April 2013
1 post
Preserving the Art of Taijiquan
The Taoist Sanctuary is in its 40th year this year. This anniversary came as a surprise to me and Bill - seems like we celebrated the 25th anniversary just a handful of years ago. Time marches on.
In the 40 years, we have taught 2 styles of Taijiquan - Yang style and Chen style. These days, we only teach the Chen style because we committed to the original style and the original methods, and...
January 2013
1 post
December 2012
1 post
5 tags
Ready for 2013?
As the sun sets on 2012, we ready ourselves for the coming year. 2013, Year of the Snake, the Year of Mathematics of Planet Earth. Whatever we call it, resolutions are a common theme around any shift of identification.
We resolve to:
continue to foster and support the growth of Chen style Taijiquan, meditation, and traditional Taoist practices
bring in the best of the best to teach us and...
November 2012
1 post
2 tags
The New Generation
We are so lucky! We have been following our teacher Grandmaster Chen Xiaowang and his family for over 10 years. The dedicated practice of his disciples has started to pay off, and the Taoist Sanctuary is now hosting many of those practitioners who have become excellent teachers in their own right.
In 2012, the Taoist Sanctuary hosted these 20th generation practitioners:
Jan Silberstorff from...
March 2012
1 post
High standards and Acceptance
High Standards. We all have them. We all want our student to practice harder, practice more, practice correctly. We have these standards for ourselves, why not for everyone else? After all, they pay us to teach them the Correct Way, right? At what point do we allow our students to just be?
I struggle with this in each class I teach. I give corrections, watch the transient follow through, then...
February 2012
2 posts
4 tags
Chenjiagou documentary →
Great documentary on taijiquan in Chenjiagou featuring Grandmaster Chen Xiaowang
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Making Pesto
“Making Pesto” is an analogy I used in the intermediate laojia yilu class tonight. I was trying to elucidate the idea of sinking into the lower body, or “sitting in the hips” during the transitions. The hip joint should move like a mortar and pestle, maintaining strong contact through the range of motion, without rising up or separating. An analogy only, since of course the...
January 2012
18 posts
5 tags
Exciting Spring and Summer Line Up
We have Grandmasters and Masters, 19th generation and 20th generation, friends and family dropping in to teach at the Taoist Sanctuary this year!
April 12-15 Grandmaster Chen Xiaoxing
July 10 - 16 Master Chen Ziqiang
August 10-12 David Gaffney and Davidine Viaw-Soon Sim
September - Grandmaster Chen Xiaowang
November - Stephan Berwick
Something for everyone! Don’t miss any of all...
Chen Family Taijiquan Training Methods →
4 tags
The Road Goes On Forever
Here’s the thing about taiji. You can practice it for a lifetime! It lends itself well to practice for health, martial ability, strength training, relaxation, and old age. You can practice superficially and enjoy, or you can go into the deepest examination of each and every move and revel in the complexity.
Taiji has kept me busy for 18 years, and I expect to continue down this road until...
Everything
Everything is everywhere in the form. Once you realize that, then you make the choice to think about either everything or nothing. But you can’t choose to think about nothing if you don’t understand this.
Smoggy Beijing caves to public complaints,... →
4 tags
Order
The universe makes perfect sense, if you know how to read it.
Wuji and Taiji
Wuji and Taiji - stillness and movement. Wuji is no movement, stillness, no thing. Taiji is something, movement, 10,000 things.
All movement should be preceded by, accompanied by, and followed by stillness. This makes all movement thoughtful and correct.
Earth! →
This is an amazing place that we inhabit. The Tao in all its glory as seen from the International Space Station
Taijiquan explained
Don’t miss Master Jan Silberstorff at the Taoist Sanctuary this weekend! Starting Thursday at 6pm, Master Silberstorff will teach several seminars on taiji theory, use of the 8 trigrams in silk reeling, standing post and form correction, and push hands.
No reservations necessary, just show up!
Visit our website for more information: http://www.taoistsanctuary.org
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Interview with Grandmaster Chen Xiaoxing →
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Why Taijiquan (from another point of view) →
This is a nice question/answer blog on the practice of Taijiquan.
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Why Taijiquan?
People start Taijiquan classes for many reasons. It’s in the news, it’s pretty, it’s supposed to be healthy, and on rare occasions, it’s appreciated for being an effective and comprehensive martial art. Are these the reasons people stay in Taijiquan classes? Not usually.
Practicing taiji is a long term commitment. The dedicated student understands that the principles of...
Grandmaster Chen Xiaowang on CCTV4 →
Chen style Seminar with Master Jan Silberstorff
Master Jan Silberstorff will be teaching Chen style Taijiquan at the Taoist Sanctuary January 19 - 22. Topics include theory, form and push hands. Don’t miss this opportunity! Master Silberstorff is Grandmaster Chen Xiaowang’s first western disciple and has an amazing grasp of the complexities of Taijiquan.
See our website for details:
http://www.taoistsanctuary.org
Taiji helps prevent heart failure article
bodyawareness:
http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2011/04/27/135712827/tai-chi-a-medication-in-motion-helps-people-with-heart-failure
Taoist Sanctuary →
Visit our website for information on classes, seminars, and educational posts on Taiji, Taoism and Chinese medicine.
2012 - What's Up??
Hi everyone! It’s a new year, with new resolutions and lots of plans at the Taoist Sanctuary! And what better way to start 2012 than with taiji by the beach on January 1st!
First obvious change - I have moved the blog to Tumblr. I’ve had some problems with WordPress…all the WordPress posts from the past year are still there, but everything going forward will be on Tumblr.
A...
