Verve VE-R-VE Verve

I was in Barcelona recently and saw this beautiful picture by Matisse. It's gouache and paper cut-outs work done in 1943 measuring approximately 71 cm by 38 cm. Verve IV it's called. I like the hearts working, the dancing and the movement. Great picture to express the joy and movement of tai chi.

I'm back to Long Form again, and salutations and figures-of -eight.

winter work

Now that the evenings here are getting ever so slightly longer, despite the mornings getting later still, it is time to consolidate and practice the basics. Forms, partner work, figure-of-eights are the order of the day. It's months since I last did a long form, which I last did on a daily basis in June. The contrast between then, in Spain, at 07:00 at 24ºC and here now, where even at noon in the garage on a good temperature day, the temperature rarely gets to comforable is only one excuse. However, it's not all bad - good work is being done.

Daily Routine

I've established a routine of 3 short forms and the warm-up exercises. Yesterday, I did 3 left-siders; today, I'll do 3 right-siders. Along with that, I do some figure-of 8 work all the time; hands, feet, arms, waist and shoulders. Also, now refining the salutations.

Today's Overt Work

Half an hours warm-ups to begin with. There is a good description of these at http://www.thetaichicentre.co.uk/resources.html.

Later, 3 short-forms with ankle and leg weights on, to make me more involved and deliberate. I'm thinking about Fair Lady Works at Shuttles and how it works as an application. I saw a good description today at http://www.gilmanstudio.com/OnLine_Class/Lesson66.htm. I bought an adjustable ankle/wrist weights today to get a bit more sensitivity into my work with weights.

The third half-hour will be devoted to figure-of-eight work. Then tomorrow, off to my teacher for some more figure-of-eight work and partner work. I'll confer on Fair Lady Works at Shuttles which I'm teaching next week.

Brush Right Knee and Push, Brush Left Knee and Punch Down

Tonight's lesson for me to give. Funny, when about to tell someone else how to do a posture, despite knowing what to do, I feel the need to check with someone or some text, just to be sure. So, here goes.
Then onto some figure-of-eights and heartwork, a follow up to last Sunday's work and a look ahead to next weekend's intensive.
Time to go time.

MDCCCLXVI

Hands and feet are extensions of the heart, they "breathe" as the heart does, they open to grasp and close to expel. The grasp can be with the tigers mouth or with the little finger side, with the thumb, index finger or middle or "ring" or little finger or each one in turn as you practise.

accept it and live up to it

I saw a very agreeable post (from whence i get my title) in another blog today, with a very interesting quote from Buddha. So, I looked it up, and found another interesting one:

To keep the body in good health is a duty otherwise we shall not be able to keep our mind strong and clear.

Buddha (563 BC - 483 BC)

Any taichiheartworker would agree. I have walked to work for the last 8 days as well, and hope to continue ...

Floating

Floating violates T'ai Chi Ch'uan. My thought for today, arising out of Wednesday's night practice where I found myself floating while trying to concentrate on the legs during partner work. I had no problem with the attention in the arms, but as soon as I moved it to the legs, there I was, floating.

So my objective has to be to regain my root.

Pliability

"Those who are pliable and weak are alive and those who are hard and strong are dead." << Lao-Tzu

I have practised T'ai Chi Ch'uan for almost 8 years. It has developed from Cheng Man Ch'ing short form to Ta Lu to Short form let-side to Long Form. Figure-of-eight work led to heartwork, which is what I'm working at presently.

"September" Sunshine

always welcome. More welcome because it's waning. Any "anti-wane" day feels especially good. Pictures to paint, t'ai chi heartwork to practice; forms still very important to me.
Leaf fall, day fall, fire-need soon.

Dos

There is much to talk about, or rather there is much to do. Take heart, let the challenge begin.

first blog

wow! i'm blogging