant as mentioned above,
but it is not enough.
Very often Teachers can get
carried away trying too hard to
teach the perfect Form, make the students
practice and incorporate all the corrections the
Teacher has in mind.
Yet we should not ignore the importance
of the “enjoyment of the Tai Chi class”.
Most of people come to Tai Chi to relax and to
reduce stress not to do the “perfect Form”.
If the students are not enjoying the Tai Chi
classes, most likely they will not continue.
If the student does not continue, our chances
to have an impact on our students get dramati-
cally reduced.
One way to measure the skill of a Teacher is
by the years his students attend the Tai Chi classes.
If an Instructor wants to promote and per-
petuate the teachings of Tai Chi, the Tai Chi
Instructor needs to be inspiring enough to
make sure that the students learn and have
an enjoyable time in their classes.
When a Teacher can coach students for a
longer period of time, this can help the Teacher
to have a significant impact in the lives of the
interview with
“We should not
ignore the
importance of
the ‘enjoyment of
the Tai Chi class’...
...It is not about
perfection, but
about perfecting
over time.”
“We should not
ignore the
importance of
the ‘enjoyment of
the Tai Chi class’...
...It is not about
perfection, but
about perfecting
over time.”
PAG
11FEB
2017
☯
13Nº
EQUILIBRIUS® NewsletterYang FAMILY Tai Chi Chuan
students in order to produce proficient Instruc-
tors capable of promoting and perpetuating
the Art.
Paradoxically, by renouncing (at the begin-
ning) to the perfect Form during the classes,
over time students make a more significant and
continuous progress. It is not about perfection,
but about perfecting over time.
The right approach as a Teacher helps
maintain the energy and momentum of the
Tai Chi class.
Understanding Shen: Understanding how to
help our students to get a deeper vision of the
Tai Chi principles and how to incorporate these
principles to our practice.
This is another fascinating topic.
The Teachers have to understand how to
maintain the momentum of the Tai Chi class,
how to keep the students engaged and happy
without overwhelming the students with too
many details.
The student should enjoy the corrections
and feel a “sense of accomplishment” after
every correction. If the student cannot make
the correction suggested by the Teacher,
it means that the Teacher is making corrections
that the student cannot digest.
This is mainly the responsibility of the
Teacher. If the Teacher is truly a Sifu, the Teacher
will treat the student as his/her
own child and the Sifu will
always ensure that his/her stu-
dent gets a sense of accomplish-
ment after every correction.
My teaching method has
been changing and evolving
continuously during the last
40 years. The Sergio that was
teaching 1 year ago, 10 years
ago, 30 years ago, that Sergio
is long gone.
I feel that every year new insights guide
me into a clearer vision on how to help stu-
dents better.
Yet there is a foundation that is always
present in the teaching attitude: while teach-
ing we are serving our students, we are not
the center of our classes, the students are the
“center of our classes”, we are the servants.
9 • EQUILIBRIUS: What are the most common
difficulties of the students in the beginning?
PROF. SERGIO: I think that the most common
difficulty for most of Tai Chi students is to find
a good Tai Chi Teacher.
We can say that the coordination is a
difficulty, we can also say that the balance is a
difficulty, we can also say that memorizing the
sequence is a difficulty, but we can also say
that a good Teacher will make every student
feel good, a good Teacher will make any
student get a sense of accomplishment and
self-esteem.
A good Teacher will pace the information
and the degree of difficulty in each class.
I realize that students face difficulties
when they learn Tai Chi, but I think that the
PROF. SergioArione
Imag
e: P
rof.
Ser
gio
Ario
ne’ s
pers
onal
arc
hive
s
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EQUILIBRIUS® NewsletterYang family Tai Chi Chuan
main source of the problem for the student is
the ability of the Teacher to be inspirational,
pedagogical and motivating.
This concept is deeply connected with the
understanding of how to implement Jing, Chi
and Shen in our classes as Instructors.
10 • EQUILIBRIUS: How can we overcome these
difficulties and balance will and perseverance
with the pleasure of the practice?
PROF. SERGIO: This is a very interesting ques-
tion. The answer is very simple: we need to
learn to desire to do the right-just thing based
on the laws of nature. Probably this is the clos-
est definition to wisdom.
There are some poems
from Shaolin that address
this very thought and they
refer to “the Dragon and
the Tiger embracing each
other in Heaven” referring
to the mind (the Dragon) and
the feelings of the passionate
heart (the Tiger) working
in harmony creating a heav-
enly state of mind.
The magic word is: Balance.
The pedagogical approach should include
a balanced training. Cultivating a healthy body,
a calm heart and a clear mind.
11 • EQUILIBRIUS: What are your recommen-
dations for the beginners and people who
want to start practicing Tai Chi Chuan?
PROF. SERGIO: Be patient, do not try to have
the Form, try to enjoy Tai Chi.
Imagine a palm trying to grab more air by
closing the hand and making a fist. The harder
we try to grab air with our palm, the less air
we have around our palm.
If we relax and open our palm, air will em-
brace our palm and our palm will experience
abundance of air. For this reason sometimes it
is important to let go to have.
12 • EQUILIBRIUS: And your recommendations
for the advanced practitioners?
PROF. SERGIO: Try to understand the dynamics
of Jing, Chi and Shen. Try to become a Tai Chi
Teacher with the heart and mind focused on
helping people. We really learn Tai Chi when
we teach Tai Chi.
13 • EQUILIBRIUS: Please, give a final message
to our readers?
PROF. SERGIO: I want to express my gratitude
to Grandmaster Yang Zhenduo and Grandmas-
ter Yang Jun for these decades of teaching and
sharing the Yang Family Tai Chi knowledge.
I also want to express my gratitude to all
my brothers and sisters that thought me so
much in all these years.
I also want to thank Fernando De Lazzari
for the opportunity to share my experiences and
insights as a Tai Chi student and Instructor.
EQUILIBRIUS: We are most thankful for your
kindness in participating in this interview,
and sharing with us some of your precious
experience in the world of Tai Chi Chuan.
Profs. Fernando and Sergio at the 2012 Seminar in São Paulo
Imag
e: P
rof.
Fer
nand
o D
e La
zzar
i’ s p
erso
nal a
rchi
ve
“Be pacient,
do not try to have
the Form...
...Sometimes
it is important to
let go to have.”
“Be pacient,
do not try to have
the Form...
...Sometimes
it is important to
let go to have.”
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2017
☯
13Nº
EQUILIBRIUS® NewsletterYang FAMILY Tai Chi ChuanStudent Testimony
Personal views about the practice of Tai Chi Chuan
My great encounter with Tai Chi Chuanhappened while I was having a major
anxiety crisis, during a turbulent period of my life.Diagnosed with GAD (Generalized anxiety disorder),I started a complex search for an effective treat-ment, which could help me calm the mind andminimize anguish and anxiety.
This illness is caused by excessive liberationof serotonine in a region of the brain calledamidala – resulting in irritability, lapses of memoryand fobias as symptoms. There also can be adrena-line outbursts, which leads to breathing difficul-ties, palpitations, intense sweating and tingling.
I had most of these symptoms and sensations.I’m not boasting – I can say that my life was com-pletely transformed after I got in touch with TaiChi Chuan’s and Meditation’s fundamentals andpractices. Practicing them consciously brings ben-efits not only to the physical health, but especiallyto the mental aspect.
Basically, they lead to a quieter mind, hencetaking control of the mind/thought disorderswhich, according to Augusto Cury, represent the
pillar of the health problems which our modernsick society faces today.
Tai Chi Chuan brought me serenity, peace, andteachings about humanity, solidarity, tolerance,anguish control, emotional intelligence, clarityand mental balance. The results are clearly felt inmy personal and professional relationships.
The transformation was so deep that my es-sence flourished, having been hidden for so manyyears of carelessness and sedentarism. In regardsto the physical aspect – amazing stretching andflexibility, stronger muscles and, most of all,the balance – were gradually improved. The onceconstant lumbar pains are just memories today.
The stressful period – consequence of greatlosses and difficult challenges I went through,was also the moment I lived with more easiness,because of the way I chose to deal with these prob-lems. Tai Chi Chuan plays the major role in thisgreat transformation, offering me a new philoso-phy for life. I reccommend its practice to any per-son who wishes to build the foundation and toexperience mankind’s highest values.”
Rogéria Rocha Gonçalves
“
We all have a story that tells why we started to practice Tai Chi Chuan. Many practitioners that I
know of were seeking for a moment of quietness, or for a help-improvement kind of practice.
Whatever different the reasons, many of them sought the Tai Chi. Not me.
I’ve always been an anxious, explosive person. I fell in love with Kung Fu – its practice and theory. It was
4 years of hard practice. But when I moved to a different location, I had to stop it because there wasn’t the
same School. In those 2 years, I began to learn Tai Chi Chuan; my husband was finishing the Instructor’s
Graduation Course, and he began to teach me. It was easy for me to memorize the exercises and the move-
ments of the Form. But the biggest challenge was the mental one. I must be honest: Tai Chi Chuan irritated me.
When my husband started to give Tai Chi Chuan classes, I was very happy. To encourage him, I went to
his first class. No students. I couldn’t imagine him alone – a Teacher without students, so I decided to
attend the classes. Considering the annoyance it caused me, I can honestly say that this was only possible
with a lot, A LOT of effort.
During Chi Kung, I felt like running away, and asked myself: “what am I doing here?”. Standing still
was already annoying, but to control your thoughts and pace your breathing with the movements… ah,
that was madness. The Form was less sufferable, but still a torture. Nonetheless, I kept practicing.
It didn’t take long to feel the benefits; suddenly the neverending Chi Kung was finished before my
impatience wore out, and the Form was a kind of challenge I wanted to face. After a few years, I began to
realize the obvious: Tai Chi was not the problem, the problem was me.
Today I feel that Tai Chi Chuan is more related with the practice’s inner aspects. Somehow, it touches
that part of myself that I dislike; it points out my flaws – that’s why it irritated me so much. The practice is
helpful in the transformation of consciousness.
I started practicing it to be a companion/partner, not because I felt identified with it. I keep practicing
it because I know that this annoyance is, in fact, an effect generated by a process of internal transforma-
tion. And I want this process to continue.”
Nathália P. Oliveira
“
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EQUILIBRIUS® NewsletterYang family Tai Chi Chuan
History of the Chinese Language V – Etymology of Chinese Language • Pictograms
Nihao to all the fans of the chinese culture and language! In our first article, we studied
the history and development of the chinese written language. In the following ones,
we went through this historical evolution, seeing the different types of calligraphy and their
artistic and esthetic beauty.
From now on, we’ll study in more detail this language’s logic of construction, how it was con-
ceived, and how it developed until our present time. In this manner, we will better understand the
way of thinking of the chinese people, thus making our study of the chinese language easier.
Nowadays, we frequently see the chinese language all around: people with character tat-
toos, car stickers, t-shirts with ideograms, besides our contact with the imigrants’ stores and
restaurants. But why are they so frequently used? How does a chinese character communicate
its meaning? “Each ideogram is a sign or symbol which represents one or various meanings
and concepts.” (Tai Hsuan-Na, 2006).
Have you ever wondered
when we’re on the streets
and see traffic signs, or when
we receive a cellphone
message with an emoticon,
that we
quickly and
i n s t a n t l y
recognize the meaning that
that image is suggesting?
In China and other parts
of the world – such as Egypt,
for example, that was the
way the languages origi-
nated. Man in his earlier
stages already had the neces-
sity of expressing himself,
and for that he used his abil-
ity to make accounts – in a
formal or informal way.
In these attempts, he rep-
resented what he saw, felt
and thought in a simple and
basic way. How? “Drawing
it”. Seeking the simplest form
of expressing what was seen,
in such a manner that could
be understood by whoever
looked at that image.
From there originates
what is called pictogram or
pictographic sign. “Picto” –
an image, and “gram”– the
description. Simulating some-
thing seen and tranforming
the image into something
possibly decipherable to
someone else who sees it.
That’s how the chinese
written language originated!
Have you imagined what
comes next? How can they
describe more complex ideas,
such as emotions, etc? Don’t
miss our next article, we’ll be
digging deeper!
Sour
ces:
htt
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6. Id
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.
Starting to expresshimself throughdrawings, mansought to representthings in a simpleand intelligibleway. To expressmore subtle orcomplex ideas,the ideogram maycontain differentconcepts andmeanings to forma single word.
Above, mountain and day, going fromwhat is seen to its drawing description,and the to the character per se.Below, the evolution ofthe “horse” pictogram(ma) until its ideogram.
Chinese Language, Culture and Historyby Prof. Castro Júnior ( Yang Yazhong)
View EQUILIBRIUS’s Photo Gallery at:www.taichichuan.com.br/fotos.php
PAG
15FEB
2017
☯RETROSPECTIVE
OF
EQUILIBRIUS
ACTIVITIES
13Nº
EQUILIBRIUS® NewsletterYang FAMILY Tai Chi Chuan
IV International Yang Family TaiChi Chuan Seminar – Long Form,at EQUILIBRIUS, Ribeirão Preto, SP
Nov 18th-20th
Meditation Course last 2016 class withProf. Castro Júnior, Ribeirão Preto, SP
Nov 2nd-12th
Dec 10th
Students GraduationAdvanced Pa Tuan
Chin Course withProf. Castro Júnior,Ribeirão Preto, SP
Dec 11th
2016’s final outdoor classwith Prof. Geraldo Teixeira,Goiânia, GO
Dec 20th
Special Tai Chi ChuanPerformance at EQUILIBRIUS,
Ribeirão Preto, SP
Celebration of the Chinese New Year – FireRooster, at EQUILIBRIUS, Ribeirão Preto, SP
Jan 28th
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Tai Chi Chuan Instructor’sGraduation CourseProfessional Graduation Courserecognized by the InternationalYang Family Tai Chi Chuan Association.
Monthly Graduation CourseStarts: February 4th – 5th, 2017
Intensive Graduation Course1st Module: May 12th – 21st, 2017
Pa Tuan Chin CourseEight Pieces of the Brocade
Date: April, 2017
Instructors Reunion & AdvancedTai Chi Chuan TrainingDate: April 21st – 22nd, 2017
Introduction to Do-In (Acupressure)
and Traditional ChineseMedicine Fundamentals CourseStarts: April 29th, 2017
Tai Chi Saber Intensive CourseStarts: May, 2017
Meditation and BreathingExercises WorkshopDate: July 1st, 2017
COURSES • EVENTS • SPECIAL ACTIVITIES
other places
at EQUILIBRIUS • Ribeirão Preto • SP
Where to Practice /Representatives
EQUILIBRIUS Ribeirão Preto – SPPROF. Fernando De Lazzari
(16) [email protected]
www.taichichuan.com.br
EQUILIBRIUS Ribeirão Preto – SPPROF. José Luiz de Castro Junior
(16) [email protected]
www.taichichuan.com.br
EQUILIBRIUS Ribeirão Preto – SPPROFA. Patty Brown
(16) [email protected]
www.taichichuan.com.br
Belo Horizonte – MGPROF. Tiago Vieira Tosi
(31) [email protected]
Goiânia – GOPROF. Geraldo Alves Teixeira Júnior
(62) [email protected]
Guaíra – SPPROF. Lucas Saraceni
(17) 99976-9696 / (48) [email protected]
São Carlos – SPPROFA. Débora Ferreira Leite
(16) 99704-1416 / [email protected]
São Manuel – SPPROFA. Simone Destro
(14) [email protected]
Saquarema – RJPROFA. Maria Therezinha M. Firmo
(22) [email protected]
Sertãozinho – SPPROF. Daniel Henrique S. Madruga
(16) [email protected]
Cultural Trip to ChinaCultural Tour, Grand Opening of theInternational Yang Family Tai Chi ChuanAssociation’s Training Center inKunming city and Tai Chi ChuanSeminar with Master Yang Jun
Date: March 24th – April 3rd, 2017
3rd International Workshopof Therapeutic Chi Kungwith Master Helen Wu
Date: August 11th – 13th, 2017Place: Ribeirão Preto - SP
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON OUR SCHEDULE OF EVENTS, VISIT:
www.taichichuan.com.br/agenda.php
EQUILIBRIUS® NewsletterYang family Tai Chi Chuan
BECOME A MEMBER OF THE INTERNATIONALYANG FAMILY TAI CHI CHUAN ASSOCIATION!
JOIN NOW!
Individual Registry US$ 20/yrFamily Registry US$ 50/yr- The prices are in US$ dollars.- The annuity payment can be made through bankdeposit in brazilian currency (Reais - R$).
To become a member of the International TaiChi Chuan Association, fill the form on the link:http://www.yangfamilytaichi.com/associa-tion/members/new/
Member Benefits:
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EQUILIBRIUS® / Yang Chengfu Tai Chi Chuan Center - Brasil -Ribeirão Preto represents the Association and is authorized toregister any person who wishes to become a member.