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Getting the Most Out of Your Workshop |
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Cloudy Day Tai Chi is an intensive workshop. It is my goal to give
the prospective student, a foretaste of what it is like to study and
practice one of China's most valued cultural treasures. I also hope to
whet the appetite for further study and to serve as a guide to those
seeking deeper understanding.
The practice of Tai Chi is one that requires time, patience,
perserverance and much practice. Equally important is to find
instructors who are experienced in practicing and teaching the art and
who are able to demonstrate it's principles by
way of posture performance, metaphors, physical contact with the
student, and verbal instruction.
This workshop is primarily an introduction to Tai chi and has been
formatted to facilitate learning for anyone regardless of age or
gender.It is not meant to take the place of study under an experienced
instructor. However, by the end of the seminar, the student will be a)
better informed about Tai Chi, b) have learned a short form that if
practice regularly will yield a lifetime of benefits, and c) have a foundation for further study.
I have changed the format from a one day, eight hours workshop, to a
two day intensive taught in two modules four hours each. This new
format has proven to be a more effective approach in that it gives the
student time to digest the information and is less taxing on the
body. This approach follows the idea of an old saying "What you
hear, you forget; what you see, you remember; what you do, you
understand."
This workshop will not turn you into a master of the art. You will not
be qualified to teach it to anyone. You will, however, be better informed about aspects of Tai Chi practice often misunderstood by begining students. I will answer any question to the best of my knowledge.
So come with an empty cup; a beginner's mind. By the end of the
workshop you will be able to perform the 14 postures. Perhaps not very
well. But if you continue to practice and keep a studious attitude, your
body and mind will in time benefit the rewards Tai Chi has to offer.
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