Tai Chi Chuan, Qigong, and Yoga Classes in Portland, Oregon.
Benjamin Zander: Classical Music With Shining Eyes
Watch this video! The first few minutes alone should be directly applicable to your practice but the entire presentation is filled with energy and wisdom. Enjoy!
It Takes Commitiment
Years ago I purchased a 365 page date book. One day I wrote in the book as if were a diary. I penned the story of my day. It felt good to write down my thoughts. Whenever I wanted to feel better, I’d write.
At some point I committed to writing in the book every single day. I’m not sure why it happened that way but I do recall making the commitment. The book wasn’t that big, smaller than a notebook, and so I knew I could fill a page each night before sleep.
Over time the book became filled with stories, thoughts, and ideas. When the end of the year came the date book had become a record of my life. Another thing happened. I couldn’t fit everything on one page anymore. As a result I purchased a regular notebook the following year. I have kept a journal ever since, over 20 years now.
Daily practice sounds daunting. Every single day? It’s especially difficult when you’re just getting started at something. When you begin taking lessons, commit to one or two lessons a week. Attend your classes/lessons without fail. Stay consistent, it is okay to do something for yourself.
Ideally, commit to 15 minutes of solo practice a day to start. Practice at the same time every day, if possible. Apply the lessons you learned in class to your daily 15 minutes.
Over time you’ll find yourself deeply embedded in your practice. Suddenly you’ll find that you’ve been working at it daily for a year and you’ll have no trouble playing for an hour or more each time. From there, wonderful things happen!
Happy World Tai Chi Day!
There are a bunch of interesting Tai Chi events happening in and around Portland (and around the world) today. I’m taking part in a free, all-day event in NE Portland. Come by anytime to check out a variety of Tai Chi and Qigong practices.
Location: All activities take place at the covered play structure in the NE corner of Grant Park, near 36th and NE Brazee. See map.
Schedule:
9-10:30 AM : Yang style Tai Chi. Long form, sword & saber. Greg de Nevers
10:30-11 : Break
11-12:30 : Falun Dafa (Falun gong). Xiaoyang Wang.
12:30-1 PM : Lunch
1-2:30 : Tai Chi as self defense. Jamie Tan
2:30-3:45 : Spring liver cleanse. Polly Maliongas, Ling Gui Qigong
4-5:30 : Xin Yi Liu He Quan. Paul Noonan
5:30-6:30 : Break
6:30-8 : Jin Jing Gong. Kate Miller, NCNM
8-9 : Pangu Shen Gong. Donna Selby
9-10 : Cheng Man Ching style Tai Chi. David Vanadia
If you’re in SE, Nadav Aharonov is having a Tai Chi potluck in SE Portland from 1:00 to 4:00 pm. Check out his MeetUp page for details or visit his website.
Hope to see you!
How to Keep Your New Year’s Resolution
Another year. Another January 1st. Another chance to make a resolution. Here are some tips to making your movement, exercise, or work out resolution sustainable:
Be Realistic
If you make your goal something like exercise every single day and you’ve never done that before in your life, then you’re setting yourself up to fail. Keep your goal realistic by starting small. Start with a reasonable once or twice per week and add a day by mid-February or March 1st if you can.
Choose a Day
If you’re starting a new workout plan or a new exercise class, choose a day and make that class time a priority. In fact, imagine your hour long exercise time as if it were a meeting for work, or just a notch below the importance of your children’s recital. If someone invites you out that night say you can’t go and schedule a different night.
Be Careful About Who You Tell
Sometimes telling people that you are starting something new, especially something that’s just for you, turns those people evil. They’ll be there when you fail to make it to class and they’ll notice if and when you slip up. Some of them will even tempt you away from you resolution because—for whatever reason—the thought of you doing something for yourself threatens them. Avoid these soul suckers and do your thing.
This Is for You
Unless you’re a famous celebrity who can afford to hire an in-house personal trainer that will wake you from your sleep and bark at you until you get moving, nobody is going to exercise for you. Only you can do this. And you can do it!
It’s Not Selfish
For some people, taking time out for exercise feels selfish. It’s not. By doing something for yourself you are taking care of your body and mind. That shows and it influences other people to do the same. Your kids will learn positive habits from watching you be good to yourself.
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“David’s class makes me feel relaxed and refreshed in mind, body, and spirit!”
—Anna
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